Mia let go of Lila and stepped forward.
She wrapped her arms around David, hugging him tightly.
“There’ll be time,” she said, her voice soft but steady. She smiled up at him. “When you’re back, Dad. We’ll still be here.”
Dad.
The word nearly stopped his heart.
He nodded, not trusting his voice.
“Come on, Lila,” Mia said, gently guiding her daughter away so David could have privacy with Eve.
David turned to Eve.
She was watching him with those intelligent eyes, her expression a mix of emotions he couldn’t fully read.
He moved closer and pulled her to him.
“We have a lot to talk about as well,” he said, his voice low. His eyes met hers.
“Like Mia said,” Eve told him, her hands coming up to rest on his chest. “We’re not going anywhere just yet.” She glanced past him at the agents waiting near the stairs. “You’re not going to federal prison, are you?”
David gave a soft laugh despite everything. “I hope not.”
“We have to go, sir,” one of the agents stepped forward, then moved away again when David shot him a look.
David leaned down and kissed Eve.
Soft. Quick. But full of promise.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said when he pulled away.
“We’ll be waiting,” Eve promised, her eyes dark with emotion that mirrored his own.
David stepped back reluctantly.
He turned and started walking toward the cars where the agents waited.
Dan, Milly, and Nolan were already there, sliding into the vehicle.
He was halfway to the SUV when a voice cracked through the air.
“Grandpa... wait!”
David’s heart lurched in his chest.
He turned, his eyes misting immediately.
Lila was running toward him, her face still flushed from the gas, her eyes red from coughing.
But she was smiling.
Really smiling.
She flung herself into his arms.
David’s arms clamped around the young woman, holding her so tightly he had to check himself, worried he might actually crack one of her ribs.
