Page 37

LIAM

T he lights buzzed overhead, harsh and cold against the sterile walls of the hospital.

We’d arrived in an ambulance because I was taking no chances with Skye or Lily’s well-being.

The exam went well with very little wait.

After having seen the doctor, we were left in the ER until the nurse came with discharge papers.

It was eerily quiet, the earlier nightmare replaced by an uneasy calm. Skye sat on the exam bed, Lily curled in her lap, her tiny fingers tangled in her mom’s hair. Lips pressed softly to Lily’s temple, Skye whispered soothing words I couldn’t quite make out.

Fiona had just stepped out after checking on us to head to the precinct, leaving me hovering near Skye and Lily, wanting to slam my fist into Joe’s face all over again for putting them in such a fragile state. I shoved my hands into my pockets, knuckles still raw from the earlier scuffle.

“Mr. Cartwright?” A nurse called from the door, her tone clipped but polite as she entered, handing me the discharge papers. “They’re cleared to leave. No serious injuries.”

Relief washed over me like a wave, but it didn’t chase away the lingering anger—or the guilt. We listened to her brief instructions about rest, echoing everything the doctor had already told us. I nodded my thanks, swallowing the lump in my throat, and walked toward them.

Skye met my gaze as I approached, exhaustion etched into every line of her face. Her eyes, though rimmed with redness, softened. Lily stirred in her lap, lifting her head to look at me, thumb still tucked into her mouth and her bunny clutched tightly to her chest.

“Hey, Lilybug,” I said softly, crouching to her level. “You ready to go?”

She nodded, her little voice a whisper. “I wanna go with Mommy.”

“You will,” I promised, glancing at Skye.

Skye’s hand trembled slightly as she pushed a stray hair out of Lily’s face. “Thank you,” she murmured. Her voice was barely audible, but I caught it. “For coming. For not giving up.”

I swallowed hard. “I’ll never give up on you. On either of you.” I would raze the world to keep them safe.

The drive to the police station was a blur. Skye sat in the back seat with Lily, holding her close. Her aunt and Coach had blown up my phone, only calming after they heard Skye and Lily were given a clean bill of health and that we would meet them at the police station.

Fiona had arranged for us to give statements, and despite the tension still thick in the air, Skye insisted on going. “I need to see this through,” she’d said, her tone resolute.

The station was a stark contrast to the hospital—a cacophony of ringing phones, shuffling papers, and low conversation. As soon as we walked through the doors, a voice cut through the noise, trembling and thick with emotion.

“Skye!”

Eileen Becket—Skye’s aunt—hurried across the room, her hands clasped to her mouth, tears streaming down her face. She was a blur of movement as she rushed to her niece and scooped both Skye and Lily into her arms.

“Oh, thank God.” She sobbed, pulling them close. “I was so scared. When you didn’t come home after letting me know you were on your way… I didn’t know what to think.”

Skye clung to her aunt, her own tears spilling over as Lily burrowed into her shoulder.

“We’re okay,” Skye whispered, her voice soft but steady.

Eileen pulled back just enough to cup Skye’s face, her tear-filled eyes scanning every inch of her niece like she needed to see for herself that she was truly there. “You’re sure? Are you hurt? What about Lily?”

Skye shook her head, brushing her fingers through Lily’s dark curls. “We’re fine. Just… shaken up.”

Eileen’s gaze flicked to me, her expression softening despite the worry still etched into her features. “Liam.” Her voice broke, and she reached out to squeeze my arm. “Thank you. For bringing them back.”

I nodded, words sticking in my throat. “I’d do it a thousand times over.”

Fiona stepped forward then, gently placing a hand on Eileen’s shoulder. “Let’s give them a moment to catch their breath before we take statements. There’s a quieter room in the back.”

Eileen nodded, her arm still wrapped protectively around Skye and Lily as she guided them toward the room Fiona mentioned. I stayed rooted in place, watching until they disappeared down the hall.

“Cartwright. Son.”

The deep, familiar voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned to see Coach standing near the front desk, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

“Coach,” I greeted him, my voice low as I approached.

His sharp gaze studied me, and for a moment, I felt like I was back on the field after a bad play.

“Before you follow your wife,” I started, “I need to tell you something.”

“Let’s talk.” He gestured toward a side office.

I followed him in silence, my chest tight with the weight of what I was about to say.

Once the door closed behind us, he leaned against the desk, arms still crossed. “What’s on your mind?”

I hesitated, my throat dry as I stood before my head coach, the man who had become a pillar of strength and reason over the past three years he’d been in my life. “It’s about Lily.”

His brows furrowed, thick, bushy mustache pulling down with the corners of his mouth, and for a moment, I thought he was going to cut me off. But he stayed silent, waiting.

“She’s mine,” I said, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I didn’t know until recently, but she’s my daughter. I swear, if I’d known?—”

“I know, Liam,” he interrupted, his voice calm but firm.

The words hit me like a freight train. “You… knew?”

He sighed, running a hand over his weary, stress-lined face. “Not at first. But over time… Lily’s grin, her dimples, and the color of her eyes… Then the way you looked at her, at Skye over these past weeks—it wasn’t hard to piece together.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Shock held me suspended.

“Because it wasn’t my place,” he said simply. “I knew Skye had her reasons for keeping it from you. And I knew you’d figure it out when the time was right.”

I shook my head, my hands splaying wide at my sides. “I wish you would’ve told me.”

He stepped closer, his tone softening. “You think I didn’t want to?

That it didn’t kill me to see you trying to navigate life without knowing the truth?

That my niece held the information close to her heart, choosing to navigate motherhood on her own?

I had to trust that she had her reasons.

And, Liam, you needed to come into this on your own. You needed to be ready.”

His words sank in slowly, the initial hurt of another person keeping the truth from me bleeding into something else, something I couldn’t quite name.

“That’s why you’ve been so hard on me,” I realized. “On Ares and Kylian too. You’ve been pushing us all this time.”

He nodded. “Why do you think I called you three leaders? Why do you think I demanded more from you than anyone else? It wasn’t just about football, Liam. It’s about the kind of men you need to be. On the field. Off it. In life.”

I blinked, the weight of his words settling over me.

All the times he’d called me “son,” all the extra drills, the lectures in his office about life and how we needed to step up and do the right thing, the tough love—it all made sense.

It hit me in that moment. He’d done more for me than just be a coach.

I finally understood why I never wanted to let him down, why I listened closely when he spoke.

“You’re more of a father to me than my own ever was,” I admitted, my voice breaking.

Coach’s expression softened, and his eyes held a warmth I hadn’t seen before.

“Why do you think I’ve always called you son?

I’ve seen the man you’re capable of being.

And standing here now, seeing the way you’ve fought for Skye and Lily—I couldn’t be prouder.

You’ve earned my respect, Liam, and the family you have now reflects the kind of man you are. Remember that.”

The door opened behind us, breaking the moment. Fiona stood there, her expression a mix of relief and urgency. “I need a quick statement from you, Liam. And Skye and Lily are ready to go.”

I nodded, glancing back at Coach. “Thank you,” I said quietly.

“For what?”

“For believing in me. For being there, even when I didn’t realize it.”

He clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. “Go take care of your girls, son.”

That was all I wanted.