Page 102 of Auctioned to the Devil

“Smart ones are.”

Lily’s eyes go wide.

“Because you’re the Devil?”

Silence.

I slowly look at Emily.

She bites her lip.

“Where did she hear that?”

“Probably Sally.”

“I’m killing Sally.”

Emily laughs harder.

Lily climbs into my arms.

“You’re not really the Devil.”

“No?”

She shakes her head and pats my beard. “You’re Daddy.”

Something catches hard in my chest.

Even after four years, I’m not used to that word.

Not completely.

I kiss her forehead. “Yeah, baby girl.”

Jack launches himself at my leg.

Sophie follows.

Within seconds, I’m carrying one kid, dragging another, and trying to keep the third from climbing my back.

Emily watches from the couch. “You wanted three.”

“Worth it.”

Her smile softens.

I look around the cabin.

At the toys.

The noise.

My kids.

My wife.

For most of my life, home meant a place I had to defend.