Page 190 of Beautiful Scars

Poor little thing’s going to be left with a spine injury.

“I thought I’d lost you. Where the fuck were you? I thought Alex—”

“No. No. Mom just made you think Alex did it. And now she’s—” As soon as fear darkens her eyes from silver to gray, I cut her off with my lips.

It doesn’t matter now. None of it.

All I need is to get her home. Home with me.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” I hear her murmuring against my chest.

Pulling back, I grab her by the shoulders. “Listen.”

Her eyes are brimming, but I’m not sure if those are happy tears. I can only hope.

“Go back inside with Sarah. Tell Helen you’ll be staying with her for a couple of nights.”

She opens her mouth, but I carry on talking.

“Tell her whatever you need to, just get it done.”

“But...when will I see you again? I’m not just—”

I touch a finger to her mouth, grinning at her. “I’ll be right here, waiting in the car.”

“But... there’s a warrant out for your arrest. For...what you did to Alex.”

Right.

I look down at her. “Doyoucare about that? Say the word, Meisie, and I’ll pay for what I did to him. I’ll do my ten years and then I’ll find you.”

She shakes her head. That’s enough for me.

“Good. Now go. Meet your daughter.”

She tries to give me a smile but it’s a sad one.

I bend down and kiss her on the forehead. “Go, princess. Before she gets suspicious.”

My eyes are glued on Meisie’s back as she walks away. I’m already regretting letting her go, already missing her while she’s less than a few yards away.

My mind’s racing. There are so many moving parts to this shit, one wrong step and we’ll both be fucked. But if we’re careful...If we do this right…

Then we can both have everything we’ve always wanted.