Page 11

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W here the hell was she?

Ink had been in a lot of intense, high-stress situations. But nothing compared to being out in the deep of night, searching for his kid.

Why hadn’t he put a fucking tracker on her?

He’d been out here three hours now. He was going to have to call the police. They weren’t going to be happy that he’d taken so long to call them. But he knew as soon as he called the police that Child Protection Services would be called.

And they’d take Zippy away from them.

Of course, maybe that was what Zippy wanted. Perhaps she didn’t like living with them.

It was freezing cold, dark, and somewhere out there was a seven-year-old girl that he should have protected better.

As he drove down the street something caught his gaze. Was that her backpack by that bush? Pulling over, he jumped out of his truck and rushed over.

Shit!

That was her backpack. But where was she?

“Zippy!” he yelled out. “Zippy!”

There was a small, answering cry. He moved through the trees. “Zippy!”

“I’m here. I hurt myself.”

He followed her voice further through the trees until he saw her sitting under a tree and looking miserable.

“Zippy! What happened, sweetheart?”

“There was a kitten. Look?” She opened her jacket and, sure enough, there was a small, gray kitten sleeping against her chest.

Shit.

Bandit wasn’t going to be happy if they brought a cat home.

“You found a kitten, huh?” he asked.

“Yes, I could hear her meowing. She’s really thin and cold. She was shaking. I followed her in here and picked her up, but when I tried to walk back out, I hurt my foot.”

“And you left your backpack by the road?”

“It got caught on some branches. Am I . . . am I in trouble?”

“In trouble? Hmm. No, honey. You’re not in trouble. But I am worried about why you thought you had to leave. Do you not like it at our house?”

“What? No! I like it! I do!”

“All right. That’s good.” He sighed. “There’s no use talking about all of this out here, sweetheart. We should head home where it’s warm and tell Betsy and everyone else that we found you, yeah?”

“All right,” she said quietly. “Is Betsy worried?”

“Very. She’s concerned that there’s a reason you don’t want to live with us.”

“There is. But it’s not that I don’t like you guys.”

He reached down and picked her and the kitten up. The little cat didn’t even stir. Hmm, seemed he knew he’d hit the jackpot on the good life.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Ink carried her back to the truck, scooping up her backpack along the way. He put her into her car seat and did up the belt, careful of the kitten.

“Little guy is tired, huh?” he said.

Zippy yawned and nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Much like you.” He shut the door and let out a sigh of relief.

Thank fuck.

Then he climbed into the truck and immediately called Betsy.

“Ink? Did you find her?”

He hated hearing the fear and worry in her voice. “I did.”

“She’s all right?”

“Yeah. She twisted her ankle, but otherwise she’s fine. And she’s got a visitor she’s bringing with her.”

“A visitor? What kind?”

“The feline kind,” he replied. “She found a kitten.”

“Oh. Oh! Okay, I’ll warn Bandit and see what I can set up. Ink? She’s really all right?”

He hated the way her voice wobbled.

“She is, baby. I promise. I’m bringing her home. She’s worried about you.”

“She is?”

“Yep. Can you call the twins while I call off everyone else?”

“Of course. I’ll do that. Oh, Ink. Thank God or Santa, I’m not sure which.” She ended the call before he could ask her what the heck that meant.

Perhaps he was better off not knowing.

Betsy was waiting anxiously in the living room as Ink carried Zippy inside. She looked exhausted and she had a small gray kitten clasped against her chest, sleeping.

Betsy had done the best she could with what she had on hand to set up some things for the kitten. And she’d put Bandit in Baron’s room in the meantime. Baron wouldn’t mind, Bandit usually slept with him or Royal when they were home.

“Oh, Zippy! Are you all right?” she asked, hovering as Ink set Zippy down on the sofa and started to draw off the little girl’s jacket. “I was so worried about you. I’ve made you hot cocoa. And grilled cheese.”

“Good thinking, Brown eyes,” Ink praised while Zippy remained quiet.

Why wasn’t she talking? Was she upset?

“Do you want a hot cocoa?” Betsy asked.

