19. Levi
Chapter 19
Levi
“W here is she?”
The door is barely open to the bull pen when the words come flying out of me. Theo and Carter are both on my tail.
“Levi,” Chief Briggs says in greeting when he sees me bust in. “Josie’s okay. She’s eating some donuts in the break room.” I make a move to go to her. But he stops me with a hand to my chest. “Hold your horses there, Steele. We need to chat about a few things first.”
I grit my teeth and let him push me back a step, even though every instinct in me is screaming to barrel through and get to her.
That sweet little girl, sitting alone somewhere in a police station, eating cold donuts like some afterthought.
Theo shifts anxiously beside me, fists clenched.
“Make it fast,” I say, voice rough.
Chief Briggs nods once, like he gets it. He’s a dad too.
“We got Evie on a possession charge,” he says. “She was picked up outside a pharmacy trying to pass a fake prescription. When she got searched, they found more than enough to stick.”
I rub a hand down my face, the weight of it all hitting like a steel-toed boot to the ribs.
“And Josie?”
“She wasn’t with her at the time,” Briggs says. “Evie left her alone in a motel room. Neighbor heard her crying and called it in.”
Theo curses under his breath. Carter’s face goes pale.
I feel like I’m drowning standing still.
“She okay?” I ask, voice low.
“Physically? Yeah. Shook up. But she’s resilient. I think she’ll be okay,” he assures me.
A weak, broken sound huffs out of me. Half a laugh, half a sob, I choke down before it can betray me.
Briggs softens a little. Leans in. “But listen, Levi. We can’t just hand her over like nothing happened. Since Evie’s technically still her legal guardian, there’s a process.”
“What process?”
“Emergency protective custody,” he says. “It’s paperwork, but it’s important. You will need to sign temporary guardianship forms tonight to take her home. After that, you’ll need to file for full legal guardianship… if you want it to stick long-term,” he adds.
Full legal guardian. I can do that. Can I do that?
I stiffen. “Of course, I’ll sign whatever I need to.”
Briggs raises a hand.
“I know that. But it’s not automatic. CPS will do a home check. Background check. Interview. You know the drill. They’ve gotta make it official, for Josie’s sake.”
I nod stiffly, every muscle in my body coiled and ready to snap.
“And Evie?” Carter asks, voice sharp. He never did care much for my ex-wife.
“She’ll be offered a deal,” Briggs says grimly. “Court-mandated rehab instead of jail time— if she completes it. It’s her best shot at getting clean without losing every right she’s got left.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Theo asks quietly.
Briggs meets my eyes, no bullshit. “Then it’ll make the guardianship permanent.. No contest.”
Silence hums between us. Heavy and brutal. I can take care of Josie. Hell, I’ve been taking care of Josie. This would just make things official. Make it so Evie can’t just show up claiming to be done with that life, only to be called up again a week later.
“She doesn’t get another shot with Josie,” I say, voice like gravel. “She’s had her last shot.”
Briggs nods, understanding more than he says.
“I’ll have the paperwork brought in. It should only take a few minutes. Go see your girl, Levi.”
I don’t wait another second.
I push into the break room, heart hammering like it’s trying to break free.
Josie’s sitting at a little round table, swinging her feet against the chair leg. A paper plate with half a powdered donut sits in front of her. Powder dusts her fingers, her mouth, even the front of her little jacket.
She looks up when the door swings open.
For a second, she just stares at me, big brown eyes wide and unsure. My chest nearly caves in.
I crouch down low, holding out my arms, giving her the space to decide.
Her face crumples. It’s relief, fear, and hope all tangled up, and then she bolts off the chair, launching into me so hard I nearly fall backward.
No words. No sounds. Just the tight, desperate clutch of her little hands grabbing my jacket, fisting it in tight knots like she's terrified I’ll disappear if she lets go.
I fold her into me, wrapping my arms around her small frame, breathing her in. Powdered sugar and baby shampoo. At least Evie showered her.
"I got you, Josie girl," I murmur into her hair. My voice cracks, and I don't care.
"I’m not going anywhere."
She burrows in closer, burying her face against my chest. I can feel her tiny heartbeat racing against mine.
Theo steps inside the room, slow and careful, like he doesn’t want to scare her. Carter follows, standing just inside the doorway, his arms crossed, eyes hard and wet at the edges.
“We’re here, Josie,” Theo says softly, crouching down beside us. “You’re safe now, okay?”
Josie peeks out from where she’s tucked into my jacket. She doesn't speak, but she gives Theo a barely-there jerk of her chin.
Carter clears his throat and moves in closer, voice steady even when mine isn't.
“We're gonna figure this out,” he says. “Whatever it takes, Levi. You’re not doing this alone.”
Theo nods fiercely. “She’s ours too.”
I close my eyes for a second, holding Josie tighter, letting their words settle into the cracks I didn’t even realize were still broken inside me.
Ours. Not just mine. Ours.
Family.
I press a kiss into the top of Josie’s hair, breathing her in like I could anchor myself with just her scent.
I stand slowly, still holding her against me. Her arms stay tight around my neck. She’s not letting go, and neither am I.
When I turn back toward Carter and Theo, both of them just nod at me with solid, unshakable loyalty.
Wordless promises exchanged just in tearful looks.
And for the first time since Theo came to tell me what happened tonight, something inside me eases.
We’re gonna be okay.