Page 115 of Marked

She pulled away, and her little mouth pursed and one eye narrowed. “Mommy said you were gone and we’d never see you again.” And damn if her impish tone didn’t hold accusation and resentment.

He chuckled. “That’s my fault, not your mom’s.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “Then why’s Mommy always crying? I know it’s about you.”

Kids. Christ.

But that tidbit of information did something to him. Maybe he’d been wrong not to let Sophia in on his last-minute plan, but after all he’d made her an accomplice to, he couldn’t expect her to get in on him faking his death.

Especially when he couldn’t divulge all his reasons.

Well, now he could. Two weeks without Sophia had been hell. Agony. Only his brothers knew he was alive. He’d let Dallas share the news with the other two but had needed to keep a low profile.

So much for that. He’d been busted by a four-year-old.

Which reminded him. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a small box wrapped in silver paper. He’d been waiting for the right moment to drop this into Bella’s sitter’s bag, but now that the kid had blown his cover, it might as well come from him.

“Don’t you have a birthday coming up?” he asked, keeping the box hidden in his palm as he lowered her to her feet and crouched in front of her.

“Yeah! My party’s tomorrow. I’m going to be five!” She extended her palm toward his face. “I think you should come. Even though you don’t like parties. Mommy will be happy to see you.”

He grunted. “I need to stay away from parties for a while. But I didn’t forget.” He opened his hand.

Bella let out a squeal and took the box. She quickly ripped the paper and threw it on the ground. She cracked open the velvet case, and her mouth dropped open. “That’s my name!” The necklace with Bella scrawled in gold caught the sunlight.

“Wanna wear it?” he asked.

“Yes, please!” She passed him the box. He shook out the necklace, turned her around, and hooked the clasp.

She whirled around and caught his neck in another hug. “Thank you!”

A panicked scream carried over the playground. “Bella! Oh my god. Bella!”

Cole fought a groan. Had he been a kidnapper, he’d have been long gone with the kid. At least the sitter had finally noticed.

Bella gasped. “That’s Natalie.” She tugged on his hand, trying to pull him around the play structure, but he didn’t move, staying hidden.

“I can’t let her see me, okay? I’m going to go now.”

Bella’s bottom lip stuck out. “But Mommy will be here soon.”

He rested his hand on the top of her head. “Give her a big hug for me, okay?”

“Bella!” Judging by Natalie’s outraged shriek, she’d spotted the girl.

“I’m here!” She turned and ran around the slide, chucking up woodchips behind her.

Cole quickly dipped out of the playground. Now he really had to disappear.

CHAPTER 29

“Mommy!”

Bella leaped into her arms, and Sophia swooped her daughter off the ground.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Sophia said, into Bella’s sweet-smelling hair. “Thanks for playing while I stopped by work.”

Bella wiggled out of her embrace and bounced on her toes. “Are you done now? Forever?”

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