Page 4 of Her Hero Daddy

“It’s okay. Just… just come home, Haylee. Just get here. Come home,” Ally sniffed.

She wanted nothing more than to get as far away from her life in California as she could. Even if it was only one state away, it would be far enough.

“I… I don’t know where I’ll stay. Do you think I can start work at the diner to make some money? I can stay in my car for a few nights until I can rent a room.”

The cold voice she’d heard earlier spoke. “You will stay with me.”

She shivered again. The voice wasn’t nearly as gentle as Luke’s.

“Haylee, that’s Kane. He’s my D… he’s Luke’s friend,” Ally told her.

Before she could say anything, Luke spoke again. “Haylee, I need you to listen to my instructions, okay? I’m going to call a hotel and book you a room between there and here. You can’t drive all night. I will have Ally text you the hotel address once I get it booked. I need you to calm yourself down before you start driving again. Do you have money for gas?”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Fuck! I don’t have anything. I couldn’t get any of my stuff from the house. My purse is still there. I only have my keys and phone. I don’t have any money at all!” she wailed as her breathing became quick and heavy.

“Calm down, honey. Breathe. In and out. Slowly. That’s it. Good girl. Look at your gas gauge—how much gas do you have?” Luke asked.

She looked and felt the nausea rise again. “Only about a quarter of a tank.”

Kane cursed in the background.

“Okay, I need you to download the Money app and set up an account really quick. I’m going to send you some money, and you can use it at the gas station to pay for gas,” Luke said.

Closing her eyes, she realized this was a bad idea. She couldn’t take money from her best friend’s boyfriend.

“Now, Haylee,” Kane said sternly.

Her body trembled slightly, but Kane’s dominant voice was not something that could just be ignored.

“I already have the app, but I can’t accept money from you.”

“Young lady, I am not asking. What is your account name?” Luke asked, his tone turned just as stern as Kane’s.

Taking a deep breath, she realized she was going to have to accept help. She vowed to pay them back as soon as she could. She gave him the information for her account.

“Good girl. I’m transferring money to you right now.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome, honey. Do you think you are calm enough to start driving again?” Luke’s gentle tone was back.

Her body was still trembling, but her tears had dried, and her breathing slowed. Her head throbbed, but that probably wouldn’t go away anytime soon.

“I think so.”

“Okay. I am going to work on finding you a hotel to stay for the night. Ally will send the details. Make sure you drive carefully, wear your seat belt, and if you get upset or start crying, pull over until you calm down. You need to keep Ally up to date on what you’re doing and where you’re at whenever you make a stop so we know that you’re okay. Understood?”

She nodded. “Y…Yes…”

“I love you, Haylee. It’s going to be okay. Da… Luke will make sure everything is okay,” Ally said in a small voice.

“I love you too, Ally. Thank you.”

4

KANE

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