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Callan paced in the waiting room of the Portland hospital, his daughter on his hip. She was too old to be carted around like a toddler, but he certainly wasn't complaining.

Peri had barely let him go since he’d taken her back from Grant the night before.

She’d fallen asleep on the boat ride to shore. He might have been able to lay her down across the padded bench seat, but he'd needed to feel her in his arms.

If not for Peri, he might’ve fought Gavin for the empty seat on the helicopter that had carried Alyssa straight to the hospital. But her father had the right to be with her.

Somehow, both of their daughters had survived.

There’d been hours of questions from the local police and the FBI. He’d told the police what he knew, then listened while Peri told the story from her perspective. How Alyssa had shown up, taken care of her, protected her.

How she’d told Peri to hide, then pushed her when a gun had fired. How Peri had dropped in the crack between the edge of the bed and the wall.

How she’d watched from under the bed as Alyssa had charged Benson.

How the gun had slid across the wood, right to her.

“I wasn’t gonna shoot anyone, Daddy.” Her little eyes were filled with tears. “But I didn’t want that man to hurt Alyssa. I was scared. I didn’t know what to do.”

“You did exactly the right thing, my darling girl.” He’d held her tiny face and met her eyes, ignoring the police officer waiting in the empty hospital room where they’d set up shop. “You were brave and amazing, and I am so, so proud of you. I love you more than…” He’d choked up. “Sorry. I can’t…”

Peri had wiped his tears with her small fingers. “It’s okay to cry. I cried a lot.”

He held her close. And he’d keep holding her close. He’d never forget what could’ve happened.

One of Grant’s friends had been shot, but the bullet had hit his vest. He was being treated for bruised ribs.

Only the courageous police woman had been killed. His heart ached for her family, though he selfishly thanked God he wasn’t the one grieving right now.

Peri had been examined, though it’d taken some coaxing to let the doctor have a look at her.

“Physically, she’s fine,” the doctor had said. The implication was clear. His daughter would need trauma therapy.

Callan would make sure she got it. Whatever she needed, he’d be there for her.

If not for her, he wouldn’t have left the hospital. But the doctors had assured him that Alyssa was fine and needed rest more than anything. He’d seen her, but she’d been sound asleep.

Evelyn and all of Alyssa’s sisters had shown up at the hospital. Each one had hugged him and Peri as if they were part of the Wright family.

Maybe, someday, they would be family. If he could figure out how to make it work.

The thought that he’d almost lost Alyssa made him realize how very, very much he wanted to keep her.

One thing at a time.

Last night, he’d left Gavin and Evelyn at Alyssa’s bedside and had taken his little girl to a hotel to get some sleep.

She had slept, in his arms. When she’d had nightmares, he’d been there, whispering in her ear.

“Daddy’s here, sweet girl. You’re safe. You’re safe.”

And she’d fall back asleep.

When he woke up, the sun was bright outside. He called Gavin. “How is she?”

“Awake. A little fuzzy, but the doctor’s pleased.”

“Thank God. Can I talk to her?”

“Her mother’s helping her get cleaned up right now. Just get here when you can.”

Callan showered and changed into the clothes Alyssa’s sisters had left with the front desk, along with some clothes they’d picked up for Peri.

He took his daughter to breakfast and listened to her story again.

She kept repeating what’d happened, and even though he wanted her to put it out of her mind, trauma didn’t work like that. One didn’t just forget it. It had to be worked through, examined from every angle. It had to be brought to the forefront. Trauma, like bacteria, thrived in darkness. It reproduced and spread, infecting everything it touched.

The only cure for trauma was bringing it to the light.

The more Peri exposed her experience to the light, the weaker it became. So he’d listen, and listen again, and listen a thousand times if that was what it took for his daughter to be healthy.

And the fact that she told him, hadn't waited for Mom or Dad or Hannah, but trusted Callan?

That meant everything to him.

It was after nine by the time he pushed into the hospital, carrying Peri, who didn’t seem to want out of his arms at all. They made their way to Alyssa’s room. He knocked on the door, and Gavin met him there, looking like he’d aged two decades since the anniversary party the day before. He still wore the jeans and sweatshirt he’d donned before they boarded the boat the night before. “Glad you’re here. I have an update for you, but you should see her first. She’s asking for you.”

From inside the room, Evelyn saw him, then moved out of his line of sight toward the head of Alyssa’s bed.

“What update?” Callan asked.

“I think they’ve figured out the inside man at SJSS.”

“Ghazi had to have a contact at the CIA. Someone told him about that meeting.”

