3. Emma
“If you try to take her away from me tonight, I will hurt you.” The rage flowing through my veins as Linc stands on my front porch ebbs with every passing second.
Bee doesn’t need to be taken to a stranger’s house. She doesn’t need to wake up in the middle of the night. Probably the last good night she’ll have for the foreseeable future.
“I don’t have a choice,” my brother says quietly. “She’s not family, Emma. There are laws that have to be upheld. I have no choice but to call social services.”
I slip out onto the front porch and close the door almost all the way behind me, just in case things get loud.
“So help me, Lincoln.” I grind out his full name through clenched teeth. “If you wake up that little girl on the last normal night of her life, I will break into your house while you’re sleeping in bed with Kennedy. I will put a bar of soap in a tube sock, and I will beat the shit out of you before you can stop me.” Every single piece of my anger and rage at what Bee is about to go through starts to flood my system at once, and as my heart races painfully in my chest, Linc isn’t smart enough to back down. “I will hurt you until you have no idea how to make me stop, and then I’ll keep going until I’ve broken more than one bone because you will not hurt that sweet and innocent little girl without me hurting you right back. Do you understand me?”
Instead of doing the smart thing, that asshole puts on his cop face and crosses his arms, as if he’s ever been able to intimidate me. Except, I’m not a little girl anymore, and he is the one who taught me how to defend myself.
“Come on, Emma.” Linc shuffles his feet, completely ruining the cob vibes that he’s wearing like his bulletproof vest. “I have to do my job. You know that, especially with everything you’re working toward.”
His words don’t even begin to break through the upset determination I’ve worked myself into.
“She’s safe here, Linc,” I try again. “There has to be something we can do, just for tonight.”
“I’ve got an idea.”
I didn’t even notice Dom walking up behind Linc, so when he inserts himself into our conversation, I almost die from surprise.
“What the shit, Dom?” I hiss while clutching a hand to my chest, straight out of a Victorian novel where the heroine almost has a fainting spell. “Announce your presence next time, you freaking ghost.” As I struggle to catch my breath and regain a sense of control over my senses, he ignores me completely, which is saying something since we’re standing in front of my house.
“I’ve got this,” he tells Linc like I don’t even exist. “Gimme a minute to get things lined up, but we should be all set for tonight. I just need to call in a favor.”
He turns away, and Linc stares at me with a smile on his face that I want to slap right off it. “See?” Linc thumbs at Dom over his shoulder. “Dom’s got it handled. Breathe, Emma.”
“I don’t want to breathe,” I snap irately. “I want all of this to not be happening. I want Bee not to go through what she’s about to go through. I want to protect her from all of this, and I can’t. Nobody can. So instead, I want to take out my frustration on you and you’re lucky you have a uniform on right now or I’d kick you. I just want to protect her.”
“I know.”
Dom steps in front of my brother, effectively removing him from the conversation. When his eyes lock on mine, I can’t look away even if I want to.
Not that I do.
Dom is freaking gorgeous. The beard that’s grown out in the month since I last saw him only adds to his appeal, which I didn’t honestly think was possible until right this moment.
“What?” I stutter, trying not to choke on air.
“You don’t want her to be hurt. I know. None of us can protect her. But I told you, I have an idea.” I watch him run a hand over his beard, and regardless of the situation we currently find ourselves in, I want him. “I made a call,” Dom goes on like my brain isn’t going into overdrive from the smell of his cologne or soap or whatever the hell it is. “Linc’s gonna continue at the scene, and I’m going to wait here with you so that everything gets squared away.”
Throwing a fit feels like the right thing to do, but I keep my mouth shut and think about the adult thing to do. With the realization that I’ve literally been acting like a child who didn’t get their way, all the wind blows out of my sails. My shoulders slump, and I open the front door, leading the way into the living room, turning on the light as I go so that he doesn’t stub a toe on any of my furniture.
When I sit down on my couch, it almost feels like I’ve lost a war. My heart aches for Bee, and even though I want to protect her, Dom’s right.
I can’t.
At least I try.
The couch depresses next to me, and I barely have the capacity to look over and see Dom taking a seat next to me, so close that we’re almost touching, before turning my attention back to the empty space above my TV.
