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Then There Was You: A Single Parent Collection

Page 161

by Gianna Gabriela


  Please let my girls be okay.

  Not bothering to give a shit, I drive straight through the red light in front of me. As I close in on the park, I pull my truck to the side of the road, trying to see through the madness. One ambulance is parked at the opening, and there are police officers everywhere. Stumbling from my vehicle, I race toward the crowd.

  “Emmy!”

  An officer steps in front of me, placing a hand to my chest.

  “Sir, we aren’t letting people through. You need to step back.”

  “No, my girlfriend called, said they were here and needed me. Please, what happened?”

  Looking down at a small notepad, he looks me over and sighs.

  “Are you Levi Jackson?”

  Holy fuck.

  “Yeah, that’s me.”

  “Follow me.”

  Walking behind him, my heart starts racing. I have no idea why they’re being so secretive, unless something really awful has happened. He takes me around the back of a cruiser and then I hear it.

  “Daddy!”

  I almost pass out when I turn around and Lily is flying into my arms, her face red, hair wet and matted from her tears. Scooping her into my arms, I bury my face in her tangled hair and take a deep breath, thanking God and whoever else can hear my thoughts.

  “Oh, baby, what happened? Are you okay?”

  She shakes her head against me and I gently shush her, squeezing her as tight as I can without hurting her. Looking at the officer, I see Emmy sitting on the step of the ambulance, clutching a handful of tissues to her chest.

  Fuck. They’re both okay.

  I try to get her to come over but she ignores me. Now I’m really freaking out. What the hell is going on?

  “What happened? I need answers, Officer. Why is my daughter so terrified?”

  “Mr. Jackson, there was an incident a little while ago. Your daughter was the victim of an attempted kidnapping. Ms. Reese scared the perp off, and we’ve now opened a full investigation.” Tucking the small notebook into his breast pocket, he excuses himself for a moment.

  Looking down at Lily, I hate the tears burning in my eyes, but Jesus Christ. Who would try to take my child? And Emmy saved her? Holy shit.

  “Oh, Lily. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here, baby. Are you hurt?”

  Lifting her head from my neck, she nods, pointing to her arm. Fury rises in me when I see the giant purple bruise in the shape of a hand. I gently run my finger over it, placing a soft kiss to the sore skin.

  “Daddy’s got you, okay? You’re safe now, Lily bug.”

  “Emmy got me, Daddy. Emmy ran after me and saved me from the mean man.”

  “I know. Emmy is so brave and strong. Let’s go tell her, okay?”

  Lily nods and I shift her around so she’s settled on my hip, making it easier to walk with her. Carefully I walk us over to the ambulance where Emmy is sitting. Coming to stand in front of her, I can see how hard she’s shaking, and her eyes are red and swollen. I reach a hand out to her but she flinches, avoiding eye contact with me.

  “Em, come here.”

  Shaking her head, she hiccups through her tears, and I exhale loudly. Keeping Lily tight against me, I reach out and grab her shaking hand. When I have a tight enough grip, I pull on her and she gives up the fight, standing up and falling into my chest.

  “I’m so sorry,” she whispers, fisting my shirt in her free hand.

  “Stop it, baby. It wasn’t your fault. Shh, it’s okay. I got you.”

  Wrapping my arm securely around her shoulders, I lock her and Lily tight in my embrace, keeping my girls safe in my arms.

  “It wasn’t your fault, Em. I’m not angry with you. I don’t blame you.”

  It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her how much I love her. If at any moment before today I wasn’t confident about my feelings, I am now. She’s completely devastated and torn up over something that happened to my child, and she protected her.

  I love her.

  God, how can she even think for a second that I’d be angry with her?

  “Mr. Jackson, we understand the frustration. This investigation is not closed, but as we have zero leads to go on and very few pieces of evidence, there is nothing more to be done at the moment.”

  I can tell the detective in front of us feels bad, but I don’t care. I want to know who the fuck tried to come after Lily, and I want to know right the hell now. Emmy is upstairs with Lily giving her a bath, keeping her distracted from the events of today.