“We’re working on that. We’ll find him, or her.” Hardness settled in his eyes. “Whoever it was, they’ll…” He swallowed, looking at Peri. “We’re all safe now.” His tone shifted to the grandfatherly one he’d used the day before. “You want to go for a walk?”

She gripped Callan tighter. “I wanna see Alyssa.”

“You can see her,” Callan said. “Then I need to talk to Alyssa alone for a couple of minutes. Is that okay?”

Peri seemed to mull the question.

Gavin said, “There’s a playroom on the next floor down. I hear it’s got coloring books.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll wait for you out here,” Gavin said.

Callan started to pass him, but Gavin grabbed his arm. “Son.”

He paused. “Yeah?”

He pulled Callan into a hug, awkward with Peri between them. “Thank you. I heard all the stories, and…you saved her life. Things could’ve turned out much worse.”

Callan stepped back, nodding. “God was on our side.”

Still holding Callan’s arms, Gavin squeezed. “You’re not wrong. Just saying, I’m glad you were on our side too.”

Unsure how to respond, he carried Peri into the hospital room.

Evelyn saw him, hugged him tight, and slipped out.

Alyssa lay on the bed. Face bruised. Hair mussed.

The most beautiful creature in the world.

She smiled and pressed the button to raise her head. “Hey, you two.” Her voice was strong.

It was a moment before he could speak past emotion clogging his throat.

“Hi, Alyssa.” Peri sounded tentative. “Daddy said you were okay, but I wanted to see.”

“Well, come on in.”

He moved to the head of the bed, wanting more than anything to lean down and kiss her. But he didn’t. Not yet.

“Just a little headache. But the doctor said I’m gonna be just fine.”

“You don’t look very good.”

He wasn’t sure if he should reprimand his daughter, but Alyssa’s grin only widened. “I figure it must be bad because I asked for a mirror, and the nurse told me she’s afraid I’m so ugly that I’ll break it.”

Peri giggled. “Nuh-uh. She didn’t say that.”

“Maybe that’s not exactly what she said.”

“You’re not ugly, just a little…” She lifted a shoulder and let it drop.

“Battle worn,” Callan said. “Like a warrior princess.”

Alyssa started to shake her head but stopped, squinting. He’d bet that hurt. “Your dad’s a weirdo.”

“Heroes get hurt. Right, Daddy?”

“That’s right.” He forced himself to look at his daughter, though it took considerable effort. “And Alyssa isn’t just a hero, she’s a superhero.”

Peri liked that.

A slight knock, and Gavin stepped in. “The nurse just told me there’s a soda machine in the playroom.” He waggled his eyebrows. “You ever tried all the flavors mixed together?”

Her eyes widened. “Huh-uh.”

“Wanna?”

She gave Callan a Can I? look.

“Just don’t overdo it.”

She slid from his arms and took Gavin’s hand.

Before she stepped out, she turned to him.

He waved. “I’ll be right here.”

Satisfied, she walked away with Alyssa’s dad.

Callan returned to Alyssa, took her hand, and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of her lips, the only spot that wasn’t swollen.

He backed away enough to see her face. “Are you okay? Really?”

“It’s just a concussion.”

He pulled a doctor’s rolling stool close and sat.

“Did anybody get hurt? Dad wouldn’t tell me anything, just kept saying I was fine, and that was all that mattered.”

“Your father didn’t hang around to find out what happened. I don’t think he could focus, knowing you were hurt.”

“Yeah. He was…” Her eyes filled.

“When he thought you were dead…” Callan could still hear the keening. The grieved howl. “He adores you.”

“Yeah. He said…” Her eyes narrowed. “Did you say something to him? About me?”

“Nothing I said affected how he feels about you, Alyssa. Those feelings didn’t just suddenly show up last night.”

“That’s true.” The admission seemed hesitant, as if she didn’t trust it.

The same way Peri’s faith in Callan still wavered. But he was going to fix it.

His daughter was not going to grow up hoping her father loved her. Wondering if he loved her enough. He’d prove it, and he’d keep proving it, every single day, if it took the rest of his life. He’d prove to her that he could be her dad. More than just the man who’d fathered her but the man who adored her.

“So what happened?”

He gave her a rundown on the attack, what they’d planned, and how it’d gone wrong.

“And Ghazi?”

“Dead. So is Benson. All Ghazi’s men were killed or injured.”

“The drones?”

“The pilot?—”

“Spencer.”

