Impact

by Tymber Dalton

  Tilly turned to Sofia with a smile as she once again held the baby bottle in her other hand. “Well, that was fun!”

  Sofia wore an expression of wide-eyed terror. “What’d Monroe say?”

  “A lot of huff and puff all these assholes say when they realize they have no power. He has no idea where you or the baby are. He has no freaking clue who I am. Let me tell you something—he damn sure doesn’t ever want to meet me face to face. And I’m sure he’ll have a lot of fun explaining shit to the cops when they get there.”

  “But…I’m not there.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Domestic dispute like that, they’ll run him to see if he’s got a record. You said he’s got warrants, right?”

  She nodded.

  Tilly shrugged. “Good. They’ll pick him up. He keep drugs in the apartment?”

  Sofia nodded. “He deals.”

  “Cool. I just made some narco detective’s afternoon, then.”

  Tilly sat in one of the chairs in the living room and stared down into the baby’s face. She had beautiful green eyes, which were now almost completely closed. She’d nearly drained the bottle, but Tilly could tell she was full from how her sucking had slowed. Setting the bottle on the coffee table, Tilly moved her onto her shoulder, over the burp pad there, and gently patted her on the back.

  “Our washer and dryer are in the closet on the far side of the kitchen,” Tilly told her. “Everything you need is in there. Wash all your clothes, and hers. I don’t want them smelling like that place.”

  “Okay.” Sofia got up to do it, still cradling her left arm.

  Tilly fought the urge to tell Sofia never mind, that she’d take care of it. Even injured, the woman needed to learn to handle life and stand up for herself.

  And her child.

  If she couldn’t handle doing laundry, there’s no way Tilly would entrust an infant to her care.

  Katie finally gave up a huge burp that made Tilly smile. She stood and got her phone and called Leigh back. “Hey, I need your pediatrician’s name and number, too, and can you see if they can get me in first thing in the morning as an emergency new patient?”

  “You want me to move the Hollywood sign for you while I’m at it?” Leigh teased.

  “Yeah, that’d be great. I can’t see it from here anyway.”

  “How old’s the baby?”

  “Two weeks.”

  “Holy…oh holy hell. This is bad, isn’t it?”

  “It has the potential to be, yes.”

  “I’ll get that done for you and text you the info.”

  “Thanks. I promise, I’ll call you later and tell you everything. But I don’t know how late we’ll be at the attorney’s office. Lan’s flying out, too.”

  “I understand. Just be safe.”

  “What’s the fun in that?” Tilly ended the call to the sound of Leigh giggling on the other end.

  By the time Sofia had a load of clothes going in the washer, Tilly had settled the baby in the carrier, packed the new diaper bag with supplies—including several bottles of water ready to go and a can of powdered formula—and was waiting for the woman in the living room. Tilly had left the old baby carrier sitting in the cart at the store. Maybe someone else could clean it up and use it, but she didn’t want it.

  Tilly had also grabbed the baby’s paperwork and tucked it into her purse.

  “Ready?” Tilly asked.

  “Yeah.” Sofia looked close to collapse. “I guess. I’m sorry I’m causing this trouble.”

  “Hey, stop that. You’re family. Again, I’m not putting my best foot forward right now. After we get the hectic stuff handled and settle in, I swear I’ve actually been told I have the ability to be nice.”

  Sofia managed a smile. “You’re a lifesaver. Literally.”

  Down in the car, Tilly buckled the baby in and then slid behind the wheel.

  “Why do you carry a can of wasp spray in your car?” Sofia asked.

  “Same reason I have a lighter in my pocket even though I don’t smoke,” Tilly said as she started the engine. “Insurance.”

  Chapter Six

  Tilly didn’t know how he’d managed it, but Cris was standing outside the attorney’s office when she pulled into the parking lot next to it.

  He hurried over, practically yanking Sofia from the car as she got out, hugging her.

  The woman burst into tears. “I’m sorry, Cris,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t let you take me away years ago. I should have listened to you.”

