Page 78 of Made for You
“She ain’t comin’ out, and she ain’t comin’ with you. She’smydaughter.”
A banging sounded from inside, and instantly, I knew she was either in the closet or the bathroom. That confirmed she was here against her will, though it hadn’t taken a genius to figure that out, but I’d needed it confirmed.
I leaned in like I was going to tell him a secret. “Carl, I’m going to give you to the count of three to show me Kiley, and then I’m going to have to come in and see for myself.”
He hurled expletives at me like it’d make a lick of difference.
“One.”
“You ain’t got a right to come in here. She’smydaughter and she’ll do asIsay. You’re just her trash-mother’s leavings from another man. I—”
“Two.”
“—don’t even know why you’re tryin’. Nobody’s got a right to her but me. I might’ve messed up before, but I’m on track now. I can’t believe you—”
“Three.”
Then it all happened fast.
Gripping the side at chest height, I shoved the door and hit him in the face. He swiped at me and caught me in the ribs—I’d have a bruise. Oh, well. I pushed with every bit of adrenaline against the panel between us, and he finally lost his footing and stumbled back. I moved in, Doc and Oak behind me. Barb stood a few steps outside, and I figured Beast and Stone were looking for another way in to get Kiley in case things went south. Doc and Oak grabbed Carl as I rushed to the closet door and found it blocked by the cheap but oddly heavy sitting chair.
“I’m here, Kiley. I’m coming.”
I could hear her frantically clawing at the handle, shaking it and trying to get free. I tore the chair away from the space and yanked open the door. She came tumbling out, and I caught her, dropping to one knee with the momentum of her crashing into me.
“You’re okay, you’re safe.” I hugged her to me, and she held on so tightly, I started to see spots. I stood and carried her out into the sunlight, out of the trashed room that smelled like something had died.
She was sobbing and saying something I couldn’t understand. I set her on the bed of Doc’s truck and held her for a few minutes as the guys called the police and zip-tied Carl. Eventually, I eased her back, literally prying her arms from around me and held her shoulders, capturing her eyes.
“You’re safe. You’re safe, Ki.”
Her lashes fluttered and more tears tracked down her face. “He said he wanted to apologize. Wanted to try to make up for all the ways he’d failed me. Take me to breakfast and then I could meet up with Marcus. I didn’t want to, but he just kept begging. I thought if I did it, he’d leave me alone. It’d be closure, you know?”
I nodded, understanding her logic, though I wished I’d made it clear she didn’t owe him anything.
“He just kept driving, right out of town. I started freaking out, and he told me he’d wreck the car. I tried to text or call, but my phone died in the night and I couldn’t even get it to turn on. So I just stayed quiet and told him I needed to plug it in—that Marcus would be worried and report it to the police if he didn’t hear anything from me.”
“That’s good. That was smart.”
Her chin wobbled. “I was so scared. I just kept thinking what if you didn’t find me? But I knew you would.”
I pulled her in, holding her tight.
“I knew you would.”
She said it again and again, and I held her for as long as she needed. Time stopped meaning anything because what else mattered in this moment?
“I wouldn’t have stopped looking, you know that, right?” I pulled back to see her face.
“He said you have your own life. That you’re going to marry Nikki and you won’t want me bugging you while you’re starting out. I know I shouldn’t have believed him. I’m sorry I did, but—”
“You don’t apologize for anything. He’s someone you used to trust, at least a little, and he played on the exact thing you’re scared of. I never would’ve thought he was smart enough, but he manipulated you. You’re brilliant, Kiley, but you’re a kid and he’s your dad. You can’t ever think you did anything wrong here.”
“But you’re my brother. And I know you love me.”
My heart squeezed painfully in my chest, victorious at hearing her say it so plainly. “I do. So much. And yes, I want Nikki in my life, but not without you. I hate to tell you this, but you’re stuck with me. We’re family by bloodandby choice. I’m going to be there when you graduate high school and college. When you get your PhD if you want, or when you become the youngest person in Congress, or when you start whatever small shop you want with some silly single-word name on Main Street.”
A watery chuckle snuck out. “So you’re not going to kick me out when you marry her?”