He hadn’t heard the guy’s name. “He’d programmed the targets, but Bartlett managed to undo it. None of the missiles were fired.”

“Thank God. I can’t believe it all worked out.”

“Miracles. I kept asking God for miracles.”

She smiled. “Me too. I’m sorry for that police officer.”

“Yeah. It’s tragic.”

Now that he knew Alyssa was all right, and Peri was all right, and it was all over… He was exhausted. Despite the few hours of sleep, he felt like he could pass out for a week.

He said, “I wanted to say?—”

“—I’m sorry it…”

Callan nodded to her. “Ladies first.”

“I’m sorry it all happened.” Her words came out in a flood. “If I hadn’t started working for Ghazi in the first place?—”

“You wouldn’t have if you’d known who he was. You’re allowed to have a business.”

“Not a business where I break the law. Bend the rules to get what I want. If I hadn’t, Ghazi might’ve moved on to someone else, someone more amenable. But I showed him my morals were iffy, where hacking was concerned, anyway.”

He wasn’t about to let Alyssa carry the burden for this. “As soon as you understood what was going on, you did the right thing. Hacking into a private database is one thing. Hacking into a defense contractor is something else.”

“But the Russian?—”

“Don’t do that. You risked your life to save my daughter. You protected her. As far as I’m concerned, you redeemed yourself times a thousand. I’ll never stop owing you for that.”

“This isn’t a transaction, Callan. If you forgive me, I’ll take that. You don’t owe me a thing. What were you going to say?”

He took a breath and dove in. “I love you.”

Her eyes popped wide.

“I know it was supposed to be pretend, the engagement and the kissing, and… I know it was supposed to be for show. But it stopped being that for me somewhere between the dancing and Dad’s heart attack, when you showed up. Or maybe… I don’t know.” He took her hand in both of his, praying she felt at least a hint of the depth of emotion he did. “What I felt for you in college never went away. And since I saw you again Wednesday night, my feelings have grown and… And I love you.”

He forced himself to shut up. Let her talk.

“I love you too.”

“Oh.”

She smiled.

He didn’t. “It’s just… I’m going to quit my job. I mean, I have to. I have to be with Peri, and if I want to be a good father… I will be a good father.”

“You are a good father.”

Not really. Not yet. “That has to come first. So I don’t know… I mean, I’m gonna be unemployed, and probably live at home. Hopefully, my parents won’t make me live in the basement, but they might as well.” He took a breath, blew it out. “I’m saying I’m not exactly a catch. I have nothing to offer you.”

“Wow. You’re really selling it.”

“I’m sorry. I just…”

“Callan?”

He sealed his lips.

“I’m going to be out of work too. And the only reason I have an apartment is because Dad pays for it. I’m not exactly a catch, either. Does that change how you feel about me?”

“It’s not like you’ll be destitute, Paris.”

“You think I won’t love you if you have less money than I do? Or, let me rephrase. Than my father does? How could you love a woman who would do that?”

“I don’t… That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Should we not act on our feelings because of short-term joblessness and short-term living arrangements?”

When she put it that way… “I hear what you’re saying, but still, I have Peri.”

“I get it.”

“I don’t know how long it’ll take me to convince her she can trust me. It might be months. It might be years. Until I do that?—”

“I’m in no hurry.”

“That’s not fair to you.”

“I love you. And I love your daughter. I want what’s best for you—and for her.”

Callan took the words in, hope blossoming inside him as it hadn’t since…since Peri had turned up in his life.

His beautiful, perfect daughter.

He was coming to understand that maybe there wasn’t a right way and a wrong way to be a father. There was just doing his best. Maybe doing well sometimes. Maybe messing up royally other times.

Loving her, through it all.

Alyssa wasn’t finished. “I want you and Peri to have a strong bond. I’m no expert on this stuff, but I think that’s what love is supposed to be, right? Wanting what’s best? Sacrificial? Patient?”

“Yeah, that’s…” He swallowed a lump. “That sounds…right.”

“Then let’s not worry about what it’s going to look like. Let’s just…wing it.”

He grinned. “I thought you weren’t a wing-it kind of woman.”

“I’ve been practicing.”

That she had, and she’d done it beautifully.

He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “We’ll put our trust in the God who got us this far.”

“There’s a good idea. I mean, if He can do this…” She gestured toward the door. Toward the little girl who’d just walked out, and the men who’d risked their lives to rescue them. Toward the people who still breathed because Ghazi had been stopped.

Callan’s family was safe. Her family was safe.

“He can do anything.” Callan leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Sealing their future with a kiss.

The End…