Текст книги "Reciprocity"

Автор книги: K. I. Lynn

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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 14 страниц)

CHAPTER 15

As I was led into the courtroom, I couldn’t help but look around. I locked onto Adam, and he actually looked reserved. After everything Lila told me, I scoffed at his act. It was probably advice from his lawyer—to look repentant in front of the jury.

They’d dressed him up in a suit, shaved him, cut his hair—anything to make him look like a good boy. It was the way he held himself and the expressions on his face that gave him away.

It was odd being on the other side of the bench. I was used to being in front of the judge, not beside him. I took a deep breath to even myself out and looked at Lawrence. My hands gripped the chair in an effort to keep me calm as I braced to go through the usual retelling of events from my eyes.

Lawrence walked to the center of the floor. “Why were you going over to Delilah’s house that night?”

“We were going to have dinner.”

He looked around the room, trying not to focus solely on me. “Did you eat together every night?”

“Yes.”

“Did you notice anything strange or different that night as you approached her condo?”

I blew out a slow breath. “There were screams coming from inside.”

Lawrence stared at me, and I knew the hard hit was coming. “Tell me—what did you see when you opened the door?”

Fuck.

My heart was racing as the image popped into my mind. I let out a hard breath to steady myself. I had to answer and do so in a calm manner. The problem was that calm could be found nowhere within me in that moment.

My muscles flexed, ready to jump out of the stupid box and run to Adam so I could slam my fist in his fucking face. I wanted to reenact the events of that day in order to show the judge what little I’d done to him compared to what he did to her.

“Lila was on the ground with him on top of her.”

The prosecutor continued to lead me on. “And what was he doing to her?”

I knew where his questions were going—I’d been in his place and tried to prepare myself for them. It didn’t make it any easier. I could anticipate his questions, but not the searing emotions they evoked.

“He had her hands pinned above her head. Her shirt was ripped open, and he was pushing her skirt up.” My whole body was shaking, rage enveloping me.

The prosecutor stared at me, begging me to cool down. “What made it different from sexual play?”

My teeth mashed together as I fought for control. “Her face was covered in blood.”

I forced myself to stop the words “from him hitting her,” because I knew the defense would object.

After a while, the prosecutor glanced at the jury and back at me, then sighed. I wasn’t making a very good impression due to my anger seeping out.

“Tell me, why are you so agitated being in this room today?”

A good question. It would make the jury understand why. Who wouldn’t be angry, sitting across from the man who almost took your world away?

“Because he…” I couldn’t say his name, and I was so close to calling him a name the judge wouldn’t approve of “…hurt Lila. He tried to take my wife away from me. My love and reason for being.”

I took great pride in the murderous look that flashed on Adam’s face after calling Lila by her marital title. Lawrence smiled and continued on.

After a grueling fifteen minutes and more than one warning from the judge, the defense took over.

“Mr. Thorne, you and Delilah Thorne weren’t married when you first encountered Mr. Mitchell, were you?”

“No.”

“Neither were you engaged, is that correct?”

“Yes.” If I thought answering the prosecution was bad, it was nothing compared to the “yes” and “no” answers for the defense.

“Were you living together?”

“Yes.”

“But you still retained separate residences?”

“Yes.”

“And that is because your employer did not allow fraternization between its employees, correct?”

“Yes.” I shifted in my seat, but made sure it wasn’t noticeable.

“Is it true that you destroyed all the drywall in your entryway in a fit of anger?”

“Objection,” Lawrence called out. “Irrelevant to the case.”

The defense attorney didn’t flinch. “Mr. Thorne also has a history of violence. I am strictly trying to show that, your Honor.”

“What relevancy does it pose?” the judge asked, his voice clipped in annoyance at the defense attorney. Lila was right—the judge didn’t like him.

“That Delilah Thorne is the instigator of violent reactions.”

The judge thought on it for a moment. “I’ll allow it. Please answer the question, Mr. Thorne.”

I sighed, unhappy with the twist. “No.”

“No, you did not destroy your entryway.”

“Yes, I did, but not—”

“You blamed it all on your coworker, Delilah Palmer, isn’t that right?” He cut me off, keeping me from elaborating.

“No.”

“Weren’t you angry at her?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve shown us your anger today. Have you ever hit Delilah?”

“No.” My gut was tied in knots at even the thought of it, and I somehow managed to keep from flinching.

