Page 87 of Oathbreaker

Briar seems to realize my train of thought at the same time.

“I couldn’t give her your name without telling the boys who her father was,” she says quickly.

“It’s all right.” I wrap an arm around her neck and tug her against my chest. “I understand. But I’d like her to have…my name. Both of you.”

“One step at a time,” she whispers. “Okay?”

“Absolutely. I just—” My training as a spy ingrained it in me to always be aware of my surroundings. Always. Even when my girl is in my arms at the beach. But something in my peripheral vision makes me react even before Frankie screams.

“Frankie! I’m coming!”

The large wave washed right over her, pulling her into the water and dragging her under. Somehow, I kick off my slides as I run, splashing into the cold water, eyes scanning for her bright pink bathing suit.

A little hand comes up, body wriggling and I grab her by the wrist, yanking her up and into my arms.

“I’ve got you, baby. Daddy’s here… you’re okay.”

Heart racing, tears stinging my eyes, I carry her out of the water.

“Oh my God, Frankie… what happened?” Briar meets us on the shore, wiping water out of her daughter’s eyes as she coughs. “I’m going to get a blanket!” She runs back to where we’re set up and I follow, Frankie still in my arms.

I sink into one of the lounge chairs, holding her tightly as she coughs and sniffles.

“You’re okay, baby. Daddy’s right here.” I hug her so close I’m probably going to suffocate her, but it’s the only way I can reassure myself she’s safe.

“Daddy…I was so scared.” Frankie buries her head in my chest, her little body practically fused to mine.

“I know. But I’ve got you. I’ll always be here, Frankie.”

Briar rushes over with a towel and a blanket, using one to dry us off a little and the other to wrap us both up. With Frankie’s warm little body nestled against mine, I’ve never felt love like this before. Not even for her mother, though that’s obviously a different thing. I would die for both of them, but the connection I feel to Frankie is so strong I almost can’t breathe.

When I finally drag my eyes away, so I can look at Briar, hers are filled with so much emotion. Like she recognizes what I’m feeling. Because of course she does. She grew this tiny little human in her body and has been her sole caretaker for four-and-three-quarters years.

“Fuck.” I say it softly, but I don’t care if Frankie hears me because I can’t hold back. There don’t seem to be any adequate words to express how I’m feeling at this moment.

She called me Daddy.

“Daddy, I was so scared.”

I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure she’s never scared. Not if I can help it.

“It’s okay,” Briar whispers, leaning over to kiss the top of Frankie’s head and then press her lips to mine. “Thank you.”

I give her a shaky smile. “You don’t have to thank me—this is my job now. Taking care of you. Both of you.”

The look she gives me shows a lot of the things neither of us have been able to vocalize. But that’s okay.

Because I’m not going anywhere.

Not now, not ever again.

Twenty-Seven

Briar

I make short work of packing up the car, getting a month’s worth of cardio schlepping all the beach shit back and cramming it into the trunk far less efficiently than Colt had on the way to the beach.

But that rogue wave really scared Frankie.