Chapter 2
KAYLYNN
“I want my Daddy. Let me go!”
“Ariel, take some deep breaths. You aren’t thinking clearly.”
“Don’t tell me what to do! Let me go, now!”
She ripped away from my grasp and stumbled down the hallway.
And even though I had sweat percolating against my brow, I rushed after her.
I saw her lunging for the front door, like she did so many times over the past couple of weeks.
I wrapped my arms around her stomach and hoisted the little nine-year-old into the air, watching her kick her feet.
“I don't know you, let me go! Please!”
I shook my head. “Not until you calm down. You can’t run away. Not on my watch.”
“I didn’t ask to be on your watch!”
“Trust me, I didn’t ask for you, either.”
“Carlie! Help!”
I sighed. “You're only making this worse for yourself, you know.”
She thrashed around, trying to slam her head back into my nose.
Holy hell, this girl could fight. She’d thrown every move at me over the past few days.
At first, all she did was cry in her room.
Then, all she did was throw her food at me and run upstairs whenever I did get her to come down long enough to eat.
And after that, she started throwing amazing tantrums. Yelling and screaming.
Condemning my existence and yelling for her father.
In one breath, she cursed her father’s existence.
And in the next breath, she begged him to save her.
I mean, I couldn't blame her for that. But she wouldn't get away with such things in my house.
“No!” Ariel shrieked.
“Yes,” I said calmly.
“Let me go!”
“Not until you calm down.”
“Never!”
“Then, I’m never letting go.”
She kicked about and tossed her head around on her shoulders.
She looked like a mad little rag doll, going limp and trying to pin me with her dead weight.
I fought her, though. I fought her every step of the way.
Something told me she wasn’t used to people fighting with her.
She was simply used to people letting her run away.
Something that broke my heart. Sometimes, children like her needed structure.
Rules. Hard and fast rules someone stuck to, no matter what.
She struck me as the type of child that didn't get those.
Which meant she probably had someone in her life that made up for their absence with toys. Or food. Or treats of some sort.
“Please, let me go,” she said through her tears.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
When my brother dropped this red-headed firecracker off on my doorstep a couple weeks ago, that had been his only command.
To make sure she didn’t get away. And while I didn’t know much about what my brother did for a living, I knew enough to know when I needed to listen.
And this was one of those commands. I took the little girl in.
The angry, isolated, frustrating little girl.
Only nine years old, barely the size of my thigh, and a spitfire unlike anything I’d ever witnessed.
I wondered what her parents were like.
“Open up, Kaylynn.”
I heard my brother’s voice fuming on the other side of my front door. I rushed to it, listening as muffled voices came from the other side as well. I ripped the door open, watching in horror as a frail little girl twisted around. Wiggled about. Trying to get away from him.
“Oh, my gosh. Alex. Let her go,” I said breathlessly.
He dropped her onto the porch, and I scooped her into my arms. She clung to me, sniffling and crying as her body trembled next to me. I held her close to my breast, smoothing my fingers through her hair. I worked out the knots, unable to ask how she’d gotten them in the first place.
Then, my eyes slowly panned up to my brother’s.
“Keep her here until I come back. And whatever you do, don’t let her get away.”
“What in the world is this about?” I hissed.
“Just do as I ask, Kaylynn. You know how this goes.”
I watched him walk off as the strange little girl buried her face into the crook of my neck.
I picked her up, bringing her into my home even though I had no idea what the hell to do with her.
I kicked the front door closed. She jumped against me as it slammed shut.
And as she lifted her head, I gazed into the eyes of a very scared, very shaken little girl.
“Hi there. I’m Kaylynn. What’s your name?”
“No!”
In a flash, she leapt from my arms. She ran down the hallway, screaming for help and calling out for her father.
I sighed as I walked after her, watching her move toward the back porch doors.
I lunged after her, closing the door with my own hands just as she opened it.
I flipped the lock. She screamed out curses in my direction.
I sighed as she tore through my house, trying to rip open windows to get away from me.
And all the while, I tried getting to know her.
“What’s your name, sweetie?”
“No!”
“Are you hungry?”
“Let me out of here!”
“Would you like some ice cream?”
“Stay away from me!”
“I could show you to your room, if you’d like.”
“Stop touching me!”
She whipped around, placing a well-timed punch to my gut.
And I had to admit, it stunned me for a second.
It took me a bit to get my breath again.
To gain my bearings. But when I heard her stomping up the stairs, I followed after her.
I kept my cool as much as I could. I didn’t dare raise my voice at a girl who had just been ripped from her own home.
I knew enough to know that was what had happened.
She’d been plucked right off the street.
Probably at the beckoning of my brother’s boss.
My brother’s employer. The man he defended with his life.
Lars Norden.
“I hate you!”
Ariel’s croaking voice pulled me from the memory in just enough time to see her raise her fists.
She brought them down against my chest, striking my breasts as she brought tears to my eyes.