“Never?”

“Never.”

“The defense rests.” He wore a smug look as he moved back to his seat.

The prosecutor stood, and I knew they wanted to redirect after some of the questions posed by the defense.

“Mr. Thorne, you destroyed your entryway, but not in a fit of anger?”

“I tore down the drywall in a fit of despair after separating myself from Lila in a futile effort to keep her safe from a mob boss who wants me dead—because I prosecuted his daughter, and she’s in jail.” I sat up a little straighter.

“And why were you angry with Lila?”

“Because ever since my wife and child were murdered, I didn’t want to fall in love. I didn’t want to care about anyone. If I cared, they could kill them as well. But, Lila worked her way inside me without me even knowing it, and it made me angry at her for reviving feelings in my dead existence. I didn’t want to love her, but in the end, I couldn’t fight fate.” My jaw tightened with each passing second, making it increasingly difficult to get the words out.

His lip twitched as he fought a smile. A quick glance to the jury confirmed that my honest and passionate answer hit many of them in the heart.

Afterward, I was led back to another room, forced to be separated from Lila again until the jury left for deliberation. It was a grueling time. Thoughts that maybe I’d feel lighter once I got it out to the jury and others knew what he’d done was a myth.

The knot in my chest was weighing me down like chains wrapped around my body, dragging me to unknown depths. I’d fucked up, unable to control my anger. It looked bad and could undermine some of my good testimony with the jurors.

My skin itched with the need to feel it marring Adam’s flesh while simultaneously begging to be all over Lila. She was my oasis in the giant sea of fuckery.

When the bailiff came to let me out, I ran right into Lila, who was waiting for me. She threw her arms around me, and it was then peace started to settle in. The hard part was done—now it was up to twelve people.

The jury couldn’t come to a decision in the short amount of time left in the day, so we arrived at the courthouse bright and early the next morning. We didn’t have to wait long—an hour later, the jury was done deliberating. The short time could be a good sign, or a bad one. Either way, our group filed into the room and took a seat.

We’d waited so long, gone through so much, and the moment was finally upon us. My arm was around Lila’s shoulders, holding her close, our hands entwined. The whole room was tense as the jurors entered and took their seats.

The judge entered a moment later, read over the findings, and settled in.

“Will the defendant please rise.”

Prompted from the judge, the jury foreman stood, and my breath halted.

“On the first count of Aggravated Sexual Battery, how do you find the defendant?”

The world stopped, time stopped, and the entire room held its breath.

“We find the defendant guilty.”

I scooped Lila up in my arms, holding her tight as we cried out in joy.

The judge called for order, and we settled down. I looked into Lila’s eyes and for the first time in days, there was life and light. We didn’t pay attention to the judge, only every single “guilty” that rang out from the jury foreman.

Adam was found guilty on all five charges.

“Sentencing will be held on April twenty-first. Court is adjourned.”

I couldn’t help smiling as I watched the bailiff approach to take him away.

“You fucking cunt!” Adam screamed out, garnering the attention of the room. “I will fucking kill you!”

I pulled Lila behind me as Adam jumped over the banister and charged toward us. The beast in me smiled, ready to get a good swing in, to pulverize his face, but Adam was subdued by the bailiffs before I got the opportunity. He continued to act out as they hauled him away.

After he was gone, I used my hands to direct Lila out into the aisle, then to the hall.

Smiles lit up everyone as we exited. Hugs were spread around.

I couldn’t wait to celebrate.

My mother hugged me as Lila made her rounds. “Now?” she asked, and I nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back. I’ll have her text you the information.”

“Thank you.” I kissed her cheek and moved back over to Lila.

We said goodbye to everyone, thanking them for coming and for their support. The sun was shining as we exited the courthouse, smiling down on us.

“Joan?” Lila blinked at an older woman standing outside the door.

She stood, and I got a good look at the woman who freed my love from possible death. There was more gray than brunette in her well-kept hair, and her suit was from another decade but fit her age well. A kind smile graced her face as she stood.

“Oh, Lila, look how beautiful you are.” Joan wrapped her arms around Lila. She sighed as she pulled back.

Lila blinked at her. “How did you know?”

“Teresa called me.” She took Lila’s hand. “And this was one of my cases I needed to see the verdict on.”

“I didn’t even see you.”

“I didn’t want to disturb you, so I sat in the back.”

