Page 76 of Saving Little Clark

"Not so tough now, are you?" he panted, baring his teeth in a feral grin. "Not such a big, bad wolf when you're the one pissing yourself."

"Alex!"

Will's voice cracked out like a whip, cutting through the red haze. Alex froze, chest heaving, hands still fisted in Sterling's hair.

"Enough," Uncle Will said, quieter but no less steel. He jerked his chin at where Sterling lay twitching, glassy-eyed and groaning. "The trash is down. Let the cops deal with him now."

For a moment, rebellion twisted Alex's face. I could see the war behind his eyes, the visceral need to hurt, to make Sterling feel even a fraction of the pain he'd dealt.

But then, with a last contemptuous snarl, he released his grip. Watched with vicious satisfaction as Sterling crumpled, mewling pathetically.

"You're lucky," Alex spat, pushing to his feet. "Lucky I've got people to get back to, a life I'm not gonna throw away on scum like you."

When Uncle Will restrained Sterling, Alex turned to me, fury melting into something soft and worried. Alex hurried to my side, gentle hands already reaching to check for hurts.

"Clarkie! You okay? Did he get you anywhere, do I need to-"

But before he could finish the thought, he was gently shoved aside. Sent sprawling with an indignant yelp, limbs flailing.

I barely had time to register the change. To blink in confusion at the sudden absence, the rush of cool air where Alex had been. And then, warmth. Solid and sweet-smelling, engulfing me like a tide.

It was Daddy. Crushing me to his chest with a broken sound, babbled words spilling into my hair. Apologies andendearments, swearing and prayer all tangled up and pouring out, a flood finally released.

I clung to him just as desperately. Fisted my hands in his shirt and held on for dear life, face mashed into the crook of his neck.

"Clark," Daddy choked, cradling the back of my head. Rocking us, graceless and urgent. "My baby bug, my angel, I'm sorry. I should’ve-"

"No, Daddy," I rasped, shaking my head against his skin. "You couldn't have known.”

"I promised you." Brody's voice cracked, splintering like struck glass. "I swore to you, baby. That I'd keep you safe, that I'd never let anyone hurt you again."

"And you didn't," I whispered, pulling back to cradle his face. To meet his wet, grief-stricken gaze, willing him to hear me. To believe me, with every fiber of my battered, grateful heart.

"You saved me," I said, soft but sure. Thumbing away the tears that clung to his stubbled cheeks. "You, Alex, and Uncle Will... you stormed the castle to get to me.”

A voice cut through the stillness. Wry and warm, unexpectedly playful despite the wreckage.

"Well, not that this isn't heartwarming," Alex drawled from behind us, smile evident. "But maybe we could save the tearful reunions for after the villain is behind the bars, yeah?"

I huffed a wet laugh, feeling Daddy do the same against my temple. Pulling back, I swiped at my cheeks. Fixed my best friend with a wobbly grin, shaking my head in fond exasperation.

"Seriously, Lex? We just beat the big bad, and that's what you're going with? Remind me why I put up with you again?"

Alex snorted, pushing to his feet with a wince. "Uh, because I'm a badass ninja motherfucker who just saved your ass? And because you love me."

"Alright, boys," Daddy said, nodding at where Uncle Will had Sterling pinned and groaning. Wrists held fast behind his back, neck bared like a beaten dog. "I think it's time we let the professionals take over from here, hmm?"

In the distance, sirens began to wail. A rising crescendo, drawing ever nearer with each passing second.

"Why did you come back?" I asked, tilting my head to catch Daddy's eye. "I mean, you had that big meeting. I wasn't expecting you for hours."

Daddy huffed a laugh, rueful and impossibly fond. "I was halfway to the office when I saw Alex and your Uncle Will in the rearview. Tearing down the street like bats outta hell. Since you were home alone, Alex was going through the security cams of our home on his phone.”

His throat worked, eyes going distant with remembered fear. "I knew something was wrong. So I turned the car around and I followed, and to hell with the merger, the money, all of it."

A shuddering sigh, his forehead falling to rest against my own. "None of that matters, not even a little. Not when it comes to you, to keeping you safe.”

He buried his face in my hair and just breathed, harsh and hitching in the still air.

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