Page 97 of Shattered Secrets

“Tash got him,” Bean said. “Dumbass tried to take Martha, so Tash beat the shit out of him. He was arrested and transferred into federal custody late last night.”

“Good.” Exhausted, she leaned back in her seat. “And everyone on your team’s okay? Nobody was hurt?”

Gavin stared at her for a moment, then smiled. “We’re all good, honey. And just so you know, I’m sure it will get back to MacBride at some point that he has a granddaughter. I want you both”—he glanced between her and Matt—“to trust that we’ll monitor him. For as long as we need, for as long as it takes.”

Scarlet’s brow furrowed. “But how are you planning on doing?—”

“Magic, remember?” Bean winked. “We’ve got you.”

“We protect our own,” Gavin said before tapping the table. “On that note, Bean and I will get out of your hair. Get some rest. I’ll check back in with you guys tomorrow.” He grimaced as he glanced at his watch. “Make that later today.”

Scarlet and Matt walked them out, then made their way hand in hand to their room.

“Daisy should be up in a few hours,” she said. “If you catch her before I do, can you wake me?”

Matt pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Let’s get you to bed, sweetheart. You must be wiped.”

Her limbs grew heavier with each step. “I am,” she mumbled, climbing into bed.

As Matt tucked the covers around her, she promised herself she’d only sleep for a few hours. She hadn’t seen Daisy—notawake, anyway—since yesterday, and she didn’t want to miss another minute with her daughter.

“Mama?”

Scarlet peeked her eyes open and came face-to-face with a pair of bright-blue eyes. Bright-blue eyes that shimmered with tears. She took in her daughter’s worried expression, her trembling lips, and forced her sore body to sit up. “Hi, baby.”

Calling on all her remaining strength, she pulled Daisy across her lap and hugged her tight. She knew she looked like absolute hell; the last thing she wanted was to scare her daughter.

“Careful, Otter Pop,” Matt said, coming into the room and joining them on the massive bed. He positioned himself behind Scarlet and wrapped his arms around both of them.

“Matty,” Daisy sniffed. “Mama has a big owie on her face.”

“I know, sweet girl. Your mom got hurt yesterday, but she was really brave.”

More like scared out of her mind. And so damn pissed. She wasn’t so sure on the brave part.

Her face throbbed where that asshole had punched her, and there was a giant goose egg on the back of her head from when she’d been knocked out in the minivan. She had cuts, scrapes, and bruises all over her from being tied to that stupid chair with her hands behind her back, unable to protect herself from... anything. But having her sweet girl in her arms and being held by the man she loved?

Her life was pretty damn perfect.

“Don’t be scared, baby girl,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of Daisy’s head. “I’m going to be fine. I just got banged up a little.”

Daisy sat up, and Scarlet tried not to wince as her daughter’s sharp elbow dug into her side. “Did you falled down, Mama?”

She caressed Daisy’s cheek. “I did. It hurt a lot, but I didn’t break any bones, so that’s good. I just got a puffy face and a black eye instead.”

“You look like Poppy’s friends from TV. Remember the FUC show we watched with Matty and Four and Gavin and Xandy and we saw Poppy on TV?”

“I do remember, baby, and yeah, I’m sure I look just like they did after their UFC fights. All banged up.”

“Hey, sweet girl,” Matt said, voice rumbling through Scarlet’s chest. “Why don’t you go pick out a movie or a show to watch, okay? Your mom needs to sleep for a little bit longer so her bruises can heal. MaybeKung Fu Panda?”

Daisy shook her head but grinned. “I can’t watchKung Fu Pandawithout you, Matty. It’s your favorite!”

“You’re right, Otter Pop. Why don’t you watch someBluey,then?”

Daisy gasped, and her eyes went wide. “You don’t likeBluey?”

Matt tensed behind her. She could practically feel his panic, and she had to bite back a chuckle.

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