Page 32 of The King of Hearts

“Why don’t you pick a few to take back to the room?” I suggest.

Harper’s face splits into a big grin as she gets to her feet. “Okay.”

We both watch as she dashes off to the flowers.

I use the excuse of getting more comfortable on the blanket to scoot a little closer to Liliana. Her attention is on her daughter, so she doesn’t notice.

“Lili.” I want her eyes on me, so I use a shortened version of her name to get her attention.

She looks at me, and the softness that’s always on her expression when she looks at Harper fades into wariness.

“We can help you, Lili,” I say quietly. “You have no reason to trust us, but if you give us a chance to earn it, you won’t regret it.”

Whatever happened to her goes beyond what happened the night Bishop found her. This woman is too cautious, too scared, to have been hurt only once. She’s been in a terrible situation for a while.

She doesn’t speak, but I know she’s listening.

“My family and I help people who are in similar situations as you,” I continue.

“How?”

I can’t give her the full details yet, but I give her as much as I can. “We… give them closure.”

Her head slants to the side as her interest grows. This is good.

“What do you mean?”

With my hand on the blanket, I lean toward her. “I can’t tell you everything. We have a system in place. What I can say is, after that closure, you and Harper will have no need to be afraid anymore.”

She’s doubtful, but behind that look, I don’t miss the desperate hope. I wish I could erase that cynicism. To assure her with one hundred percent certainty that she won’t ever have to be scared anymore. That the person or persons who hurt her won’t ever have the chance to do it again.

I give her a few minutes to absorb what I’ve told her. I can tell she’s mulling it around in her head by the frown on her face. She wants to believe me, I know she does, but something tells me she’s been burned a lot in the past.

“Talk to my dad,” I urge her. “Hear what he has to say before you make a decision. You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you like.” I don’t want her to believe we’re trying to push her out. That she has a safe place for herself and Harper. “You have options, Lili, and each one will ensure that you and Harper are safe.”

She looks across the lawn toward Harper. The little girl is skipping around on her short legs, looking at all of the colorful flowers. She’s smiling and having a good time, and I get the feeling that it’s been a long time, if ever, that Lili has seen her daughter so happy. And I’d bet it’s been even longer since Lili has.

Her eyes move back to me, and her lips are a firm line across her face. She straightens her posture, her shoulders going back, and her chin lifts.

“Okay. I’ll talk to him,” she says, her voice strong for the first time. “But I want you there too.”

Having no clue if the comfort will be accepted or not, I reach out and grab her hand. “I can do that.”

She nods and moves her eyes back to Harper.

A heavy weight lifts off my chest, knowing this woman and her daughter will be okay.

The Raven Group and the service they provide Lili with will ensure it.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

HER

After flipping off the light switch, I walk through a wall of steam and out of the bathroom. My room is dark with only the lamp on my bedside table switched on. Uncharacteristically, today was exhausting, so my plan is to go straight to bed, but I’m waylaid by the box sitting neatly on my desk.

It’s the exact same shape and size as the one before.

I go to it, not even bothering to look to see if my devil is in the room. Instinct tells me he is, and he’ll make himself known when he wants.

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