Page 49 of Dagger

I glance at the couch, debating whether to sit or leave, but Chloe pats the cushion beside her. “Sit,” she says, like she’s reading my mind.

I lower myself onto the couch, trying to ignore the faint trace of Hawk’s cologne still lingering in the air. Chloe opens the pretzels, popping one into her mouth and offering me the bag.

I shake my head. “How are you doing? How are you feeling?”

She pauses, the question clearly making her think. “I’m good,” she says finally. “Tired, but good. Oh, and I found a place for me and the baby.”

Her words hit like a gut punch. I feel it, sharp and immediate, but I keep my face steady. “Yeah?” I ask, forcing a small smile. “That’s great. Where’s it at?”

She beams, clearly excited. “It’s a little two-bedroom house, not far from here. Cute place, fenced-in yard. Perfect for me and the baby.”

It stings—her building a life without me—but at the same time, I can’t help but feel proud of her. She’s doing what she needs to do, and she’s doing it on her own terms. “When are you moving in?” I ask, keeping my tone even.

“In a couple of days,” she says, reaching for another pretzel.

I nod, leaning forward slightly. “I’ll be there,” I tell her. “And don’t even think about lifting anything heavy.”

She grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Yes, sir,” she says, throwing a mock salute.

I roll my eyes, laughing under my breath. “You’re a pain, you know that?”

“Yep,” she says, popping the “p” and smirking.

Her sarcastic energy, her fire—it’s one of the things I love most about her. But I keep that thought to myself, just sitting there for a moment, watching her laugh. She’s strong, and she’s doing what she has to for her and the baby. And no matter what, I’m going to make sure she knows I’ve got her back. Always.

SEVENTEEN

CHLOE

Saturday morning comes too fast.I’m barely awake, sitting on the couch with my hair in a messy bun, when there’s a knock at the door. I waddle over, grumbling under my breath about the sun not being all the way up yet when I swing it open to find Dagger standing there, holding a brown paper bag, a bottle of orange juice, and a coffee.

"Bright and early," I say, squinting against the morning light.

He smirks and steps inside without waiting for an invitation, all six-foot-four of pure muscle. "Figured you'd need some fuel for the day."

The smell of breakfast sandwiches and coffee fills the air, and my stomach growls on cue. “You’re lucky I’m starving,” I mumble, taking the bag and orange juice from him and heading toward my small table.

We sit down, unwrapping sandwiches, and I let the first bite melt some of my crankiness away. Dagger sips his coffee, watching me with that unreadable look he gets sometimes.

“So, what’s the plan?” he asks, breaking the silence.

I swallow and wipe my hands on a napkin. “I’ve got the essentials packed.” I gesture to the boxes lining the wall. “I justneed to load all of that, the furniture, and everything else into the U-Haul. Then it’s off to the new place to unload and start unpacking. Shouldn’t take too long.”

He raises an eyebrow. “You meanweneed to get it all over to the new place.”

I smirk. “That’s exactly what I said.”

He shakes his head, leaning back in his chair. “Anything heavy stays put until I move it. You got that?”

“Dagger, I’m pregnant, not broken,” I laugh rolling my eyes.

“Doesn’t matter,” he says, his voice firm but not mean. “You’re not lifting a damn thing. If you need something moved, you tell me.”

I let out a dramatic sigh but smile anyway. “Fine. I’ll play nice.”

When we finish, Dagger grabs the trash and tosses it in the bin before heading outside to start loading the truck with my boxes. I watch him through the window as he moves with that quiet confidence he always has, effortlessly hoisting boxes like they weigh nothing.

An hour later, Tank, Sophie, and Hawk show up. Sophie’s smile is as bright as ever. “Morning, mama,” she says.

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