Two weeks of Daisy and her kids under my feet and getting under my skin. Constantly there with those smiles and unending questions and their laughter ringing against the walls.
Invading my space and fucking with my mind.
All while I spent most of my time trying to sniff out the bastard who was at the root of the problem in the first place.
I’d sworn to Daisy that I would protect her. That I would protect all of them.
I’d torn through every detail I could uncover on that piece of shit.
Unfortunately, once he was released from jail, he disappeared.
Not a fucking trace.
But I’d find him.
I would hunt every inch of this earth until I did.
It wasn’t enough for Daisy, though. She was desperate for what she asked.
What tore me up inside was somewhere in that pretty head of hers, she was convinced she was going to die—or at least that there was a significant chance that she would. And what she wanted most was to know, in that event, that her children would be cared for.
Daisy didn’t have anyone else. Had lost every fucking person in her world.
Lightheadedness suddenly swept through my brain.
The guilt strangling.
She believed I was someone different than I was. She didn’t know what I’d done. What I was responsible for.
She sure as hell wouldn’t be here asking this of me if she knew.
Needed to tell her, but I knew it would send her running. She’d hate me forever, the exact way I deserved.
But there was no chance I was going to leave her alone and unprotected, so for now, I had to carry this. The weight of what I’d done. Couldn’t give it to her until I hunted this motherfucker down and brought him to his end.
My breaths were shallow as I followed Theo through the store.
“You gettin’ weak on me or what, brother?” he teased.
No question, he heard the pants coming from my mouth.
He had no idea where the weakness was coming from.
I only grunted in response.
He chuckled since he knew me well enough that I didn’t speak unless necessary. He continued on like it was any other day. “Appreciate you lending a hand.”
Wasn’t like I was going to say no when he asked for help. Dude was excited as hell since Piper had a new clothing line debuting at Ivy Threads.
I’d needed an excuse to get out of that house, anyway. Some time to clear my head.
My house was locked up tight, but I had Silas send over one of his guys to sit as security just to be sure.
I was positive no one could touch them there, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t itching to get back to see for myself that they were safe.
Theo basically pranced out into the middle of the store where Piper and Emery were setting up.
“You got them!” Piper beamed at Theo as he sauntered up to her. Piper was tall with a mane of white, long hair.
