Page 114 of Love Notes & Lifelines
“So much for town loyalty,” Danica calls from somewhere behind me.
My spine stiffens like a zipper.
“I guess that Hayes name will always equate to royalty for the dimwitted.” She gets closer with every word, and the crowd grows silent. She’s a hurricane rolling in and people don’t know where to hide—they’re in the path of destruction wherever they go.
Leo and I are on our feet before she gets too close, but I keep a hand on Stella’s shoulder to keep her where she is and take the strength she offers at my side.
“Beck,” Stella hisses. “Let me go so I can get Emmy.”
Shit. Emmy. God, I love this woman. Her priority is always the girls. I scan the crowd to find Daisie blocking Emmy’s path.
I release Stella’s shoulder and she stands with Ruby in her arms.
“Yes, please allow a woman of questionable moral integrity to get my niece.”
Stella doesn’t take the bait. Instead, she makes a beeline for Emmy and shows her strength when she hauls the little girl up one-handed while pressing Ruby into her other side. She stands with a girl on each hip, silently daring anyone to take them from her, but I saw the flash of pain when she lifted Emmy—her shoulder isn’t completely healed.
Danica slides around me and heads straight for them.
“Come on, Emmy. Come to your auntie. Yourrealfamily.” She places her hands on the little girl’s torso and Stella tries to swing her away, but Danica latches onto the child’s arm and attempts to rip her from Stella’s hold. Daisie goes insane, but Danica doesn’t let go—she’s sending a message, and I’m sure it’s the only reason she’s here.
A local teenage boy grabs Daisie’s collar and holds her back. He’s probably worried she’ll bite Danica, but would that be so bad?
Emmy’s cry is pure terror. “No. No,” she screams. “Not her. Not her. Daddy.”
The air whooshes and distorts everything around me as I process her words.
“Daddy,” she cries out and my feet are moving before I register the action. Her little eyes find me in the bonfire light. She’s terrified, and she needs me. She reaches for me outof desperation and fear. The expression on her face has me ignoring the dangers as I hurdle flames and driftwood to get to her sooner just as Daisie breaks free.
I step between Stella and Danica. Stella’s arms shake from the effort of holding both girls, so I take Emmy. She clings to my chest as though she’s trying to crawl inside me, and Daisie advances on Danica in a slow prowl.
“Shh, it’s okay, lovebug. I’ve got you.” With Emmy tucked into my side, I turn on Danica.
“What are you doing here? Are you trying to traumatize them more than you already have?”
She takes a step closer and lowers her voice but freezes when Daisie growls. “I gave you the option of doing this the easy way, Becker. It’s not my fault if they get hurt because of your poor decisions.”
Emmy whimpers and her little nails dig into my shoulders. Why is she so scared of her?
Danica raises her voice. She’s putting on a show. “It’s so sad that you’re turning my family against me, Becker. They’re all I have left.”
Thank God she’s a terrible actress.
“Danica, why are you here?” Leo asks, stepping in front of me and pushing me back with his ass, and then Tabby steps to his side, creating a human wall. They’re joined by Oliver and even Wanda is heading this way, so I grab Daisie by the collar and haul her back into our family circle.
The laugh that comes from Danica makes Emmy tremble in my arms. “It’s a sand party,” she hisses. “All are welcome.”
“You’ve made your point, and now you should leave.” Leo, for all his surfer-dude, yogi-loving personality, is another defender right now. There’s a warning in his tone that not even I would fuck with.
Wanda takes up her position next to Oliver with a tsking sound that drowns out the whispers and waves. She keeps her back to Danica and addresses Stella and me. “It’s been a good night, kids. You know, a storm’s rolling in. Maybe it’s time to take those angels inside while we handle the…” Her lips purse into a thin line. “Flotsam,” she finishes. “We’ll see you tomorrow. And don’t worry, we’ve got your back.”
I take Stella’s hand in mine and actively focus to keep my grip light. “Daisie, come.”
“What did she do to turn an entire town against her?” Stella whispers when we reach the patio.
“I’m not sure,” I reply honestly. “But my gut says it has everything to do with my sister.”
And if it does, I’ll do more than ruin her career. I’ll bury her.
