Our daughter blinks up at him with wide, curious eyes.
And then…
She smiles.
A full, bright, innocent smile.
Saint’s breath shudders out of him like something inside his chest just broke open.
“Hey,” he whispers.
His voice softens into something I’ve never heard before.
“Hey, baby.”
He reaches a finger toward her tiny hand.
“Daddy’s here.”
She makes a tiny happy sound and reaches for him.
I let him take her.
He gathers her carefully against his chest, holding her like she’s the most precious thing in the world.
Maybe she is.
36
Saint
Idon’t think I’ve ever been this close to breaking.
Not in war.
Not in blood.
Not even when I was tied to that chair.
But sitting here now…
Holding my daughter while Laney curls into my side like she belongs there—
That almost does it.
Because she does belong there.
The cabin is quiet again.
Safe.
Laney’s hands are still shaking slightly where they rest against my arm.
Truth is…
So are mine.
I sit on the edge of the bed, our daughter nestled carefully between us.