I stared at her in amazement. “After almost fifteen years, I’m shocked you still remember her.” I know I didn’t remember all of my cases.

She turned to me and smiled. “I remember all the children I’ve saved, but some stick out more than others. Lila’s was one of the very few calls I’ve ever received from a child.” She pursed her lips and stroked Lila’s hand. “A very broken sixteen-year-old asked me for help when no one believed her.”

“What made you?” I’d always wondered what her lawyer saw.

“As soon as she walked into the principal’s office that afternoon, I knew. One look at her, and I knew what she’d told me was the truth.”

“Do you have time to stay for lunch?” Lila looked at her with hopeful eyes.

Joan shook her head. “I’m sorry. I have a hearing in a few minutes, but I wanted to see you and tell you how amazed I am at you.”

Tears formed in Lila’s eyes as she smiled at Joan, then threw her arms around her. “Thank you for everything, for believing.”

“You’re most welcome.” Joan drew back. “I’m so proud of you.” She glanced at me, then back to Lila. “Congratulations on your wedding, by the way. I’m filled with joy, knowing how happy you are and that you’re taken care of.”

Joan held her hand out to me, and I shook it. She then gave Lila another hug before turning and heading back. I noticed my parents and Drew looking over at us from a few steps up. Drew gave Joan a hug on her way back into the courthouse.

Between the verdict and running into Joan, Lila was glowing. She still seemed to be in disbelief as we walked down the steps, but there was a lightness coming over her, blanketing her.

We were basking in our victory, talking amongst ourselves, when a venom-laced growl came from behind us.

“You little bitch.” Lila’s father stared at her, sneering. She gripped onto my arm, nails digging deep as she froze. “You were always a fucking disappointment. I never wanted you in the first place, then your whore of a mother had to die and I got stuck with a miserable little brat.” He moved forward, reaching out to grab her, but I intercepted him, stepping between them.

“Step back.” My teeth clenched tight, the words escaping my throat with a growl. He was not even going to get close enough to touch her. He was lucky I allowed him to breathe the same air.

He glared up at me. “She a good cocksucker? Is that how she roped you in?”

I stepped forward, looking down at him, towering over his aging frame. “Say another fucking word, and I will punch you so hard you won’t remember your own goddamned name.”

“Are you threatening me? What lies has that little bitch been spreading to get you to defend her?”

“No lies—just the truth of a verbally and physically abusive father who encouraged his stepson to abuse her as well, to the point of almost killing her on more than one occasion. Should I go on, asshole?”

“Don’t you fucking call him that!” The stepbitch saddled up next to him, ready to fight.

My icy glare turned to her. “Don’t even get me started on you.”

He stepped forward, inches from me, and sneered. “Little bitch deserved it. She needed to be broken if anyone was ever going to take her off my hands. Just needed Adam to pop that cherry of hers, train her up a bit, and she’d be ready for the highest bidder. That’s all she was good for.”

My fist slamming into his face was pure gut reaction. It sent him sprawling on the ground. I was seething, murderous rage pumping in my veins. I wanted him dead.

I wanted to kill him.

Trash like him didn’t deserve to breathe. I dove down and grabbed on to his shirt, picking him up a bit. There was screaming around me, but my focus was on the piece of shit in front of me and how I was going to tear him apart.

His daze wore off and he lashed out, his fist glancing off my cheek. I cocked back and exploded on him. The euphoric feel of his flesh being pummeled by my fist lasted longer than the split second it was in reality. After the third punch, I was pulled back.

“Fucker! You piece of fucking trash! I will fucking beat you within an inch of your life!”

He was bleeding—I’d busted the skin on his cheek and split his lip. It wasn’t enough.

The evil bitch-mother started wailing as she knelt down next to the bastard. “You asshole, what have you done?”

I pulled against whoever was holding me, ready for round two. “Only a fraction of a taste of what he did to his own daughter. You make me sick. You’re not even human if you can do that to a little girl.”

“Come on, Nate, calm the fuck down.” Drew pulled against my arm.

Drew had my left arm, while my father had my right.

My father’s eyes were pleading. “Calm down.”

I looked back down to the man who needed to be dead as he tried to sit up.

“You are nothing but a pile of shit,” I spat down at him. “Don’t ever touch her, don’t even look at her, and don’t ever think of her again.”

A couple of police officers were rushing over, alerted to the altercation, and began asking questions. They even asked the shithead if he needed an ambulance.