  Once Emmy calmed down enough, she was able to give a more detailed account of what happened. Now we’re home, trying to figure out the next step. It’s only been seven hours since the attempt, but I know what this guy is telling me.

  No evidence.

  Nothing they can do.

  Basically it’s over.

  Well, fuck that.

  After talking a few minutes more, I walk him to the front door. Closing it behind me, I lock the deadbolt and turn to head upstairs, finding Emmy standing behind me.

  “Hey, sweetheart. How are you doing?”

  “I’m okay. How are you doing?”

  Shrugging, I walk past her to the kitchen, opening a cabinet to grab the can of coffee. After setting a pot to brew, I turn to lean back against the counter. Emmy is just looking at me, arms crossed over her chest.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Someone tried to kidnap my daughter. They left bruises on her tiny arm. Yes, Emmy, I’m perfectly fucking fine.”

  When she doesn’t answer, I turn away from her, ashamed at how I just snapped. But in seconds, her arms are circling my waist from behind and her head drops to my back.

  “I’m sorry, baby,” I whisper, gripping her hands in mine.

  “Don’t be.”

  “Where’s Lily?”

  “Asleep. She asked me to read her a story after her bath and she fell asleep before the end. She’s safe in her bed.”

  “Thanks to you, Em.”

  Turning around, I circle her waist with my arms, pulling her flush to my body. Tucking a loose strand of her soft hair behind an ear, I give her a small smile.

  “Of course, Levi.”

  Her voice is quiet and I can tell the events from today still have her shaken up, so I bend down and grab her just under the ass, lifting her so I can carry her over to the couch. When I sit us down, Emmy stays on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck and rests her head on my shoulder.

  “What’s wrong?” I mutter against her hair, burying my face into the softness of it.

  “Nothing.”

  Not wanting to upset her any further, I hold her tighter and settle back against the cushions, making myself comfortable. She sniffles against my skin, and that’s it for me. Pulling her from my chest, I force her to sit up, heart clenching when I see the tears, how upset she is.

  “Em, what is this? Baby, I get it. I thought I was gonna pass out when I got to the park, but she’s safe. You kept Lily safe, so why the tears? Did something else happen?”

  I brush at her tears, but more quickly replace them.

  “Levi….” Her blue eyes, red-rimmed and swollen, meet mine.

  “Em.”

  “I love you,” she whispers. Her entire body is trembling as she leans forward to kiss me, her touch hard and insistent.

  My hands tangle in her hair and I pull her back, looking deep into her eyes.

  “You what?”

  “I love you, Levi. I love you more than anything else in this world, except maybe Lily. I just wish I had been enough for you both.” Emmy’s eyes fill with tears once more and she climbs from my lap, rushing out of the room. I’m left sitting in stunned silence, unsure of what to even do.

  She loves me? And what the hell does she mean, ‘had been enough’?

  I get my answer a moment later when I see her cross the kitchen, grabbing her purse.

  She’s leaving me.

  Standing up, I follow after her, prepari
ng myself for a battle. No way in fucking hell is this girl walking away from me.

  Not. Fucking. Happening.

  12

  EMERSON

  “What are you doing?” Purse in hand, I turn to find Levi behind me, hands on his hips.

  “I’m doing the right thing.”

  Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I prepare myself to walk past him, but when I step in front of him, he looks down at me.

  “The right thing for who, exactly?”

  “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, Levi.”

  “Harder than it needs to be? You’re joking, right? You think you can drop a bombshell like being in love with me and I’ll just say goodbye like nothing? Fuck that, Em.”

  He’s angry. He should be. I completely fucked up.

  “I’m so sorry. I need to go. I should leave.”

  I can’t allow myself to make eye contact with him, knowing I won’t be able to keep my emotions in check when I walk away from him. But I don’t get more than a few feet away before he’s spinning me around and dragging me into my arms.

  “No.” His voice is gruff and his hold tightens.

