Page 29 of The Monsters Within

“She’s fierce.”

“Yea.” I looked at my president. I saw the envy on his face. “You decide anything about Grace?”

“Nothing to decide.”

“Bullshit.” Before he could say more, Ellie and Rose came inside. I held my hand out to her, and she took it. I pulled her between my legs and whispered, “I’m so fucking sorry.”

“I’m sorry I overreacted. I know you’re worried about me.”

“I fucking love you. I don’t want to lose you. I won’t fucking survive it.”

She smiled up at me, and it was so sweet. It was a smile that said she heard me. That she believed me.

“Kytten?”

Rose and I looked down at the sound of Charlie’s voice. She quickly glanced at me, panic in her eyes, and I squeezed her tight.

“What’s up, Charlie?”

“I wanted to talk to Kytten, not you, Uncle Cash.”

“Oh, excuse me.” I chuckled at her attitude. It was no secret Charlie had us all wrapped around her finger.

“Charlie, don’t be rude.”

“I’m not rude, Daddy. I want to talk to Kytten.” Jack sighed and shook his head. He knew he couldn’t deny her logic.

“What can I do for you, Charlie?” Rose asked quietly.

“Would you read with me?”

Kytten stiffened, and I rested my chin on her shoulder. “Easy, baby,” I whispered.

“You want me to read with you?”

Chrissy and Tabby had walked up behind Charlie, and Chrissy pleaded, “Please, Kytten.”

Tabby, however, didn’t ask. She reached out, took Rosie’s hand, and pulled her away from me. Rose followed where the little girl took her. She didn’t look back over her shoulder at me, and I knew it was because she and Tabby had created a bond in the span of a few hours.

Like saw like.

I watched as Rose sat on the couch. Tabby crawled up in her lap with a book, and Chrissy and Charlie sat at her side. Sam sat on the other couch, watching the unlikely quad as they got to know one another.

“Cash, I need to speak with you. And I’d like Melissa to be there too.”

“What happened?”

Ellie had been outside with Rose. I looked over at her, and when she looked at me over Tabby’s head, I smiled. Hoping I was reassuring her that everything was fine.

Only it wasn’t fine.

I could tell.

“She’ll know we’re talking about her,” I said, hating the look on Rose’s face.

“I told her I was going to talk to you and Melissa. But what I need to talk to you about is different from what she thinks. I’ve already texted Melissa; she should be here any minute.”

“Okay, let’s go into church.”