Page 96 of Lennox Lane

“You’re vibrating.”

“Because if something had happened to you, I would’ve burned through this whole fucking town to find who touched you,” his tone frigid.

Cadence sucked in a breath as KC’s expression sharpened. Nova went soft around the eyes, and Land looked like she wanted to fight him and fold at the same time.

Lennox pointed toward the island. “You said you’d let me help.”

“I did let you help,” she scoffed.

“You snuck out of my bed before sunrise.”

“I went home.”

“And then you texted Jeanette from a burner thread and agreed to meet her alone at three.”

Lane’s mouth closed.

Nova slowly turned toward her. “Lane.”

Cadence’s hand moved over her belly. “Baby.”

Lane shook her head. “I had to go.”

“No, you didn’t,” Lennox said.

Her eyes came back to him, bright with the kind of pain that made him want to lower his voice even more.

“I know you’re a leader,” he said, “I know you’re used to being the captain of your own ship. I know you can walk into storms and make everybody else think the rain asked your permission to fall. I know your heart is broken, Baby,” his voice cracked just enough to make the room disappear around them, “I feel it radiating off you. I saw it in that apartment. I saw it when she said she wanted to know you. I saw you standing there trying to be the woman who survived while the little girl inside you was asking why her mama never came. I see you, even the broken pieces,” he spoke tenderly.

Lane’s lips parted as a tear slid down her cheek. Lennox’s anger folded into grief so fast he almost couldn’t breathe. He saw the beginning of Lane’s story and was determined to make sure it had the happy ending it deserved.

“I’m still here. I’m your safe place to land. Daddy is here for you to have somewhere to fall and feel broken. You cannot and should not have to face the world alone anymore, Lane.”

Lane tried not to, but she fell apart, and not elegantly. Lane broke like something inside her had finally gotten permission to stop holding the roof up. Her knees buckled, and Lennox caught her before she could hit the floor, pulling her into his arms as her hands fisted in his shirt.

“Why didn’t she want me?” Lane sobbed.

The question gutted him, making Lennox hold her tighter. “I don’t know, baby.”

“Why didn’t she love me?” Lane wept.

“She should’ve.”

“I was a kid.” Lane’s voice shattered. “I was a kid, Lennox. I was hungry and scared. I was alone, and she didn’t come.”

“I know.” He pressed his cheek to her hair, eyes burning. “I know.”

Cadence was crying before she reached them. She came around behind Lane, belly first, wrapping her arms around Lane’s back as much as she could.

“You were always worth coming for,” Cadence whispered. “Always. Her not coming was her failure, not yours.”

Nova moved in from the side, sliding one arm around Lane’s waist and the other over Cadence’s shoulder. “You hear us? Jeanette’s sickness and shame didn’t make you unlovable.”

KC stood behind Cadence, one hand on his wife’s shoulder, his own eyes wet. Tariq turned away for a second, jaw tight, then came back with a box of tissues and set it on the counter. Lennox rocked Lane slowly, his hand moving over her back.

“You don’t have to be strong right now,” he murmured. “Not in here and not with us; let it go,” he reassured Lane as she shook in his arms.

Cadence kissed the back of her shoulder. “We got you.”