  Tilly exchanged a look with him over the car’s roof before she opened the back door to get Katie out.

  “It’s okay, Fi,” he said. “The important thing is you two are safe.” He cradled her face in his hands. “You absolutely will not go back to him. Understand?”

  She nodded. “Tilly already laid down the law.” She tearfully laughed. “In the good way.”

  “Yeah, well, she’s good at that kind of stuff.”

  When Tilly’s phone buzzed with a text, she glanced at it.

  It was from Landry, giving her his flight info and telling her he was already at Tampa International and preparing to board.

  “Okay, add that to the list,” Tilly said. “One of us will need to pick him up at LAX. I’m thinking me.”

  “Why you?” Cris asked.

  She smiled. “Because he’s my damn human shield, that’s why.”

  Cris laughed. He grabbed the diaper bag and followed Tilly and Sofia into the building, where a receptionist didn’t even keep them cooling in the waiting room before leading them back to an office.

  The attorney was an older, short man, shorter than Tilly, with red hair and freckles, but he wore a determined air that Tilly liked even before he opened his mouth.

  “Dale Waters,” he said, shaking hands and indicating for them to take a seat. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re the one they’re here for,” he said to Sofia.

  She nodded.

  “Leigh didn’t go into details,” he continued, “so let’s start from the beginning.”

  He took notes while Tilly led the charge, telling everything that had happened since she’d stepped into the scene after receiving Sofia’s call. Then he asked Sofia some very pointed and uncomfortable questions before sitting back in his chair.

  “Okay. So today we’re going to draft an emergency guardianship order, at the very least, correct?”

  Sofia nodded. “Please.”

  “We should draw up a simple will for you as well, designating who gets custody of Sofia in case anything happens to you.”

  Sofia looked to Tilly, who nodded.

  “That’s fine,” Cris said. “We’re paying for it. Do all of that. Durable power of attorney, living will, whatever we need to put in place. She has no property, just Katie.”

  The attorney studied Sofia for a moment. “You do realize we need to take you to the hospital, right?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t go. That might risk probation getting involved.”

  “You have to go.” The attorney took off his glasses and stared at her. “I’ll be going with you. Once you tell the story, chances are you won’t be charged with violating your probation. However, if you don’t have documentation about what happened, when we do go talk to your probation officer tomorrow, there’s a good chance they might want to revoke your probation for not reporting the crime. And for child endangerment. We have to show you were in fear before.”

  “But…but she’s safe now.”

  “Doesn’t matter. For letting your ex take her formula.”

  “I didn’t let him. He just took it and threatened me when I tried to fight him. He beat me up when I said I was leaving.”

  “Exactly. And documenting your injuries, and getting a police report about the abuse, means you’re not hiding anything.”

  She didn’t look happy about that, but she finally nodded.

  “No, I can’t guarantee you they won’t revoke you if you do go to the hospital. But I can guarantee
you they absolutely will if you don’t go and get a report. The fact that you’ve reached out to stable family members with the means and resources to protect Katie is a point in your favor.”

  It was nearly eight o’clock when they finally got out of there and headed for the nearest hospital, the attorney following them in his car. First thing tomorrow morning, he’d file the emergency motion for guardianship for Katie. Landry could go with Sofia and the attorney to handle that. Cris had meetings he couldn’t get out of.

  And Tilly would take the baby to the doctor. Leigh had gotten the appointment set up for them after calling in a couple of favors to get the doctor’s personal cell number and talking directly to him. Tilly had a notarized statement signed by Sofia and giving Tilly authority to have Katie treated, and giving Tilly, Cris, and Landry temporary custody of her until the formal paperwork was filed. The attorney assured Tilly it would be sufficient for a doctor’s appointment until they had the actual court order in hand.

  At least that’s one good thing about this place. Money really can buy pretty much anything—except common sense.

  Tilly didn’t like the idea of exposing a newborn to the germs of an ER, but there wasn’t much other choice.

