Page 72 of Wild Card

When he faces me, the hard-ass attitude is gone. “Hope you never know the helplessness and fear I experienced.”

“I was in the same position.”

“She’s my baby girl.”

“I get that. You’ve loved her for twenty-six years. She and I are new. But I found her unconscious on the floor with a faint pulse. Been through a lot of shit in my life but not sure this will ever leave my mind. She means something to me.”

His expression changes, my words processing behind his gaze. “Why do I get the impression there’s a whole lot more to that statement?”

“Clocked you as a smart man.”

“I haven’t always taken care of Willow, and she’s never held me accountable. Instead, she accepts and forgives. Not knowing what was wrong and seeing her in pain, it reminded me how delicate life is.”

“I imagine it’s your right to feel taking care of her is your job. But from where I stand, you’ve done a great job.”

“I didn’t protect her.”

Before I can question the meaning of his statement, his phone chimes. He bolts to his feet, his eyes going hard at whatever is on his screen. “Fuck.”

My senses go on alert, and I edge out from under Willow, standing with him “What’s up?”

“Stacy is here.”

“It’s midnight. How’d she get in?”

There hasn’t been one mention of Willow’s mom today.

“Oneperkof my position. She has an access badge as my spouse. I neglected to cut it off.”

“Her being here a problem?”

He eyes me quizzically. “How much do you know about Willow’s mom?”

“I know they aren’t close and you two are separating.”

“Right, well, that barely scratches the surface.”

“Not my business.”

“I doubt you’ll feel that way when you get the whole story. But for now, I’ll handle it.”

He storms through the door, and from the sounds of things, intercepts her in the hallway.

“What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here? My daughter is here. Better question is why didn’t you call me? I had to find out from Lee, who found out when Rebecca picked up my grandson from school! My son, husband, daughter, and grandson are still my family. Why didn’t anyone call me?”

“We have it under control.”

“I’d like to see that for myself. Where is Willow?”

“It’s the middle of the night. She’s sleeping. Swear to God, Stacy, she doesn’t need you making a scene.”

“A scene? You haven’t seen what I will do if you keep me from my daughter.”

There’s a shuffling of chairs and hushed whispers, mostly Sterling growling out words I can’t comprehend. After a minute, Stacy shrieks.

“You can’t keep me from her!”

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