But I didn’t fight back. She was scared.
Angry. Confused. Even two weeks later. Which I didn’t blame her for at all.
She’d been caught up in a whirlwind that had nothing to do with her.
And my heart ached for the sadness causing her to lash out.
Instead, I wrapped my hands around her wrists. Stopping her from striking me again.
“Ariel, you have to listen to me.”
“No, I don't!”
“You need to take some breaths.”
“You can’t tell me what to do!”
“Could your father tell you what to do?” I asked.
My question settled her down as she thought on it.
And it gave me enough time to wiggle out of the corner she’d backed me into.
I watched tears crest her eyes as her body started to shiver.
And as I slowly led her back down the stairs toward the dinner, I had prepared for us in the kitchen, tears streaked her face.
“I want my daddy,” she said breathlessly.
“I know you do, sweetheart. Which is why you have to be a good girl, okay?” I asked.
“Why did you take me from my daddy?”
“I’m sure it’s just because Daddy needed—”
“A break?”
I paused. “Why would Daddy need a break?”
“He always needs breaks from me. That’s why I stay with Uncle Lyle all the time.”
My heart broke for her. “No, he didn't need a break from you, pretty girl. He just needs some time. He’s sick, and he needs to get better.”
She sniffled. “What’s Daddy sick with?”
We started making our way for the kitchen. “He’s got the flu.”
“The flu?”
“Mhm. And you’re with me because Uncle Lyle has it, too. And they don’t want you getting sick.”
“So, you know my Daddy?”
I nodded, going along with the lie. “I know him very well. I’ve known him for years.”
“Is that why he hasn’t come after me yet?”
“Yep. He just doesn’t want you sick. That’s all.”
“So, he loves me?”
I smiled. “Of course, he loves you, Ariel.”
“So, he didn’t get rid of me like Mommy did?”
I sat her down at the kitchen table. “He could never give you away, pretty girl. And your mom? Well, she lost out on a good kid like you.”
She paused. “Good kid?”
I took her hands within mine as I crouched down in front of her.
“Yes, Ariel. Good kid. You’re a good kid. And don’t you ever doubt that. Okay?”
And just like that, she lunged at me. She went from hitting me to hugging me within the span of a few minutes.
I closed my eyes tight, hugging her as much and as long as she wanted.
Even though dinner was done. Even though the soup was now overcooking itself on the stove.
I didn’t care. This girl needed so much more than soup and buttered bread.
She needed love. Care. Acceptance. Someone who gave a shit about her. And right now, I was that person.
I wouldn't let her down, either.
“It’s okay. Let it out, honey. You can cry as long as you want,” I said softly.
“Mommy didn’t want me, and I thought Daddy didn’t, either. He’s going to be so mad at me,” she said through her sobs.”
I kissed the side of her head. “He could never be mad at you for something like that. I know this is all very confusing right now. I know you’ve been ripped away from people you love. But I promise you, you’re safe with me. Okay?”
“Even from the man who took me away?”
I paused, thinking back on how I found her.
How she came to my door. My brother, with his hand cupped over her mouth.
With his fist twisted in her shirt. With his knee in her back.
It boiled my blood to think about. It made me want to claw his eyes out.
I didn’t know when the hell my brother turned into our father.
But as far as I was concerned, I wanted nothing to do with him.
“Especially from him,” I whispered.
The more she cried against my shoulder, the more I thought back to my childhood.
How cold and removed my father had been.
How he didn’t shed one tear at our mother’s funeral when I was only eleven years old.
How he locked himself away in his office and hired a string of nannies to parent me and my older brother, Alex.
He had been cold. Calculating. Isolating.
And when my father died, Alex stepped into his position.
Replacing his fun-loving smile with the cold, calculating frown I’d always remember about our father.
Ariel sniffled. “Is that soup?”
I smiled. “It is. Tomato and carrot bisque with sweet corn and mushrooms. And I made fresh buttered bread.”
“That sounds good. Except the mushrooms.”
“Will you give it a try for me? And if you don’t like them, I’ll make you up something else.”
“Promise?”
She pulled away and I smiled up into her face. “I promise with all my might.”
“Thank you.”
I furrowed my brow. “For what?”
“For not yelling at me.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll never yell at you unless I feel it’s necessary to get your attention. Or to find you during hide and seek.”
She giggled. “You’re good at that game. I almost couldn’t find you last time.”
“Want to play tonight?”
She paused. “Could we watch a movie instead?”
And as I smiled up into her face, she smiled back at me.
Turning a corner, we always did with our fights.
Her beautiful hazel eyes danced with a mischievous light and her fiery red hair ignited the freckles smattered against her face.
I brushed it away from her forehead, standing up just enough to press a kiss to her forehead.
A kiss I could have sworn she leaned into instead of backing away from.
I promise, we’ll get you out of here.
And it was a promise I intended to keep.