  It probably wasn’t any worse than the shit-hole she’d rescued her from.

  As they waited to be called, Tilly kept a blanket draped over the baby’s carrier and held it as close to her body as possible. She knew it wouldn’t stop really determined germs, but she wanted to do something.

  The harried ER doc visibly relaxed when Dale took over explaining the situation. Tilly didn’t need to be a mind reader to know the doctor had been trying to figure out how to get the baby away from them without forcibly doing so.

  “Okay,” the doctor finally said when the attorney let him get a word in edgewise. “But you realize we do have to notify law enforcement about this?”

  “Absolutely,” Dale said. “I want you to. I need a police report to take to her probation officer tomorrow morning after we get done in court.”

  Tilly’s instincts had been right. Sofia’s shoulder had been dislocated. They gave her a shot of pain meds when they reset it, but she refused a prescription for pain meds, earning Tilly’s respect for that, at least.

  “I don’t want anything stronger,” Sofia insisted. “I’ve worked too hard to stay clean and sober.”

  It was after eleven o’clock by the time they left the ER. Landry’s plane would be landing soon, but at least the traffic had eased somewhat.

  The attorney, who was more than happy to run a retainer fee on Cris’ black AmEx card, offered to take the two of them home.

  “You only live about a mile from me,” he said. “It’s not an inconvenience.”

  Tilly felt relieved. “Thanks. I’ll take the baby and get Lan.”

  Cris arched an eyebrow but apparently knew better than to argue with her.

  He leaned in and kissed her. “Drive safely, Redbird,” he whispered to her. “I guess one way or another, you get out of your punishment spanking tonight regardless.” He smiled, tipping his head toward Sofia.

  Yes, with a guest in residence, that would curtail their kinky activities.

  Tilly got Katie, who other than waking up for a diaper and a bottle while in the attorney’s office had slept through everything, securely buckled in. On her way to the airport, Tilly called Leigh back on the hands-free setup.

  “Okay, what the hell, honey? Tell me the whole story.” Now able to talk without Sofa listening in, Tilly got Leigh caught up.

  Leigh let out a low whistle at the end. “Wow. Holy hell.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Landry’s flying in?”

  “I’m on my way to LAX to get him. He’s landing shortly.”

  “Where’s the baby?”

  “In my backseat.”

  “Does it make me horrible to say I wouldn’t trust that woman with the baby right now?”

  “Why do you think the baby’s in my backseat? Besides the fact that Sofia’s hurting, her shoulder needs time to heal. And Cris needs to have a long talk with her, alone.”

  “And it’s a baby.” Tilly could almost hear Leigh’s smile.

  “Uh, duh.” Tilly’s heart ached. No, Katie wasn’t, technically, her baby, but she was damn sure going to protect her and care for her as if she was. Katie was family.

  Hell, she had Cris’ last name already, and had sort of been named after him.

  Tilly shoved that wistful thought away.

  “So are they moving to Florida with you guys?” Leigh asked.

  “Well, I damn sure can tell you the baby is. Sofia’s a wreck. Dale and Landry will go with her tomorrow to the hearing and then to see her probation officer. Dale will have to talk to them to find out what we need to do to get her probation transferred to Florida. If they don’t let her move, we’ll have to set her up somewhere in the area, but not near that fucker she just left.” Tilly spotted the sign for her exit. “I have to go. I’m almost at the airport. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

  “Just be careful, okay? I know you’re tough but some of those pricks in the gangs don’t give a shit about their own lives, much less anyone else’s. These aren’t Florida gangs. They’re another level of crazy you aren’t used to.”

  “Don’t worry. He doesn’t even know who the hell I am, much less where. By the time the cops got done tossing his apartment and hauling him in for his outstanding warrants, I’m sure he forgot all about me and that phone call.”

  Tilly got off the phone and focused on driving. She still had fifteen minutes to wait when she walked into the main terminal. She grabbed herself a Starbucks and then sat in a chair where she could see Landry when he arrived in the main terminal, and she placed Katie’s carrier on the chair next to her.

