Page 20 of Protective Pucking Orc

I nodded, my throat tight.

That bastard hadn’t seen me take her; hadn’t seen where she was. This ice complex was a good place to hide her, among so many people. She could get medical attention, and he wouldn’t think of looking here once he woke, if he was even in a condition to do so.

Kardok was waiting for me in the hall, Torrk beside him. They both looked at me expectantly.

I exhaled. “I need to get Rosa. Can Lila help figure out what they might need?”

Kardok didn’t hesitate, waggling his keys. “We’re coming with you.”

A part of me that had been determined to do this all myself—save her, protect my females—growled a denial. But a larger part of me, the part which had practiced with these guys every day for years, and relied on them on the ice, was smart enough to grab that first part and shake it into silence. I can trust them. I needed their help, if I was going to save Rosa and figure out what was going on with the male who hurt them.

So I sighed in surrender. “Fine. Rosa is at Sophia’s apartment building, and the male who hurt her⁠—"

Torrk interrupted me with a grin as he tossed me Sofia’s bag. “I’m going to check for signs of the bastard by the café. You and Kardok and Lila go get your kitling.”

My kitling.

The words settled into my bones, the truth of them undeniable.

I turned toward the exit, my teammates falling into step beside me, today’s practice forgotten.

We had a daughter to bring home.

Chapter Five

Sofia

I woke up hungry and in a strange place.

Let’s get something straight: I wasn’t a stranger to either of those realizations, nor the fact that my body ached from a beating. But staring up at the stark ceiling and harsh white lights, I remembered…and my eyes filled with tears.

Anthony had found us.

He’d hurt me, he would hurt Rosa, and there was nothing I could do about it.

Except…

I squeezed my eyes shut in shame, the tears leaking from the corners, remembering the fury on Dakvaar’s face when he’d seen what Anthony’s blows had done to me. In that moment, I’d been so damned relieved to hide behind his strength, to let him protect me…even as guilt caused my head to swim.

Anthony wouldn’t let us go, and he was ridiculously powerful. He’d found us in Bramblewood Bluff; he’d find us anywhere and keep chasing us until he took Rosa.

Took my baby and raised her to believe she was worthless, as he’d done to me.

“Sofia?”

A soft voice I didn’t recognize called my name, and I opened my eyes to see a smiling woman about my age, with pale hair and an expensive blouse. Her hand reached out, and when I felt her touch, I realized my left arm was lying on top of the blankets.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

Years of waiting tables had taught me how to lie to hear what someone needed to hear. “Fine, thank you.”

She snorted, then reached toward my face with a tissue. It wasn’t until she carefully wiped my tears from the hair at my temples that I realized I hadn’t fooled her.

“I’m Lila Fairbanks. I own this facility, but more importantly, Dakvaar is my husband’s closest friend.” She paused, then shrugged one shoulder with a smirk. “Knowing Kardok, he might not be Dakvaar’s closest friend.”

I found my lips curled, only to hiss as the movement caused pain to shoot up the left side of my face.

“It’s okay,” Lila said softly, patting my arm. “I just wanted to check in on you. What can I get you?”