Page 115 of Nanny for the SEAL

He squeezes me, squeezes me like I might disappear into smoke. “Okay?”

Nodding against him, I let out the deepest breath of my life. “Yes. I’ll stay. I’ll stay with you—forever.”

THIRTY-NINE

Xaden

Ivy is shivering in my arms, and I have to get her warm. Worse, there is still a police report and doctor’s visit ahead of us.

I know that all she wants to do is rest, but we have to see this through to the end. I won’t have this asshole coming back and trying to hurt what’s mine.

“Okay, baby. We need to get you inside and dry off.” I scoop her up into my arms. “And we need to go back to the police station to give our statements.”

I feel Ivy tense as I walk us to the house. “Umm…”

“I know, hun. I know. But we need to finish this. He attacked you. You have more than enough grounds to get him thrown back in jail. Not to mention that I’m pretty sure tracking you down and harassing you isn’t a part of the guy’s parole. It’s just…it’s time. We need to talk to the police, trust them to help.”

She burrows into my chest, seeking out the warmth and comfort, but Ivy nods. I’m not going to ask for more than that. I know this is rough, and we’re going to take things one step at a time.

“First things first, though. We get you dry.”

“Thank you, Xaden. I…thank you.”

When Ivy iswarm and in dry clothes, I bring her back outside—with an umbrella this time—and we drive to the police station. The desk clerk at the front lets us back so that we can meet with the detective taking over the case, and Ivy and I sit down.

“Ms. Campbell, thank you for coming back in.” The detective turns to me. “Thank you for bringing her by, Mr. Ledger.”

I nod. I spoke to Detective Pembrook before driving off after Ivy. I promised that she would be back—to discuss the charges.

“Now,” she turns back to Ivy, “I’m Detective Pembrook. I’ll be handling the case, and I’ve been assured by Mr. Ledger here that you want to press charges. Is that right?”

It takes a moment, but Ivy nods. “Umm, yes. He, umm, he broke his parole too, right?”

Pembrook raises her brows, and damn, this is all so awkward and stiff, but I know we have to go through with this. Ivy needs to see it done.

“Yes, he did. Per the stipulations of his parole, which I have the paperwork for, Mr. Campbell wasn’t to contact you in any way or leave New York. I understand that you have evidence of his texts and calls on your phone?”

Ivy nods again, moving as if she’s not really present. “I have some. I…I wasn’t as thorough as I should have been.”

Shaking her head, Pembrook reaches out and lays a hand on Ivy’s. “Hey, these are formalities. The man was seen attempting to throw you in front of a moving car by several witnesses. It’ll be damn near impossible to refute that. We just want all our ducks in a row for sentencing.”

Something changes in the way Ivy looks at the detective, and she tilts her head. Scooting forward in the char, Ivy leans in, and I’m quick to put a hand on her back, not knowing where this is going.

“Sentencing? So…so you think he’ll go back to prison?”

Ivy’s voice is thick, and I watch her eyes tear up.

Pembrook grins in a tight line, nodding just once. “I won’t say one hundred percent because I need to be realistic with you, but I do. I don’t think there’s a jury in this country who wouldn’t see the damning evidence against him and find Mr. Campbell not guilty.”

A rush of tears falls from Ivy’s face, and she cranes over the table as she lets herself break down again. I cover her with a hug, closing my eyes as I smile against her shoulder.

“I…I really didn’t think he was ever going to leave me alone.” Ivy looks up, glancing between me and the detective. “I…I have my life back.”

I pull Ivy close, acting as her anchor in the storm. Pembrook nods at me, offering a sympathetic gesture.

“I’ll do everything I can to ensure that, Ivy. I will.”

Reaching out, I take Pembrook’s hand and shake it. “Thank you, Detective. Truly.”

---