Page 23 of Vow to Protect
The goofy chuckle that follows forces my lips to creep up at the corners. It feels nice to lighten the mood before I see my baby girl.
“You know they aren’t real, right?” Alexander snickers.
“Blame Kaleb. It’s his fault. Last week he bought Tilly a unicorn necklaceanda unicorn stuffed toy that’s twice the size of her. It’s enormous. And for no reason other than he’s besotted with her. Now I have to go one better and find an actual living, breathing unicorn, for fuck’s sake.” I chuckle. “I can’t let that asshole out do me when her birthday rolls around. She already adores him.”
The elevator doors slide open. I hit the top floor button and draw in a breath of preparation. I’ve stashed Raen in the empty apartment a few floors below mine. The one I bought when I thought Natalie might stick around for Tilly. I’d never deny my daughter her real mother. I guess fate has taken that out of my hands now.
“Alex, are you telling me you can’t get a magical white unicorn? What kind of mate are you?” I taunt, knowing he’ll take the bait.
“I’ll get you a unicorn, De Courcy.”
“You better, or there will be one very sad little birthday girl who thinks Uncle Alex is all talk.”
I hear the typing speed up from the other end of the line. “BOOM! Got it! For Tilly, I’ll go one better. Wait until you see this. I’ll look into it and get back to you.”
“A unicorn is fine, mate.” I sigh through a grin. “Anyway, what's one better than a mystical horse with a horn?”
“I’ll be in touch if the new documents turn up before the end of the week,” he confirms.
“I owe you for this.”
“Yeah, you do. I’ll think of something.” Alexander chuckles and disconnects the call.
Needle pricks spear my spine all the way down to my toes. Blaine Casey knows Raen was abducted during a gang fight. Does he know by who? That’s the question. I contacted Malakai the second I left the piano bar, and he set the wheels in motion for an escape plan. We couldn’t risk her knowing the truth. Who knows if Dexter and his men recognised me? This needs to be dealt with before they come sniffing around.
Once the call ends, a headache spreads over my forehead. I rub my temples as the lift levels with the floor. Not only do I have to guard Tilly, but I also now have the added stress of keeping Raen alive. And I will. I’ll make it my mission to protect her. She may not look like Natalie, but there’s a flame of familiarity that makes me accountable for her safety.
“How did you get that?” I trace the crossing lines of bumpy scar tissue with my fingertips. It’s raised and red like branding.
Natalie stiffens. “It’s nothing. Don’t look at it.” She shies away from my touch, quickly replacing her scarf. Tilly tugged it off her neck while they played. The look on Natalie’s face when she revealed the old wound startled all of us.
I glance at the X and note it would be impossible for Natalie to cut herself there at that angle. “Do you need help with something?” My voice is thick when she gulps down hard and shuffles away from me.
“I need you to look after Tilly, not nosey into my personal life. You're her father, not mine.” She nods to our daughter. “I’ve got to go now.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“No.”
“My driver will drive you.”
“Brett. Stop. I want to walk in the fresh air.”
“It’s raining,” I persist.
Her eyes roll, and she sighs. “Leave it, Brett.”
I grit my teeth, hovering outside the front door. Malakai told me about a scar on Raen’s chest, similar to the one I’d seen on Natalie. Apparently, it’s not Blaine’s normal style of mutilation. My eyes close briefly, letting the bristle of outrage swarm from my brain like electricity. I’m charged, and there’s only one way to hunt a release.
When I get inside and lock up, Tilly’s sing-song voice is a natural narcotic to my rage. She’s my safe place, but tonight I’m fraying, edgy and rattled. When do I tell her Natalie will never be back? Tonight isn't the right time. Cowardly or not, I opt to save that heartbreak for another day.
“Daddy!” Tilly bounds toward me in a blur of lilac and soft curls. “Gretten said I can watch TV because I made a potato print picture for her.”
My heart rate speeds up. It hurts when I swallow the tight lump. “What are you going to watch?”
“Unicorn cartoons, silly billy!” She giggles.
I smile widely, feigning a mirage of happiness. “I should have known.”