Realization hit me.

Her father planned to sell her off as a slave. He was going to let Adam rape her over and over. If she survived, he was going to trade her and who the fuck knew what they’d do to her before she wound up dead.

I felt sick.

I looked over to Lila, who stood frozen, wrapped in my mother’s arms and staring at her father.

Everything lifted from me, leaving me with only the need to protect her. I opened up my arms, and she stared at me for a split second before running straight into them. I pulled her as tight to me as I could.

“It’s okay, baby. I won’t ever let him near you.”

She was shaking in my arms. No tears, but obviously just as sickened and frightened as I was. If she hadn’t gotten out… There was no doubt how horrible the outcome would have been.

“I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

One officer walked over, pulling out his notepad. “Sir, can you come over there with me?”

I nodded, keeping Lila attached to me as we walked about fifty feet from where the bastard lay.

The bitch-monster was still screeching, making my ears hurt and my anger boil again. “You monster! He’s bleeding, you psycho son of a bitch!”

The officer blinked at Lila, noticing she’d come with me. “Miss, can you give us a moment?”

Lila shook her head, her eyes filled with fear as they flickered back to her father.

“He’ll get me. Don’t let him get me.”

My chest clenched at her words. He’d reduced her back to a child almost, clinging to me for safety from the monster that hunted her.

The officer’s mouth popped open, seeming to get an understanding of the situation. He cleared his throat and began his line of questions.

“What happened here?”

I took a deep breath to calm myself—much needed since adrenaline was still pumping through me, and the beast was begging to go back and kill him.

“We were coming out of the courthouse after the verdict on an aggravated sexual battery case against that woman’s son.” I pointed to the hell-bitch leaning over the asshole, then motioned to Lila. “He began verbally attacking her, then me, before attempting to grab hold of her. He then moved to attack me and I acted in defense of us both.” Lila trembled in my arms, burying her face further into my chest. “The man was her father, who admitted to everyone within listening distance to battery of her and plans of human trafficking of his own daughter.”

The officer’s pen stopped, his hand still as he looked at us, a horrified expression on his face. I felt sick.

What if she’d been given to Via Marconi’s operation? She had a far reach for her girls. I’d seen the women there, and death would be preferable to what they went through.

I pulled out my wallet and handed him a business card. “You can reach me here for anything further, but I really need to get her out of here.”

The officer nodded as he looked over my information. “We’ll be in touch, Mr. Thorne.”

I glanced down at his name badge. “Thank you, Officer White.”

The moment he stepped away back over to his partner, I pulled out my phone and texted Noah. I sent him the officer’s name and badge number, also giving him a heads-up on what happened.

Drew was done with his statement, and we waited for my parents, slowly inching toward the parking lot.

“Well, you now have grounds for a restraining order.” Drew leaned forward for a second to take a quick look at Lila.

I nodded. “Can you file one?”

“I’ll get with Caroline this afternoon. We’ll have it drawn up and submitted ASAP.”

“Thanks, man.”

“No problem.” He clapped me on the arm.

I looked down at my phone, noticing the text message I’d been waiting on along with the time. “Want to join us for lunch?”

He shook his head. “Sorry. Dana’s meeting me back at the office.”

My parents stopped in front of us, and Drew said his goodbyes before walking off.

“Lila, honey, are you okay?” My mother dipped her head down to look at her.

She nodded against my chest, her iron grip still digging into me. It didn’t matter, as long as she felt safe.

“I just need to get away from him.”

My father patted my shoulder. “We’ll let you go and talk to you soon.”

Lila let go of me enough to walk to her side of the car, her eyes glancing back over to where the cops were still talking to her father. She sighed, mumbling something under her breath as we sped off.

It almost sounded like “I wish you’d killed him.”

I wished I had as well.

CHAPTER 16

We sat at a table in Lila’s favorite hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant a half hour later. I ordered her a margarita—a well-deserved drink after the morning we’d experienced. We were supposed to be having a celebration of our victory, but instead we sat in the booth with a somber aura, and I was icing my aching knuckles.

She was lost in thought, but not vacant or detached. I was happy with that, and the fact she didn’t need my help but only my presence to pull her from the debilitating fear that took hold of her thanks to that asshole father of hers opening his mouth.

She blew through her first drink in minutes, and I found myself shoving the chips and salsa at her before I had a drunk on my hands. After all, I had plans.