Zippy shook her head as Ink drew off her shoes to look at her foot.

“Oh. Okay. What about ice for her foot?” she asked Ink.

“I don’t think it looks too bad. Can you move it, Zippy?” Ink asked.

Zippy wriggled it, wincing. “It’s not too bad.”

“Maybe an ice pack, Brown eyes,” Ink told her. “And I’ll take one of those hot cocoas.”

“A-all right. I’ll get that. Yep, I’m onto it.” She rushed into the kitchen and poured a hot cocoa, putting mounds of whipped cream on top.

Then she grabbed one of her ice packs from the freezer. They had images of elephants on them. She moved carefully back into the living area, not wanting to spill the hot cocoa.

“Why don’t you want a hot cocoa, Zippy?” Ink asked quietly. “Do you not like them?”

Betsy paused, waiting to hear Zippy’s reply.

“Of course I do! I love Betsy’s hot cocoas. She makes the best.”

She did? It was nice that Zippy thought that.

“Then why don’t you want one, kid?” Ink asked quietly.

“Because I don’t deserve it.”

Betsy nearly gasped at the sadness in Zippy’s voice. Why would she think that?

“Why is that?” Ink asked.

“I brought all this trouble to you guys,” Zippy said.

“What trouble?” Betsy asked.

They both looked up at her. Oops. She winced, sending Ink an apologetic glance. She hadn’t meant to interrupt them.

Hopefully, Zippy didn’t clam up.

“Leon.”

“Oh, honey,” Betsy said. “That’s not your fault. You didn’t ask Leon to be such a . . . such a . . .”

“Poop face?” Zippy supplied.

Betsy had to hide a smile. “Something like that.”

Ink stood and took the hot cocoa from her, setting it down on the coffee table.

Betsy kneeled by Zippy and placed the ice pack on her ankle. “Is that better?”

Zippy sniffled. “You shouldn’t be nice to me, Betsy.”

“Why not?” Betsy asked, shocked.

“I told you. It’s my fault you’re in danger. Leon is after me, but if he comes here for me, he’ll hurt you too. I don’t want you to get hurt, Betsy. But especially not ‘cause of me.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Betsy said. “If Leon comes here and I get hurt that is in no way your fault.”

“Yeah, it is! He’ll come ‘cause I threatened to slice him with the knife. But he deserved it.”

“What did he do, Zippy?” Ink asked quietly.

“He was hurtin’ Amber,” she whispered. “He hurt her lots.”

Betsy sucked in a breath. “And you tried to protect her?”

“She always tried to protect me. She’d send me away when he got all mad. He didn’t touch me, though. ‘Cause he didn’t want the school or Liddy to find out.”

Liddy was her caseworker.

“You never told anyone what he was doing to Amber?” Ink asked.

Zippy shrugged. “People don’t always believe me. They might say I was making something up and call Leon. Then he’d hurt her more.”

Oh, God.

That . . . that asshole! Yeah, she’d thought it and she meant it! Leon was an asshole. How dare he threaten a little girl like that.

“But I’d had enough this night, so I grabbed a big knife and swung it around, threatening to hurt him. He just laughed until I stabbed it at him and got his arm.”

“He never told anyone that you actually go this arm,” Ink said.

Zippy shrugged. “I don’t know why. Maybe because he thought I’d explain what happened. I don’t know. But I do know he’ll hurt Betsy when he gets here. I don’t want Betsy to be hurt. I’ve got to protect her.”

Oh, Lord. Betsy could feel herself tearing up. Here she’d thought that Zippy didn’t like her, didn’t want to live with her. And all she wanted was to protect her.

“Where is she? What’s happening?” Baron barrelled through the door, making Betsy and Zippy jump.

Ink had obviously expected him, because he hadn’t moved at all.

Baron ran over to Zippy, crouching down next to Betsy. “What’s going on? What happened? Why did you run off, Zippy?”

Royal followed him in, standing next to Ink.

“Leon is coming for me and I didn’t want him to hurt Betsy,” she explained again. “So I left.”

“Zippy, that’s not the way family works,” Royal said.

