Page 56 of One More Song

“I know, love. But you can’t run away like this.”

“Em-Emily said...she said that her mommy is going to be my new mommy and she’s going to be my new sister. She...she said...my mommy is bad...that she can’t take care of me.”

I try to keep my anger in check, because I know there’s only one place she would have gotten that information - from Mitch.

“Hey,” I say, pulling back and forcing Cadence to look at me. “You know how much your mom loves you, right?”

She sniffles and nods. “She’s the best mommy in the whole wide world.”

“Yeah, and she’s really scared right now. So how about we call her and let her know that you’re alright.”

“Okay.”

I take out my phone and try calling Ember, but it goes to voicemail, so I text Synn and let him know I found the kid. That I’m bringing her back.

Cadence takes my hand, holding it a man shouts, “Cadence.”

Mitch is walking toward us as we start to walk back.

But when he sees us, instead of relief that should be on his face, there’s just anger.

“Of fucking course,” he seethes, glaring daggers at me, then refocusing his rage on his daughter. “Come here, now.”

Her little hand tightens around mine, and she leans into my body like she did the day he’d dropped her off. She’s frightened of him, and for a second I see the man through a six-year-old’s eyes.

He’s big, his face red, eyes wild with anger. Unpredictable. His voice booms through the forest like a threat.

My own father looked the same way before he’d strike out at my mom or me. But unlike my own dad, Mitch isn’t a drunk, he’s just mean.

“I said. Come. Here. Now.” His teeth are clenched when he says it.

“I want Mommy,” Cadence whimpers, hiding behind me.

That sets Mitch off, and he storms toward us, reaching for her and tugging her arm. “Do you know the trouble you’ve caused?”

“I’m sorry.” She cries out when he jerks her to him.

“Let her go,” I warn.

“Or what?” he sneers. “She’s my kid.”

“And you’re hurting her.”

His fingers dig into Cadence’s skin, and I know his grip will leave a bruise. My first instinct is to strike out. But the kid is between us, and I’m terrified of her getting hurt.

“Let her go,” I say again.

“Daddy, you’re hurting my arm,” she says, tears pouring from her eyes.

“You’re lucky that’s all I’m hurting,” he seethes. “After the trouble you caused today. You made me miss a meeting with an important client. For what? A little temper tantrum. It’s a good thing you’re moving in with me. You need discipline.”

“I don’t want to. I want my mommy,” she yells.

He turns her around, his hand lifting to strike her backside. It may only be a spanking, but that one movement has every cell in me sparking into protective mode. I move forward, not thinking about the consequences, and grab his arm before he can hit her.

He releases Cadence on instinct, and at the same time, I hear Ember’s voice calling out to her close by.

I glance over my shoulder and see Cadence run to her. There are other people around now, people pulling out their cell phones and pointing them at me. But I don’t see them for long, because a fist hits me square in the temple and I stumble back.

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