  “Levi—”

  “You aren’t leaving. I can’t let you.”

  “You should hate me, Levi. I screwed up and put Lily’s life in danger.”

  “No.”

  Levi pulls away and lifts me so my legs go around his waist. Leaning my back against the wall, he takes my lips in a dizzying kiss, leaving me breathless.

  “You saved her life. You saved my baby, Emmy. You fucking kept her safe, so what other way can I thank you other than to spend the rest of my life loving you?”

  “Levi, I don’t….”

  “Emmy, please. Don’t do this.”

  His forehead drops to mine, and I can see his throat working to clear his emotions.

  “I’m so scared, Levi,” I whisper, tears clinging to my lashes and blurring my vision.

  “I know you are, Emmy. I know. But I’m scared too, baby.”

  “Of what?”

  Biting his bottom lip, he drops his head momentarily, and I allow a few tears to roll down my cheeks. Taking a deep breath, he lifts his head and trains those blue eyes on me.

  “I’m scared you’ll walk out the door and the best thing I’ve ever had will be gone.”

  I lose all control of my emotions and my face falls.

  “I love you, Emmy. I have loved you for what feels like forever, and I can’t let you end us before we even get our chance. I love you. Please don’t leave me. Don’t leave my little girl.”

  His words are thick with emotion, but they ring strong and true.

  “Levi.”

  “Please, baby. I love you so much.”

  Letting out a quiet sob, I lean forward and kiss him, devouring his mouth, completely addicted to his taste. How I ever thought I could leave this man, I’ll never know. In seconds, my tears are forgotten about; all that matters is how badly I need him. I’m not exactly in a position to dominate him so I start rocking my hips, deepening the kiss so my tongue brushes his.

  Levi groans against my lips, running his hands down my back to my ass. He grips me tight, shifting us so he can force my hips to rub against his erection.

  “Oh….”

  “Fuck, baby, the things you do to me. I need you, Em.”

  “Levi… now, please.”

  I’m panting as he moves his hips harder. We’re both in jeans, but the layers don’t matter. I’m minutes away from crashing into an orgasm, and I need him inside of me when I do.

  “Hang tight, babe.” Holding me tight, he races up the stairs as fast as he can manage, kicking his bedroom door shut behind him. Twisting the lock, he drops me down and swings to the nightstand to grab a condom. His nostrils flare when he turns around to see I shed my clothes, standing there in nothing but a lacy bra and its matching thong.

  “Motherfucker,” he mumbles, ripping his own shirt and pants off. The tattoos, the muscles, and God, his eyes—I’ll never get enough. Never breaking eye contact, he rips open the condom and sheaths his cock before striding forward. I bite down on my bottom lip when he reaches me.

  His rough hands run down my body, making goose bumps break out over me. Hooking his fingers into my panties, he rips them off me, chuckling to himself.

  “Proud, you caveman?”

  “Mmm. Yeah, I am.”

  Lifting me again, he braces me against the wall, his face buried in my neck.

  “I’m an asshole. I shouldn’t be taking you like this.”

  “Levi, I swear to God if you don’t get inside me now, I’m—”

  In one thrust, he bottoms out, and we both cry out in unison. His hips immediately start a brutal pace and I force myself to keep quiet, knowing his daughter is asleep just down the hall.

  “Fuck,” he grunts, breath coming in harsh pants.

  “Levi.”

  Every thrust he connects with my clit, and my body is thrumming with pleasure. He’s never been this rough with me, and I love it. He’s completely setting my body on fire as I clutch at his shoulders, nails biting into his skin.

  “Harder,” I sigh, my head falling back against the wall.

  “Em, fuck. I’m gonna….”

  His rough thumb starts rubbing my clit and my legs tighten around his waist, my entire body stiffening as I begin to climax.

  “I’m coming,” I moan, shaking through my orgasm, unable to keep my eyes open. Levi rests his head against my shoulder to muffle his groans, his hips punching forward. My body wrings his orgasm from him, his strong body trembling beneath my hands.