Betsy looked back over her shoulder at Royal who was frowning down at Zippy.

The girl frowned back at him. “What do you mean? I’m protecting Betsy. That’s being part of a family, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, we protect each other, Zippy,” Baron said. “But we can’t do that if we run away. We stay and fight. Together.”

“But . . . aren’t you all mad that Leon might hurt you?” Zippy glanced around at them all.

“Oh, Zippy, of course not,” Betsy told her. “We could never be mad at you, especially not for something that someone else has done. All we want is to take care of you.”

“Part of being a family is telling someone when you need help,” Ink said. “It’s caring and protecting each other, yes, but we fight our problems together.”

“Oh.” Zippy stared at them all with wide eyes. “Am I part of the family?”

“Of course you are,” Betsy told her.

“I’m only here for a short while, though.” Zippy glanced down at her hands.

“Would you like to be here for longer?” Ink asked in a careful voice.

“I like it here. The twins are fun. And you don’t shout or yell or hurt Betsy,” she said to Ink.

God. Betsy wanted to hurt Leon. It was amazing that Zippy was as well-adjusted as she was. That she wasn’t more scared of men.

Then Zippy turned to Betsy, giving her a shy look. “But I like being here mostly because of you.”

“Really?” Betsy whispered.

“Really. I know you worry about making things good for me. I haven’t had that. Amber was always too scared of Leon to do anything for me. Not that I need it, I can take care of myself,” Zippy declared.

“Of course you can,” Betsy said, hiding a smile.

“But it’s still nice when you put notes in my lunchbox telling me to have a good day. And you make sure I have clean clothes and everything I need for school. And take me Christmas shopping and make good hot cocoa.”

“I’ll get you a hot cocoa right now,” Betsy said as she tried to stand.

But before she could get onto her feet, she found her arms filled with a small seven-year-old.

This was the first time Zippy had hugged her. She wrapped her arms around her tentatively, not wanting to scare her off.

“You know we want you here, don’t you, Zippy?” Betsy said. “You’re very much a part of our family.”

Zippy nodded, but Betsy got the feeling she was still hesitant. Zippy drew back and Betsy reluctantly let her go.

“I’ll go make that hot cocoa.”

“You’re sure I deserve it?” Zippy asked.

“Of course you do,” Betsy said with a smile.

“Although running away in the middle of the night is something you won’t be doing again, is it?” Ink said sternly.

Betsy bit her lip, wanting to tell Ink not to be too harsh with her. But she also knew that they needed to make sure that Zippy knew not to do this again.

“Because we don’t want anything to happen to you,” Royal added.

Baron nodded. “You gotta keep yourself safe, Zippy. No running off and scaring us. Even though we know you can take care of yourself.”

Zippy nodded solemnly. “I can.” She glanced at Betsy again. “But, I won’t do it again. Promise.”

Betsy smiled at her and walked into the kitchen. As she was getting the drink ready, she felt Ink walk in behind her. He wrapped his arms around her.

“Thank you for finding her,” she whispered.

God, when she thought about what could have happened to Zippy out there . . . she shuddered.

“She’s safe, baby,” Ink told her, turning her to hug her tight. “I know you were scared, so was I. But she’s safe.”

“I can’t believe she left to protect me,” Betsy said.

“Because she loves you. Just like the rest of us and we’d do anything for you.” Leaning down, he kissed her softly, lightly.

And her heart felt lighter.

Thirty minutes later, Betsy stepped outside onto the front porch to take a few breaths.

Zippy, Baron, and Royal were all asleep. The new kitten was purring on Zippy’s bed. Bandit was still in the boys’ room. They’d have to introduce the two of them tomorrow.

She’d just needed a few minutes of cold air to let go of the remnants of her worry and fear.

“Is the girl okay?”

Betsy let out a small scream as she heard the voice coming from the darkness of the forest.

Ink stepped out. “Betsy, what are you doing out here alone?” he scolded.

Uh-oh.

She knew she should have told him she was coming out here, but he would have insisted on coming with her. And she’d just needed a moment to herself.

“I . . . I needed a moment. There’s someone there.”

