I shake my head against his chest. “I was supposed to make your life better, and instead I’ve brought new problems to your door.”
“Babe, you didn’t. My parents did. You’ve been amazing.”
“They hate me and they should.”
“Please, Angel, stop that. I don’t like you talking badly about yourself.”
I’ve never been anyone’s angel, even that fucker who ruined my life never gave me a sweet nickname… I was stupid enough to believe that a couple of well-chosen words meant I love you, but he never actually said it… and now everything I did is coming back and ruining the only good thing I’ve had in a long time.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I shouldn’t be here. If I leave and go back to my old apartment, everything is going to be back to normal and you’ll be safe.” I’m mumbling against his chest.
“Jay, I’m beyond worried, love. Talk to me,” he says, while pulling away and using his hand to raise my face to look at him.
I want to refuse, I want to hide, I want more time, but his tone commands attention and my brain follows his request.
“Hey,” he says, and the normality of our usual greeting helps me a little. “You’re not going anywhere,” he adds. His embrace gets a bit tighter, and I relax more.
“I’m sorry,” I say, burying my face against his chest again, and tears fill my eyes when his arms go around me and he pulls closer, and then he lands a kiss, one that makes me fucking emotional, on the top of my head. I want to stay like this forever. Never before have I felt so protected and cared for.
How can I leave when everything I want is in this house, with this man?
Arianna’s snoring sounds have me chuckling through my tears.
The sound is wet, but with a hint of joy. Only babies can make the heart soar even when total desperation is enveloping a person in darkness.
I love this fluffy cotton ball of a small human being. She is what’s keeping us grounded and what keeps us moving forward. She’s not mine, but in some ways she is, and I won’t ever be the same if she’s taken away from me.
“Let’s put her to bed.” Haden pulls back and guides me to the bedroom.
While I place Arianna in her bed, making sure she doesn’t wake up, Haden makes quick work of turning the camera on and placing it in a way that shows her crib.
I stand there looking at Arianna, my brain trying to find ways to make Dick disappear, so that I can stay here for as long as they want me.
I sense Haden’s presence even before he says, “Angel, let’s go.”
Another gush of tears run down my cheeks at hearing the adorable endearment he uses for me again, but especially the tone of voice is what wraps around my heart and makes it Haden’s.
Once we’re on the sofa, our new place to talk, I open up, knowing that the moment has arrived.
“We were at the park when Dick showed up.”
“Are you hurt?”
I shake my head, “He followed Jeremy last time we met. He wants me back and he wants his money back. He’ll keep Jeremy until I go there with the money.”
“You are not going back.”
“I have to, because nothing can happen to you, Arianna, or Jeremy. I barely survived being responsible for my brother’s death. I’m not going to survive if something happens to any of you. I left my family behind, leaving them to grieve over losing two sons, because I couldn’t face them any longer. I can’t face the idea of something happening to Arianna and survive it. ”
“He can have the money. I don’t care about the money. But he can’t have you. You’re mine.” His arms seize me against him, but I don’t complain because I need his strength.
I need him to understand how dangerous Dick is, so I continue telling him what happened. “He took Arianna from the pram when I tried to leave. Do you—”
“He did what? I’m going to fucking kill that bastard with my own hands,” Haden says, jumping up from the sofa and pacing like a lion in a cage.
“We’ll get this solved straight away. Get in touch with Jeremy and tell him he can stay here. I need to go to the bank and get the money.”
