Her eyebrows pinch down, a look of warning flashing across her face.“Why can’t I stay with my Summer?”
“She’s coming with me,” I tell her.
“I am?”Summer questions, arching that beautifully sculpted eyebrow at me again.
“Yes, I need your help with something important.”I wiggle my eyebrows.I can’t help it.I just do.
“You do?”she bites out.“I thought we already had this conversation today.Me, um...”her gaze briefly flickers to Mum and her cheeks flush, “helpingyou, isn’t going to happen again.”
Ah, her mind really did go to the gutter.Malia snorts under her breath, my mum glances down at her shoes, hiding her smirk, and Milly looks adorably confused.
If I mention a dog, Milly might badger us to come, and as cool as the kid is, I want time alone with Summer.Just us.
Fucking hell, I’m turning into a vagina.
“Not that kind of help.But I’m glad you’re still thinking about it.It means I have a bigger chance of changing your mind.”
“This conversation is so confusing.”Milly pouts, looking up at me.“You won’t forget to take me?”
“Of course not, kid.Mum knows now too, so she’ll keep reminding me,” I promise.
“Good.Remember, I know how to hide a body,” she warns me, then runs off with Rex hot on her heels.
My eyebrows furrow as I turn to Malia.“Are you sure she’s six?”
She can barely contain her amusement, but something behind me wipes it from her expression as her jaw goes slack.I glance over my shoulder, chuckling when I see Liam, bare-chested, tugging out his earphones.Bro is crazy for going out for a run in this weather.If I was into dudes, he’d be my go-to guy for sure.The guy is ripped.And whilst he lost a lot of muscle after his attack, he didn’t lose all of it, and it’s slowly coming back.I have a feeling he’ll be more ripped than he was before they kidnapped him.
Sweat glistens off his chest.He tips his head back, squirting the bottle of water into his mouth, his lips never once touching the bottle.
“Fuck me!”Malia breathes, drool practically dripping down her chin.
Tyres screech, and I hear the distinct ping of gravel hitting a car.My gaze is still on Liam, who drops the bottle and races off to the road.
I turn, and my breath catches in my throat.The car...it’s going to...
Fuck!
Milly.
I’m already moving, racing in her direction, because the car is heading right for her.Malia screams her name.“Milly!”
Milly doesn’t move.She stands frozen, watching the car heading right for her.
“Oh no,” Paisley cries behind me.
I run as fast as I can, grateful Liam is ahead of me because I know I’ll never make it.I won’t even get close, and Milly still hasn’t moved from the spot, her entire body shaking.
Rex, sensing the danger, or maybe already knowing, gets up on his hind legs and pushes her away from the car seconds before it can hit her.A guttural sound works its way up my throat when I hear the thud and a high-pitched yelp.It’s filled with pain and anguish.The following whimpers have my stomach threatening to bring up the food I ate this morning.
Liam slides across the bonnet of the car, which is still moving.I hold my breath, hoping he has the kid.
The car spins out, barely missing me as it comes to a stop.Liam has the kid in his arms, glaring at the car.
“Rex,” Paisley cries between a sob.“Rex!”
What the fuck is happening?
My heart stutters, panic crawling at the back of my throat.I had been right here,right here,and a little girl nearly got hit and Rex, a fucking dog, has been hit by a car.My sister’s expression is filled with devastation as she rests his head on her knees.