“Don’t stress, it’s just me,” the voice said.

Wait. She knew that voice.

“Fox?” Ink asked. “What are you doing here?”

“Besides scaring me half to death,” Betsy muttered, her hand on her heart.

“You should really keep track of your woman, Ink,” the Fox scolded. “I thought you’d be more protective of her. I could be anyone, you know. I could’ve easily hurt or taken her before you came out here.”

“He didn’t know I had come out here,” Betsy defended Ink. “He was busy on the phone.” He’d been updating a few people about what had happened. And she probably shouldn’t have snuck out. But she’d been feeling overheated. Lightheaded.

She’d just needed a moment.

Plus, she’d thought she’d be back inside before he noticed.

“What are you doing here?” Ink asked, sounding tired.

“Brody told me the child went missing.”

“She’s back,” Betsy told him. Had he come to help look? That was kind.

“I know. I saw.”

He saw?

Yikes.

“Why did she leave?” the Fox asked.

She felt Ink stiffen. He was probably wondering why the Fox wanted to know. But she’d learned that the Fox often asked questions for a reason.

“To protect me from her foster father,” Betsy explained. “Because he’s disappeared, she was worried he might be coming for her. She didn’t want me to get hurt if he did.”

“Brave kid. Well, you don’t have to worry about him.”

“Why is that?” Ink asked.

“Because he’s been taken care of,” the Fox replied.

Taken care of? What did that mean?

“Permanently?” Ink asked, seeming to catch onto the Fox’s meaning straight away.

Wait. Permanently taken care of?

“Yes.”

Ink let out a sigh. “I shouldn’t condone that, but thanks. I wish I’d known earlier, though.”

“Ahh, I was busy having a bit of fun. Got to get my kicks somehow. And believe me, taking care of that asshole was pure pleasure. I found the wife, too. She’s trying to make a new life for herself. Left her an anonymous note so she can breathe a bit easier now that the bastard is gone.”

Gone. He was gone. Thank God.

“That’s good,” Betsy said, feeling relieved.

“You two might want to go and play a game of hide the sausage. Burp the gerbil. You seem stressed out. It does wonders for the blood pressure.”

“Thanks for the medical advice,” Ink said dryly.

“Just trying to help,” the Fox replied.

There was a long beat of silence.

“Do you think he’s gone?” Betsy asked.

“I think so,” Ink replied. “He doesn’t usually go this long without talking.”

“I heard that,” the Fox replied, making her jump. “But I’m going now. I don’t need to see the two of you boxing the clown.”

“Boxing the clown?” she whispered.

“Just ignore that,” Ink said dryly, turning her to face him. “Thank fuck we don’t have to worry about Leon getting to Zippy.”

Betsy nodded, thankful that the Fox had taken care of that problem for them.

“Now, let’s talk about what you’re doing out here alone,” he said sternly.

She winced. “Sorry, I just needed a bit of cold air.”

“Understandable. But what should you have done first?”

“Um. Put a jacket on?” she guessed.

“That too,” he grumbled. “What else?”

“Told you where I was going,” she said.

“Yes. Exactly. And when we don’t have a house full of our kids, you’ll be getting the punishment you deserve for that.”

“I didn’t go any further than the porch.”

“Betsy, Leon could have been out here, waiting and watching.”

“Hey! You just heard the Fox! He’s taken care of.”

“But you didn’t know that when you stepped out here,” Ink said.

“Semantics,” she muttered.

“Not semantics,” he said. “It’s the truth.” He lightly smacked her ass. “You’ll be getting yourself a butt warming.”

She sighed. “I’ve had a hard night, Daddy.”

“I know, Button. I know. Me too. But she’s home now and hopefully she understands how much we care about her.”

Betsy nodded and rested her face against his chest. She really hoped so.

“I wish she was ours for good,” she told him.

“I know, Brown eyes. That’s what I wish, too.”

Turning her head, she glanced up into the sky. Wonder filled her as she saw a shooting star. She quickly made a wish.

Then Ink leaned down to whisper in her ear. “So why don’t we see if we can make that happen.”