“Baby, you need to slow down.”

Her eyes flipped up, almost as if she was just noticing me, and her lips twitched. “Sorry, it’s just been a…day.”

I nodded. “Lots of highs and lows.”

She blew out a breath and dipped a chip in the queso I ordered. Her teeth bit into the edge, nibbling on it instead of stuffing it in her mouth.

“What would’ve happened to me?” She tilted her head at me.

I knew the answer, a little too well for my liking. Her inquisitive eyes bore into me. I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat.

“Nothing good, and everything bad.” I took the ice off to look at my hand, flexing my fingers as I determined nothing was broken—just inflamed and sore.

She thought on what I said for a moment. I almost didn’t know what to do with her reactions—they weren’t normal for her.

“I never would’ve gotten free, would I?”

I shook my head. “Only by death.”

She hummed in agreement. My jaw flexed. I was not comfortable with this conversation. The thought of her continuing on that path was excruciating.

“I know you called Joan, and she got you out of the house, but how? Why didn’t you call Social Services?”

She sighed. “I didn’t know at the time. I only knew I could be emancipated from him and you needed a lawyer for that.”

“There was no way a judge would have agreed, and you would have continued living with him through that process.”

She nodded. “I was only sixteen—I didn’t know anything, only that I had to get away.”

The waiter chose that moment to arrive with our food. My stomach rumbled with the wonderful sizzling smell coming from my fajitas. I dove in, waiting for her to gather her thoughts while she cut up her food.

“Joan arrived at the school not two hours after I called her. I’d found her number in a phone book in the library that morning.” She cut into her chimichanga and took a bite. “When she arrived, I was called into the principal’s office. The moment she saw me, she started yelling at him for no one noticing what was going on.” She stared down at her food for a moment, thinking as she cut off another bite and ate it. “The principal was friends with my father and told her I was just clumsy and shy. That set her off. His inaction ultimately led to him losing his job.”

My brow rose in surprise and satisfaction. “Which was well deserved. He should’ve known the signs. Friend or not, he took an oath to protect his students.”

She nodded. “My father was a charismatic man of the community—they never knew the man he hid behind closed doors or the disdain he had for me. He painted them a pretty little picture, and if I did anything to mess it up, there was hell to pay.” She took a long pull of her margarita. “That all changed that night after Joan arrived at the house with Social Services.”

“I didn’t know they worked that fast.”

“They did after Joan showed them the damage. My bruises were fading, but still very visible. She took me into the nurse’s office, had me take off my shirt, and took photos of it all. After developing them that afternoon, she took them to a judge along with my medical records, and I was pulled.”

“I’m so happy you had the courage to contact her. Otherwise… I don’t like the alternative future you would’ve endured.”

“Me, either.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I never would have met you.”

We stopped conversation, both needing a moment to decompress and eat. After I finished stuffing myself with fajitas, I placed the ice back on my hand and looked down at my watch. Time was passing a little too fast.

I reached across the table and took her hand. “So, what do we do now?”

She shrugged. “No idea. Go back to the office?”

I shook my head and smiled. “No, Honeybear.” I laughed. “First off, you’ve been drinking. Second… What does everyone say when they win something?” She quirked her brow at me, then looked at me like I was insane. “I’m going to Disneyworld!”

She stared at me, her brow scrunched. “What?”

I sighed and took her hand in mine. “We’re going to Disneyworld.”

She continued to stare at me, possibly wondering if I’d gotten another lobotomy. “Huh?”

“Delilah Thorne, you and I are flying down to Orlando in four hours and spending the rest of the week at Disneyworld.”

She blinked at me. “But we have work.”

She was still confused, and I tried not to laugh. Then again, I did broadside her. “No, we took the week off for the trial, remember? We weren’t sure how long it would go.”

Her head tilted. “So…we’re going to Disneyworld?”

My lip twitched—she was catching on. “Yes.”

“Really?” The confusion cleared from her face and was replaced by disbelief.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“But how did you know we’d be done today?”

“I didn’t.”

“Then how? I’ve been with you this whole time.”

“Mom had it all waiting in the wings with her travel agent for me. When we were leaving the courthouse she called her, and the agent texted me our flight information.”

“We’re going to Disneyworld? Now?”

I laughed, unable to keep it in any longer. “Yes, we’re going to Disneyworld.”

