Page 78 of Second Shot

There’s a bang on thedoor.

I’d ignore it, except Noah just went down for his nap, and I’m afraid if the person keeps knocking, they’ll wake himup.

“Oh,” the girl says with a frown when I open the door. Dark hair hangs over her face, but it doesn’t hide the bruises, the black eye that is swollen shut, or the deep purple bruise on her jaw. “I…Sorry. I must have the wrongapartment.”

I know who she is immediately, from the photos Felix sentme.

“You’re Kiley,right?”

Her eyes widen and shenods.

“I’m Brynne. I’m Kane’s…” God, what am I? It feels weird calling myself his girlfriend, so I just say, “Why don’t you comein.”

“I don’t know.” She shifts nervously, glancing over her shoulder at theelevator.

Noah’s cry echoes down the hall, and I curse inwardly. His afternoon naps are getting shorter and shorterlately.

Kiley’s eyes widen at the sound. “You have ababy?”

“Ido.”

“Is…is itKane’s?”

“Yeah.” Which makes him her nephew. It’s an odd thought, one I hadn’t consideredbefore.

We stand there in awkward silence for another few seconds. But Noah’s cries keep gettinglouder.

“I need to gethim.”

She nods, then starts toturn.

I hesitate, then say, “Would you like to meethim?”

“I…” She frowns, but when I open the door wider she steps in, and I get a real sense of how tiny she is. She’s got on a baggy hoodie, but it doesn’t hide the fact that she’s severely underweight. “Okay.”

“You’re staying with Blake, right?” I say, leading her into the livingroom.

She lifts her shoulders, not responding. There’s pain written all over the girl. Pain and heartache. And I know why Kane didn’t want me to meet her. She reminds me of Sam, with the same lost, desperatelook.

I reach down into the playpen and lift Noah out. He hiccups a couple times before finally settlingdown.

Her expression softens when she sees him. “I didn’t know Kane had akid.”

“It’s been complicated. We haven’t told manypeople.”

She frowns. “I don’t think Kane would want mehere.”

I know she’s right. But the girl in front of me isn’t a threat. She just needshelp.

“Do you want to hold him?” Iask.

She shakes her head and looks over her shoulder, like she expects Kane to come storming through thedoors.

“I shouldn’t. I just came here to give him this.” She pulls a folding letter out of her pocket and hands it tome.

I know the look in her eyes. It’s one I can relate to -fear. Whatever the letter says, I know what she’s planning - she’s going to run. And if she does, she’ll be running straight back into the trouble she just got outof.

“Why don’t you stay for a bit?” When she starts to protest, I don’t give her the chance to walk away. I place Noah in her arms, and start towards the kitchen. “I was just about to start preparing dinner, and I’d really appreciate the company. Plus, you can help keep Noah entertained. He gets a bit fussy at this time if he’s not beingheld.”

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