“My mom and dad are licensed foster parents,” he says quietly.
His words take away a piece of the pain, even if it’s just a fraction. My heart still aches, but knowing that he is trying to help does something. Something huge. I just can’t process it. Not until after Bee is taken care of. Not until I know she’ll be safe.
“I called Chief Townsend and asked him to do what he could to make sure that Bianca ends up with them. That was my idea.”
I swallow down the nausea that has somehow been sitting in the back of my throat since I heard the gunshot, and I turn to stare at him with wide eyes.
“What?”
Half a smile lights up his face, and for a second I think he will reach for me, but he doesn’t move. “You heard me,” Dom answers, keeping his voice down. “I told you I had an idea. I meant it.”
He stares at me like I have the answer, like I know exactly what he’s talking about, and I don’t have the strength or sense to tell him that I don’t know anything.
“My mom is gonna come stay the night, after the social worker clears everything and approves them to foster her, I think.” He goes on, never looking away from me. “You know there’s a procedure and policy in place here, one that has to be followed. I know you’re tired, Emma. There’s a lot going on and it’s all kind of resting on your shoulders because you care about the little girl at the center of everything here. I see that. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be fighting so hard for her last night of peace.”
My lips purse on the sob that threatens to break free, and I realize why everything feels off. My own emotions, pushed aside while I made sure that Bee was taken care of, come rushing to the surface, and I can’t help the response.
Tears, unbidden, start to pool in my eyes.
“Don’t cry, Emma.” Dom reaches a hesitant hand up to brush the moisture from my cheeks. “You shouldn’t cry.”
“Why?” I sob quietly, trying not to choke on my tears. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I can,” he says simply, never taking his hand from my cheek. “Plus,” he adds with a wink, “my momma would beat my ass if I didn’t. You know her. Do you think she’d be okay with me not calling her when something’s breaking your heart?”
I almost don’t hear the knock on the door. Almost. Soft and gentle, three raps followed by silence. For a moment, I let myself stay in the warmth that Dom’s presence offers… the calm that he gives me in a situation that I can’t escape.
Dom gets up before I do, breaking the spell that I didn’t know has descended on us, and he takes his hand with him.
“That’ll be my mom and the social worker.”
I watch him open my front door and see his mother, standing there in a pair of bright-blue pajamas, and one of my friends from school standing next to her.
“Bria?”
Bria Keller walks in all business except for the twinkle in her eye that never seems to leave. She glances around before opening the binder in her hand.
“Hey, Emma,” she greets me. “Is Bianca Hart here? I’m assigned to her case and we were directed over here.”
I swallow down the happiness at seeing my friend and the thought that it may go easier because of that, and I nod. “Her mother had me babysit her for the night,” I fib only slightly. “And she fell asleep right after dinner.”
Bria nods, some of her blond hair escaping the loose braid hanging over her shoulder. “Okay.” She sighs deeply. “This whole thing sucks. But she’s going to be in good hands. The Ortiz family is amazing, and they’re one of my favorite fosters to work with. Bianca is going to be in good hands.” She repeats herself.
“Bee,” I correct. “She doesn’t like to be called Bianca. Her name is Bee.”
Standing there, in the entryway to my house, I feel less in control than I ever have in my entire life, and everything around me starts to spiral. “I’m not okay with this,” I go on. “I’m not okay with Bee being taken in the middle of the night. Let her sleep. I’m not a bad person.” I look over at Alta. “My family is a freakin’ pillar of the community. My brother’s a police officer, and he lives two houses down. She’s going to be fine here for the night.” Rational thought flees as I return to defending Bee. “If I don’t advocate for her, no one else will.” I glance toward the window, where I can still see flashing lights of police cruisers outside her house. “Her parents aren’t here to do it.”
“I’m not removing her from the home tonight,” Bria tells me after looking back down at her paperwork. “But only because Alta said that she’s going to stay here as well.” She gives me a sad smile. “I’m sorry that you’re caught in the middle of this crappy situation, but thank you for standing up for Bianca. Bee,” she corrects herself. “Not many people would, and you’re a good person, Emma.” She sighs. “It’s late, and I know you’ll want to get settled. But I’ll be back in the morning to make the notification and to make sure that Bee gets settled with Alta’s family.”