Her eyes widened and she bounced in her seat. “Oh, my God! We’re going to Disneyworld!”

“Now, that is the reaction I was expecting.”

She jumped up. “We need to get packed!”

We headed home and began to pack like maniacs on the run. I pulled out a few pairs of shorts and t-shirts and threw them in a small suitcase. Lila was flipping clothes everywhere into a larger suitcase. She was a planner, so the sudden need to pack was driving her a little insane and she was over-packing.

“How long will we be there?” She stared down at the pile of sundresses she pulled from the closet.

I pulled out my phone and looked over the information again. “We fly back on Sunday, so three full days.”

After sorting through the stack, she picked two and left the rest in the middle of our bed. She then went through the clothes she’d already accumulated and weeded some out, making the mess on the bed bigger.

Half an hour later, we were packed and ready to go. Well, Lila was still going through a mental list to make sure she remembered everything.

“Did we leave the oven on?” she asked as we were driving to the airport.

I quirked my brow at her. “Were you using it any time this week?”

She blinked at me. “No.”

“Then I’d say no.”

She turned back to the front and looked out the window as we neared our destination. I took her hand in mine and kissed her fingers.

“Relax. That’s the point of these days off. We’ve just been through the gauntlet and won. Adam’s in jail. It’s time to celebrate.”

She let out a hard breath and sank back into the seat.

“He’s really going to jail.”

“Yes, he is.”

Her lips twitched up and grew into a smile that lit up her eyes. Nothing but happiness.

A few hours later, we checked into the Grand Floridian. It was an iconic, out of time hotel. With as late as it was when we finally got there, and with as long of a day it’d been, we ordered room service for dinner.

We were unpacking, going over the park information, when Lila threw open the curtains and looked out. Her eyes widened as she stared out at the park in the distance and the castle lit up in the middle. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist.

“You know what else we could do while we’re here?” I kissed her neck and ground my hips against her ass.

She relaxed back into me and let out a contented sigh. “I think I know where you’re going with this.”

“Yeah, where’s that?” I nipped at her skin.

“Baby making practice.”

I pulled back. “Practice?”

She nodded. “Practice makes perfect.”

“Well, it’s always perfect, but why are you calling it practice? You’re not on birth control anymore, right?”

“No, I’m not.”

I turned her in my arms. “Am I pressuring you?” She was silent as she looked back at me. “Lila, do you want to have kids?”

Her brow scrunched and she let out a hard breath.

Fuck.

I held my breath, waiting. I couldn’t explain my want—need—for a baby. It was visceral. Every part of me wanted a family with her, as if it was an attempt to get even closer to her. I wanted to see the mix of her and me in our child.

Men didn’t have a biological clock, but it felt like I did. Maybe it was because I was someone new, who understood better than the old me how important and special family was. Grace was the driver then, and now it was me. I’d wanted kids then, wanted the American dream—and more than to appease Grace—but with Lila it was more than all that.

“It’s not that I don’t want them, it’s that it scares me to death. Would I love to bring our children here? Yes. I want the family experiences I’ve always seen but never had.” She leaned forward and rested her head on my chest. “But I can’t shake the fear that I’ll fuck up, be a terrible mother. I…I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know if I can hold a baby, because I never have.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding and chuckled, the tension leaving me as I pulled her closer.

“Honeybear, I know it’s scary, but it’s impossible for you to be a terrible mother.”

“You don’t know that.”

I tilted her head up so I could look into her eyes. “Yes, I do. You’ve changed before my eyes, but your capacity to love has only grown.” She let out a shaky breath, and I turned her so we could both look out the window again. “Look out there, out at the castle that has you entranced.” I looked down to make sure she was, and she was locked on, her hand reaching out and settling on the window. “Now imagine coming back here in five years and sharing it with our little girl. Imagine her face lighting up.”

Lila’s voice was barely a whisper. “Anna.”

My heart stopped and a sense of déjà vu took hold.

Anna.

Flashes of a dream, a nightmare long ago, came back to me. The smiling face of a little girl who called me Daddy.

I swallowed hard. “That’s a beautiful name.”

“It was my mom’s.”

I kissed her temple. “I think it’s a great name for our little girl.”

She sniffed and nodded. “I think so, too.” She tilted her head up and kissed my jaw. Her lips continued up my jaw, nipping as she went. “Let’s make our baby girl.”

I growled and took her mouth with mine. “I love you.”