Page 45 of Daddy’s Hunted Bride

“That she is.” The same pride echoes in my own words. “Which is why I need something more… permanent.”

“We’ll skip the other options, then,” he says, reaching into his bag and pulling out a giant needle that has Gray’s eyes going wide. Our baby sister is absolutely fearless—except where needles are concerned. “This lovely little device gets injected between her shoulder blades.”

Ford frowns. “Like a dog?”

“Similar, but those chips aren’t tracking devices. They’re only useful if someone finds the dog and scans the chip. This,” Gunther continues, holding up the giant needle as Gray recoils, “is an actual GPS tracking device that can be embedded beneath the skin. As far as the average person is concerned, they don’t exist.”

“And yet, you somehow have access to one.” Suspicion colors Ford’s tone as his frown deepens. “How?”

“Connections.” Gunther shrugs. “That’s all you need to know.”

I glance over at Eli, who only cocks a brow in response. Rolling my eyes at my incredibly unhelpful brother, I turn back toward Gunther. “Are there any risks?”

The look he gives me is the very definition of withering. “You’re injecting a piece of technology into her body. There are always risks. She could have a bad reaction, the chip could shift and get lodged somewhere it doesn’t belong, etc.”

“How high are those risks?”

“Lower than the risk of your Little one running off into the woods in the middle of the night. And even if she does have a bad reaction, it’s nothing Ford wouldn’t be able to handle until I can come remove the device for you.”

I look down at the sleeping babygirl in my arms, and my heart clenches at the thought of losing her. “All right. Let’s do it.”

CHAPTER 19

VANESSA

Iwake from my nap groggier than usual, and with the remnants of a headache that remind me of the hangover I had after Josie and I spent an evening downing margaritas to celebrate her first of many appearances on the bestseller list. Whimpering at the flash of pain, I squint at the sunlight pouring through my nursery window.

When did I come up to my nursery?

“There’s my sleepy Little girl.” Dane’s voice is lower than usual, more of a soothing coo rather than the rough rumble I’m used to. “Did you have a good nap, baby?”

“Owie,” I manage to say as he scoops me out of the bed so I can wrap myself round him. Instinctively, I bury my face in the side of his neck to block out the painful light.

“Poor little fox. Can you tell Daddy what’s owie?”

“Head.”

Bouncing me lightly in his arms, he presses a kiss to my hair and fuck me if a tiny bit of my anger toward him doesn’t melt with that simple gesture. It’s getting harder and harder to convince myself he doesn’t care when he does shit like that.

“All right, little one. Let’s go see if Uncle Ford has something for that headache.”

With me still wrapped around him, Dane makes his way down the stairs to the “exam room” I visited when he thought I had a concussion. I have the fleeting thought that maybe I should feign another illness before I dismiss the idea. Ford may not be a doctor but he clearly has medical training, and I’m not sure I could handle whatever punishment Dane might concoct if I get caught lying about an illness or injury yet again.

That, and I just don’t have the energy. Despite my nap, I’m tired and all I want right now is to be held and coddled.

Is that so wrong? To want a bit of comfort after everything I’ve been through?

“Hey, Uncle Ford,” Dane says as we step into the exam room. “Got a babygirl here with a nasty headache.”

“Poor thing.” Maybe it’s just the headache, but I swear Ford actually sounds sympathetic. “Lay her down on the table for me. Has she used her diaper since her nap?”

“Not yet. She woke up pretty miserable so I figured I’d bring her right down.”

Ugh, I hate the way they talk about me like I’m an actual child, but my head is hurting too much to protest.

“Go ahead and have her potty. You’ll need to remove her diaper for her treatment, anyway.”

Okay, I’m not so miserable I can let that pass. “What? Why? Why do I need my diaper off so you can look at my head?”