Page 14 of Keegan's Promise

She’s so fucking strong, stronger than she realizes. She kept herself alive and protected our daughter, and she did it all alone. Grown men would have cracked, but not this delicate little flower. Not Landry. She just fucking did it.

“You didn’t know, Keegan.”

“They found you, didn’t they?” I ask, but I already know the answer. I need to hear it, though. Every damn detail. Maybe it’s guilt for not being there. Maybe it’s punishment for the other day, when I told Coby I met her in Silver Spoon Falls because I didn’t know how to fucking admit that I fell in love with someone whose name I didn’t even know. I don’t know. But if she lived it, I need to hear it.

She jerks her chin in a nod. “I went to get ice for my knee,” she whispers. “I heard them talking to one of the maids, asking about me. I was afraid they’d find us together if I stayed. I didn’t want them to hurt you. So I left you a note and r-ran.”

Realization dawns, making my stomach churn as bile crawls up my throat. “You let them catch you.”

She glances away, refusing to meet my gaze, but it’s confirmation enough. I rock back on my heels, my stomach in knots. Christ, she walked out of there, knowing they would catch her. And she did it to protect me.

I want to howl and rage at the thought, bend her over and spank her perfect ass until she promises never to do that again. All this fucking time, I’ve been pissed that she ran out on me. I’ve been hurt and moping, wondering if what I felt that day was one-sided. I’ve been worried, too, afraid that she was out there alone, still running, still skittish and afraid. And she was with those fuckers the entire time, trying to spare me.

After running for a year, she let them take her to save my life. I don’t even know how to begin processing that. How can I?

“What did they do to you?”

“Nothing.”

“Landry,” I growl.

Lily startles in my arms, letting out a soft wail.

I immediately pull her closer, cradling her tiny head in my hand as I lay her against my chest to rock her. She settles down instantly, burrowing into me like she knows I’m her daddy.

Jesus. I’m her daddy. I have a tiny, perfect daughter.

“How old is she?”

“Four months,” Landry whispers. “Her birthday is April 19th. She was born at 2:08 in the afternoon.”

I swallow hard, clutching Lily a little tighter. I should have been there. It kills me that I wasn’t, that I didn’t even know her birthday or how old she is. I don’t know what she likes. Christ, I have so much to make up for with both of them.

“I managed to avoid being caught for a little while,” Landry says once Lily has calmed down again. “When I realized I was pregnant, I told them, hoping they’d s-spare me. But they wanted…” She shivers, her eyes wide and haunted as she wraps her arms around herself, almost like she’s trying to hold herself together. “One of their members and his old lady couldn’t have kids. They were going to t-take her from me once I gave birth.”

My hold on Lily tightens instinctively, fury churning through me. Hell will freeze over before they take our baby. I’ll kill every single one of the motherfuckers myself.

“Garrick kept me locked up so I couldn’t run, but no one hurt me. I think he was s-saving that for after…” She shivers again. “I escaped anyway. They weren’t taking our baby, Keegan. They’ll kill me before I let them take her.” Her eyes burn with conviction as the vow rolls from her lips.

And that worries the fuck out of me. Not because I don’t get it, I do. They’ll have to kill me, too, if they think they’re taking our daughter. But because she’s already risked everything to protect me. How much further will she go to protect Lily?

“I went back to Colorado to find you. I checked the tattoo shops, but no one could tell me anything.”

I’m not surprised. Aside from the Expo, I haven’t spent much time in Colorado. And I’d just accepted the job at Bleaker Street when we went to the Expo. She would have been shooting in the dark. And yet…she’s here now anyway.

“How’d you find me, sweetness?”

“The shirt I took,” she whispers. “I finally looked up the name of the shop at the library. There are only three shops in the United States with that name. When I found your website, I knew it was this one.” She meets my gaze, hers haunted. “You were right here all along.”

My brows furrow. “You were in Texas?”

She jerks her chin in a nod. “Outside of Dallas. It’s where the Sons of Loki, the MC, are, too.”

Jesus. She’s been in the same state this whole time, just hours away. She’s been in hell just a day’s drive away. And the goddamn Sons of Loki are the ones who dragged her there.

I’m familiar with them. It’s impossible to live in this state and not know who they are. The bastards are ruthless, violent pricks. They dabble in gun running, drug dealing, and human trafficking. If it’s illegal, they’ve got a hand in it. And they’re after my woman and our daughter.

“I t-thought you could t-take Lily, k-keep her safe.” More tears spill down Landry’s cheeks, the pain in her gaze threatening to break me wide open. “I know you don’t know her yet, but she n-needs you, Keegan. You have to keep her safe for me.”

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