She looked away. “Because you left before I even woke up.”
“I had a job. Alaska. You were still in the shower. I left my information.”
“I know.”
Silence stretched between us.
“Laney,” I said, softer now. “You’re not alone anymore.”
Before she could answer, Wolf walked in.
“Who do we have here?”
“Wolf, this is Laney Rossi,” I said. “And this—” I looked down at the baby in my arms. “—is my daughter. Emmy.”
Laney lifted her chin. “Someone is hunting me. I need Saint to keep my baby safe.”
Wolf’s expression hardened.
“Then you’re in the right place,” he said.
I looked at Laney.
“You’re not running anymore,” I told her.
And somewhere far away, someone who thought he was the hunter was already too late.
60
Laney
Ididn’t realize how close I was to falling apart until Saint closed the door behind us.
The room was warm, quiet, safe—and my knees almost gave out.
I’d been running for so long that standing still felt wrong.
Saint set Emmy down gently on the bed and tucked a blanket around her like he’d done it a thousand times before. The sight of it squeezed something in my chest so tight I had to look away.
“Did you bring anything with you?” he asked softly.
“Yes.” I nodded. “Clothes. Diapers. Bottles. Everything’s in my car.”
He hesitated. “What kind of car?”
“A black SUV. It’s out front.” My heart started racing again. “Can you… can you hide it? If they see it—”
“I’ll take care of it,” he said immediately.
He looked at me for a second longer, like he wanted to say something else, then forced himself to step away. Before he left, he tucked the blanket more securely around Emmy.
“I’ll be right back.”
The door closed.
I stood there, staring at my daughter.
“You’re safe,” I whispered, even though I wasn’t sure I believed it yet.
