Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 120513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 603(@200wpm)___ 482(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 603(@200wpm)___ 482(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
He grimaced. Christ, that sounded like something a kidnapper would say to lure a child into their fucking perv van.
He pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket. “Maya, I’m gonna text her. While we wait, can you gather your most important things?”
“I’m leaving?”
He shot off a quick text to Syn and reminded her to stick to the shadows while approaching the house. “Yeah. You’re goin’ with your mom.”
“My mom lives here.”
Fuck. He shook his head. “Your real mom.” He pulled up a picture of Syn and turned his cell phone toward her. “Remember her?”
Maya grabbed the phone from him and stared at it. After a second, she nodded.
“She remembers you, too, since you’re all she thinks about. She’s comin’ now, so I need you to get whatever you wanna take with you. Yeah? Like anythin’ special to you. A stuffed animal or a favorite shirt. We can’t take everythin’ but we can take a few things. Also need you to get dressed. Put on warm clothes and a coat.”
“But where are my parents?” she asked as she pulled her legs out from under the covers.
Now was not the time to correct her about who her parents were. Now was the time to get her the fuck out of this house. “They’re busy talkin’ to my friends.”
“Why?”
“‘Cause they… My friends are gettin’ permission from them for you to go with your mom.”
“They said they didn’t want me to go with her. That I had to live here. If I saw her, I was supposed to run and hide, call the police or scream for help. They said she wanted to hurt me.”
Jesus Christ. “I know, baby girl, but they… changed their minds. Your mom don’t wanna hurt you. I promise. They now believe it’s best you live with your real mom and she’s been workin’ real hard to bring you home.”
“This is home,” Maya insisted. If she’d been anything like Daisy, a stomp of her foot would’ve accompanied her words.
“Your home is with your mom.” Fuck! He had no idea if what he was saying would fuck her up, but he didn’t know how else to handle a kid.
He had no experience with children except for limited dealings with Judge and Cassie’s girl. He felt goddamn helpless in this situation. It hit him then, if Syn remained in his life, he would need to learn.
But then, so would Syn. Raising Maya would be a learning experience for both of them.
Luckily, they’d have plenty of help.
It takes a village…
Your kids are my kids. My kids are your kids.
We’re a fuckin’ family. We step in when it’s needed.
That was a good reason why Syn needed to remain in Manning Grove.
Family and support.
Not to mention, him.
A gasp had his head spin toward the open door. Syn stood clinging to the door frame with one hand and the other clamped over her mouth.
“Need you to pack some of her stuff and take her out to the car,” Dodge instructed Syn slowly and calmly, giving her a look that said a lot more than his words. “Gonna drive you two back. Deke will go with Sig and Shade once we’re done here.”
Syn nodded, the nightlight reflecting off her shiny eyes.
“Hit the switch there, baby, and pack some of her stuff. Get her changed into something warmer than her pajamas. Yeah? And find her a coat.”
She nodded again but remained frozen where she stood.
He could see it. The struggle to keep her shit together. She wanted to break down right there. Totally fall the fuck apart.
He didn’t blame her, but she had to wait. And right now, it might freak out her daughter.
Syn flipped the light switch, giving the room a soft glow, then slowly dropped her shaking hand from her mouth. “Maya—” Her daughter’s name got caught in her throat.
That right there closed up Dodge’s.
After taking a step inside the room, she closed the door behind her and stared at the little girl who now stood next to Dodge.
Syn reached out her hand. “Maya. Come here, baby.”
Dodge glanced down and saw Syn’s daughter frozen in place, her eyes wide but as shiny as Syn’s. The conflict on her face couldn’t be missed as she stared at Syn’s extended hand.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” Syn’s words were as thick as tar.
And so were Maya’s. “That’s not what they said.”
“I know, baby, but it’s not true. None of us are going to hurt you. But you need to come with me.”
“They said you left me.”
“I didn’t. I promise I didn’t. I’m here now. I tried to get you sooner, but…” Syn shook her head, then took the few steps separating her and Maya before dropping to her knees at her daughter’s feet. “I’ve missed you so much, baby. I want to hug you. Will you let me?”