Page 20 of Leland

“Sugar, I need you to look at Daddy for a minute. Can you do that?”

She did as I asked and I smiled gently at her. “Daddy’s so sorry he didn’t know you were scared that son of a bitch was going to come looking for you. None of us thought about how Malachi coming for Emily would affect you too and that was really awful of us. I am so sorry.”

“It wasn’t your job to know. I-I should have told someone, but it seemed so selfish after everything Emily went through.”

“Baby, it wasn’t selfish at all. You went through something traumatic too. You’re allowed to have feelings and your fears over that too.”

She tried to look away, but I gently guided her face toward mine. “You’re allowed to have feelings and fears too,” I repeated. I would repeat it as much as she needed to hear it. “And, Rouge, Daddy will never let David take you, baby. I would kill him before he even got his hands on you.”

She looked shocked, but nodded anyway.

“You’re my baby and nobody hurts my baby.”

She nodded again.

“Say ‘yes, Daddy’,” I corrected.

“Yes, D-daddy,” she whispered.

“I know you may have said it in fear, but no taksiebacksies.”

She grinned, then winced.

“Elliot’s pulling in now. I brought her some ice,” Bash said as he dropped the bag on the table.

Rouge didn’t move to get out of my lap just as Bash didn’t bat an eye at her sitting in my lap.

“I’m sorry you got hurt tonight, Little one,” he said.

“But between you and Bash, I promise that fucker didn’t walk away unharmed,” Kay added, walking in with Elliot. “Smoke is taking care of him.”

I nodded at him in thanks and made a mental note to make sure to erase the security cameras just in case there was a murder in the property tonight.

Had there been a murder?

I studied Bash.

He looked at me before shaking his head. “I didn’t kill the bastard. Smoke drove him to the rehab in McRae County. We didn’t want Rouge to have to talk to the police and clearly the guy needed some help. She’s been through enough.”

“Thank you, Bash,” she said, taking his hand and squeezing. It was fast—lasting less than four seconds—but it was proof she was opening up.

Bash cleared his throat and nodded at her before walking away. He really loved Rouge. I was thankful she had him on her side too.

“Hi, darlin’. I’m Dr. Elliot and I’m very sorry we’re meeting this way for the first time,” Elliot said, kneeling in front of us.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Rouge answered, melting my heart all over again.

Elliot cupped his hand and placed it over his heart. “Well, aren't you just the sweetest?”

Rouge flushed and looked down at her fingers, but that was okay. She’d get used to compliments eventually. At least she didn’t brush them off.

Chapter Seven

Rouge

“Ouchie! Ouchie!” I cried as Elliot placed stitches in the cut above my eye. He’d numbed the area, but it still hurt.

“Elliot, fucking be more gentle,” Leland scolded. It would have been funny if I wasn’t in so much pain.

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