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“Let’s go, princess.”
Head tilted back in my tight grip, she finds my eyes for a second before I look away, needing to keep him in sight. “Can we get your mom some flowers?”
“Baby, if you can get it within two minutes, you can have anything you want.”
“There’s a joke about you somewhere in there.” My cheeky girl grins.
“Your ass is going to pay for that later,” I warn her, releasing her braid.
I steer her to the other end of the aisle, not wanting to get too close.
Time for us to leave.
Lara snags a pretty bunch of flowers on our way to check out. We’re in the queue for ten minutes, and it’s ten minutes too long. I can feel my skin crawling. The idea of another killer being this close to my girl tests every bit of my control.
My eyes track him as he checks out a few tills down. His eyes are glued to his daughter, and it helps ease me slightly. He wants to keep her safe, so he wouldn’t risk anything with her here.
I wouldn’t hurt a child, but he doesn’t know that. The same way I can’t know that he wouldn’t try to hurt Lara.
“You okay?” Lara asks.
“Of course. I’m sorry, princess. I’m just tired. We didn’t sleep much last night.” It was both the right and wrong thing to say.
Lara’s smile drops, her throat bobbing. She pulls away from me emotionally, but at least now she’s just as eager to leave as I am.
My head turns from left to right, taking everyone in as we leave, descending the steps quickly.
A commotion to my left draws everyone’s attention.I immediately step around Lara, putting myself between the two.
The man I spotted in the store rushes over to his little girl, who is on the floor crying. A woman kneels in front of her, wiping away her tears. By the time he reaches them, the tears have stopped and been replaced by a smile.
Keeping a sound grip on Lara’s hand, I keep us moving. Adrenaline courses through me. My girl remains completely oblivious.
Thankfully.
The woman in front of the girl tilts her head up with a bright smile ready for a killer.
Lulu!
I recognize her. She’s Samantha’s friend, they went to school together.
The man crouches, joining the two girls.
Lulu’s stepdad interrupts the conversation, his hand violent as it rips her away from the small family.
My feet stop.
“Michael?” Lara questions, confused.
She searches the parking lot, just as I had. Maybe she was paying attention. “I’m scared.”
My head snaps to her, and my left hand tilts her head back. “You never have to be afraid with me. Anyone who wants to get to you will have to go through me first.”
Watery eyes peer up at me. “You’ll protect me?”
“Until my last breath,” I swear.
I kiss her forehead, sealing the promise.