  We take a moment to catch our breath, sweaty foreheads pressed together. Not removing himself from me, he carries me over to the bed, lying down beneath me. I brace my hands against his chest and sit up so we’re chest to chest. He cups my tender breast through my bra, the material scraping over my stiff nipple.

  “Mmm. Do you have any idea how perfect you are?” Levi mumbles against my skin. His touch has me closing my eyes, my arms tight around his shoulders.

  “I’m nowhere near perfect.”

  “You’re perfect for me,” he whispers, kissing me softly.

  How could I not love this man?

  After another round of Levi working my body into a tizzy, we’ve come downstairs to get something to eat. The clock above the stove shows seven in the evening, but I’m so tired I have no idea how much longer I’ll be able to keep my eyes open. We’re sitting next to each other at the table eating boxed mac and cheese, Levi looking completely beat.

  “Em, I’m gonna head upstairs, get showered and stuff. I know it’s early, but I have to go to the shop in the morning and I need sleep. This has been such a shitshow of a day.”

  Leaning over, he drops a kiss to my lips and then takes his bowl to the sink.

  Watching his back, I can’t believe what he just said.

  “Levi, you have to be kidding me.”

  “What?”

  “You’re going into work tomorrow?” Rising from the table, I carry my own dishes into the kitchen, standing next to him.

  “Yeah, I need to finish my work from today. It won’t take but a few hours.”

  “Your client can wait. You should be home.”

  Levi turns around, annoyance all over his face.

  “Em, it’s my job. Today was awful. I don’t know that I’m ever going to sleep the same, or rest until they find out who did this, but I need to work. I have bills, and this is a huge piece. It’s going to make me enough money to finally have a decent savings account.”

  “And that’s wonderful, Levi. Really. But the guy should understand that your daughter is more important. Lily needs you.”

  “I’m not doing this right now.” His voice is tight and he starts to leave the room, but I can’t keep my big mouth shut.

  “Lily needs you, Levi. Don’t put your work ahead of that little girl.”

  Turning toward me, he looks livid. So angry that for a moment I’m tempted
to just tuck my tail and run for my life. I know he’d never hurt me, but I totally fucked this up.

  “Don’t you ever imply that my daughter is not my priority.”

  “Levi, I didn’t mean—”

  “Stop talking, Em. Stop.I am the only person who has stepped up and taken care of her. While her mother was out fucking any person who would stick a needle in her, I was working my ass off to make something out of myself so my daughter would be proud of me. If I could just ‘take off work,’ I would, but life isn’t that easy.”

  “I took the rest of the week off,” I whisper, eyes filling with tears.

  “Well, I didn’t fucking ask you to do that, did I? It’s not like you’re her mother.”

  He may as well have slapped me across the face. It would’ve hurt less.

  Nodding, I try to hide my pain, but I’ve never been good at that. He reaches for me, but I’m done.

  “Understood,” I grit out, biting down on my bottom lip.

  “Fuck, baby, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

  “No.” I hold up my hand, stopping him. Tears are falling down my cheeks, but I keep my voice steady and in control. “You’ve said enough, Levi. I get it. I wasn’t saying that your job is more important. I was trying to say that Lily was almost taken from you today. Maybe for forever. Your job can wait. Cade would understand, and if your client didn’t, then fuck him. Nothing is more important that your daughter. And you’re right, I’m not her mother. Because if I was, I never would have walked away to begin with. I know you’re scared, Levi, and I am too because deep down, you know this wasn’t random. This man was way too prepared.”

  He flinches at my words, but I don’t stop.

  “Stop being such a coward and fight for your daughter. Fight for us! Because damn it, Levi, your family is worth it. So fuck you for making me feel any less than that.”

  Hiccupping, I push past him, needing to put some space between us before words are said that we can’t take back. Reaching the staircase, I hear a loud crash, a loud curse, and then a bang. I want so much to go racing back to him, but I don’t. Instead, I hurry into the guest room and shut myself inside.

 

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