Page 178 of Cold As Ice

I’ll take care of them.

I’ll protect them.

I’ll love them.

And if you ever pull that shit again, I’ll fucking end you.

He opened his mouth to speak but one of the officers shoved him down the hall.

“Imogen? Immy?” Madison came running out of her apartment and took her from me. “Oh, thank God. Thank God, baby. You’re okay, you’re okay now. Mommy’s here. Mommy’s—” Her composure cracked, and big fat sobs overpowered her.

“Is the bad man gones now?” Imogen sucked in a shaky breath, and Madison smoothed a hand over her blonde halo of curls.

“He’s gone, baby. And he won’t ever hurt you again. I promise.” Tears streaked down her cheeks, and I couldn’t wait a second longer.

I pulled them both into my arms and buried my face in Madison’s neck. “I love you, Madison Reynolds. I love you both so fucking much.”

And I planned on showing them that every single day for as long as she would let me.

* * *

“Thank you, officer,” Mr. Reynolds escorted the officer out of Madison’s apartment some time later.

“Here, I made us all some hot cocoa.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Madison said wearily.

“You should let me put her to bed, it’s no good for her sleeping out here.”

“Not yet.” Madison’s arm tightened around Imogen who was out cold, one hand curled around Mr. Hopsy and one hand tangled with mine.

Mrs. Reynolds glanced at me and let out a resigned sigh. “It would seem my granddaughter is really quite smitten with you.”

“Mom, please.”

“It’s okay,” I said, not wanting to add to Madison’s plate. She’d been through enough tonight.

“If you let me finish, Madi, I was about to thank Austin for everything he did tonight.”

I looked her straight in the eye and said, “I care about your daughter a great deal, Mrs. Reynolds. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for her or Imogen”.

“Yes, I think I can believe that. Please, call me Cara.”

“They want us to go down to the station tomorrow to finish answering some questions.” Mr. Reynolds came back over. “But for now, we can all get some rest now that he’s out of the picture.”

“Have they notified Jacqui and Ken?”

“I believe so. Do you want me to call them?” he asked, and Madison nodded.

“I can’t do it, Dad, not yet. Not until I’ve had time to…”

“I’ll handle it, sweetheart. Do you want us to stay?”

“No, I think we’ll be fine.” She shifted her gaze to mine, and I nodded.

I wasn’t going anywhere.

I’d sent Rory a text message half-filling her in on everything. The rest could wait until tomorrow.

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