Page 22 of Keegan's Promise

Ha. Never.

They don’t want Lily because they care about her. I’ve seen the way they treat their women and kids. They’ll treat my daughter the same way. They only want her because she’s property in their eyes, something I stole from them. And men like that don’t know how to lose gracefully. They dig in their heels and fight, unwilling and incapable of admitting that they were wrong in the first place.

Leopards don’t change their spots. And men like Garrick and his MC don’t suddenly become compassionate or empathetic.

"Me too," Tate says softly. "If you'll give me a minute, I'll go get Samara."

"You don't have to do that," I say, deciding instinctively to trust this man. How can I not with fear still glinting deep in his eyes? I may not know him, but I understand that fear. I've lived with it every single day since I saw two little pink lines and realized I was going to be a mom. The fear of losing Lily, of not being able to care for her the way she deserves…yes, I understand that all too well.

The fact that this man feels it tells me all I need to know about him. He may be in an MC, but he isn’t like Garrick.

"It's okay. I think it'll be good for you to meet her," he murmurs before disappearing down the hall.

I stare after him, not entirely sure what he means by that. But he's out of sight before I can ask.

I settle into a chair in the corner with a sigh, adjusting Lily in my arms. She’s sleeping deeply, her little lips slightly parted. I brush my lips across her forehead, breathing her in. Her innocent baby smell soothes my raw nerves, just like always.

“Everything is going to be okay,” I whisper to her. The words have become my mantra over the last few months, like if I said them often enough, I could manifest that truth. But this time, they actually feel possible, like everything might just turn out okay.

It’s a dangerous feeling when hope seems destined to destroy me. But I cling to it anyway, sending up a prayer that I’m able to hang onto the little kernel of hope Keegan planted in my heart earlier.

I’m not sure how long I sit there, waiting for Tate and Samara, but I must doze off, because the next thing I know, a gorgeous brunette is gently shaking my shoulder.

I jerk awake, clutching Lily tighter.

“It’s okay,” the brunette says, smiling gently. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” Her gold eyes lock on my face, full of empathy. “You must be exhausted.”

“I…yeah.” I clear my throat…try to clear my mind.

“Landry, this is my wife, Samara,” Tate murmurs from behind the brunette. “Samara, this is Keegan’s family, Landry and Lily.”

My heart clenches when he calls us Keegan’s family. I’ve never had one of those before. I only ever had Uncle Danny, and that man wasn’t family. He was a monster in a man’s clothing.

“Hi,” I whisper when I realize Samara and Tate are both watching me as if waiting for me to say something. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Samara shoots me another soft smile, peeking down at Lily. “She’s beautiful,” she whispers. “How old is she?”

“Four months. Almost five now.”

“Her name is Lily?”I jerk my chin in a nod.

“Do you mind if I take her from you, Landry?” Tate asks, but he doesn’t make a move toward me, like he’s leaving it entirely up to me if I want to hand her over or not.

I hesitate for a brief moment before holding her out to him.

He cradles her carefully, grinning down at her. “She’s a little sleeping beauty, huh?”

“She can sleep through anything,” I murmur, watching carefully as he carries her toward the examination table.

“Is she eating well?”

“About six ounces, every three or four hours.”

“That’s good. Are you breastfeeding?”

“When I can.” I swallow hard. “Um, I don’t always have a big enough supply to satisfy her, so I have to supplement with formula sometimes.”

“She tolerates it well?”

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