Bria leaves, and I stand there awkwardly, staring between Alta and Dom, who hadn’t said a single word while the other woman was there.
“You’ve got a good heart, mija.” Alta pulls me into a tight hug. “When Dom called, I knew it had to be something important. Your little Bee will be taken care of until they can find her familia. I’ll make sure of it.”
There aren’t words for the relief coursing through my veins. There may never be words for it.
“Thank you, Alta,” I manage to get out through the combination of her tight embrace and the emotion clogging my throat.
Over her shoulder, my eyes catch Dom staring.
“I guess we’re having a good ol’ fashioned sleepover.” His deep voice fills the air, cutting through the emotion. “Where’s your guest room? I can get Momma’s stuff from her car.”
Alta laughs. “Silly man. You don’t have to get my bag. I’m capable.” She lets me go and turns to her son with a smile.
Dom snorts and shakes his head like they’ve had this argument a million times before. “Dad’ll gut me with his hunting knife if I don’t. Ayudame, Emma. You know mama is his love.”
Unable to resist the ridiculous sparkle I can see in his eye, I nod toward the hall. “Be careful. Bee’s in the first bedroom. Your mom can have the second door on the right.” I pause. “But you’re out of luck. I only have three bedrooms, and I’m not giving up my room for you.”
Dom doesn’t say a word, but his eyes flash with challenge. He walks out of the living room, staring at me until he passes, and it’s all I can do just to keep myself from blushing under his scrutiny.
Once he’s gone, Alta shakes her head with a smile. “That boy doesn’t know it yet, but he’s in so much trouble.”
“What do you mean?” I shift from foot to foot, trying to hide the sudden urge to run away.
Alta smiles even wider. “You’re smarter than that, mija. That boy will fight it tooth and nail, just like his father, but he won’t ever deny his feelings.”
“Seriously.” I can’t fight the blush now. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.” Alta watches me with her head partly cocked and a whimsical expression in her eyes. “I’m sure you don’t know anything about it at all. At least, not yet.”
“Damn, Mama,” Dom grunts as he walks back into my living room, quiet like a freaking ninja, even though he’s carrying a massive duffel bag. “What did you do? Pack the house?”
Alta sniffs and shrugs her shoulder at her son like he just insulted her. “It’s not my fault. I didn’t know what the little girl would need or what would make her comfortable. So I brought a little bit of everything. Better to be prepared for anything than miss something that I should have thought of. Now,” she says with a smile for Dom. “Why don’t you put that in my room and let me rest. I’m tired, and it’s too late for an old woman like me to be awake.”
Dom walks down the hall and into the second bedroom without making a sound. There’s not much else for me to do except stare at him like the weirdo that I am. At least, that’s the excuse I tell myself while I stare at his ass.
“Freaking ninja,” I mutter before looking at the clock on the wall, the one that calls out Alta as a liar. “It’s not even ten…” I trail off. “You can’t go to bed this early. You should stay up. We can talk or eat something. I have marshmallows.” Yes, even I know that’s weak, but I don’t want to be alone with Dom. I’m a chicken, and he’s here in my space. If I’m not careful, he’ll be able to destroy me, again.
Alta’s the last line of defense I have against him.
“I do what I want.” Alta walks by her son, who now stands in the hall next to her door. “You two have fun. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll even make breakfast.”
When the door to her room closes with a resounding click, I stand there, staring at the man who stars in every single one of my fantasies… and he’s watching me.
If I were anyone else, I’d think that his eyes were full of hunger. The tension between us is palpable. I know it’s pathetic, but he makes me weak.
He makes me want things that I know would end badly. He makes me want to bend and break every single rule that I’ve ever had. Even if he’s never asked me to give him that power, Dom owns me, and if I give an inch…
Stay away.
I almost give in and actually say those words, but I don’t.
Instead, I stand there in the hall until I can’t take it anymore and I do the only thing I can.
I walk right out the door and sit on the back porch, where I finally let myself fall apart.
The only problem is that I don’t know why I’m falling apart.
It definitely could be the tragedy that’s poured itself into Bianca’s life overnight. But that wouldn’t be the whole truth.
The whole truth is that I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do next.