  The baby awoke and started to fuss a little. Tilly quickly prepped her a bottle, taking her out of the carrier to feed her.

  That’s where Landry found her sitting when he walked into the main terminal.

  He sat next to Tilly and kissed her, then stroked the baby’s head. “She’s beautiful,” he said. “What’s her name?”

  “Katie, or KC. Short for Katherine Crista Guerrero. How’s that for fucking irony?”

  “Language, love.”

  “She won’t remember it. And if I’m in her life, not like she won’t hear me drop that bomb a time or two…thousand.”

  “True.” He made Tilly look him in the eye. “How are you doing? Any bodies we need to hide?”

  “You know me too well.” They sat there, Tilly’s head resting on Landry’s shoulder as she gave him the play-by.

  “I believe you outdid yourself, love. I would imagine it’s a miracle if the asshole didn’t have a brain aneurism from how you talked to him.”

  Tilly giggled. “I know, right? And, language.”

  Katie had finished her bottle. Tilly suspected the little girl would seriously start gaining some needed weight now that her formula wasn’t being stolen right out from under her.

  Tilly put her on her shoulder and burped her. “What about your luggage?” He had two carry-ons.

  “I only brought these. I wasn’t sure how long we’d be out here, but I have clothes at the condo.”

  “Oh, yeah. Sorry.” Katie let out a loud belch, making Landry laugh.

  “My. That’s a sound I wouldn’t expect from such a little thing as her.”

  “You should have heard her earlier,” Tilly said, buckling her back into her carrier.

  Landry took the keys from Tilly, but since he had his arms full with his carry-ons, he didn’t take the diaper bag. Tilly guided him out to the car and showed him how the carrier attached to the car seat base.

  When he was behind the wheel, he pulled Tilly in for another kiss. “I love you, darling. While I don’t approve of you dashing off alone the way you did, I will admit it’s for a good cause. I shall talk to our dear Cris about not punishing you. See if I can persuade him not to.”

  “Wait. I thought
you’d order him not to.”

  He smiled. “Well, dear, I am a sadist, if you’ll recall. I believe it’s one of my many charms that you fell in love with. You’ll have to negotiate that with Cris yourself.”

  “Dammit,” she muttered.

  “Oh, love?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Why is there a can of wasp spray in your car?”

  Tilly giggled. “Insurance.”

  * * * *

  Cris was sitting up in the living room when they returned home. Now dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, he had a bottle of beer in hand.

  He was not wearing his leather cuffs and collar.

  He got up and immediately headed toward them but Landry stayed him with his hand. “It’s all right,” Landry said, his voice low and glancing around. “Not with a guest here.”

  Cris would have dropped to his knees in front of Landry and kissed his feet, their usual greeting ritual when one of them had been away overnight or longer.

  Instead, Landry pulled him in for a kiss and whispered something in his ear that Tilly couldn’t hear.

  She took the baby into the living room and set about getting her diaper changed. That’s when she realized the portable crib she’d bought wasn’t in its box where she’d left it.

  “Where’s the crib?”

  “Our bedroom,” Cris said. “Fi and I talked for a while but she was really hurting. I sent her to bed. When I checked on her a little while ago, she was totally zonked. I told her we’d take care of the baby for the next few days until her shoulder’s healed.”

  Relief filled Tilly. No, she didn’t want to take Katie from Sofia…

  But Tilly damn sure didn’t want to give her back to the young mother just yet, either.

  Not until they were all in Florida and Tilly was positive there wouldn’t be any problems.

  “So what else did she say?” Tilly asked, settling on the couch with Katie cradled against her chest.

  Cris went over what they’d talked about, including how shocked in a good way Sofia felt about how Tilly had talked to Monroe on the phone.

  “I wonder if he was arrested?” Landry mused. “We’ll have to ask the attorney tomorrow morning about that. See if he can check into it.”