Chapter 60 Laney
Laney
Ididn’t realize how close I was to falling apart until Saint closed the door behind us.
The room was warm, quiet, safe—and my knees almost gave out.
I’d been running for so long that standing still felt wrong.
Saint set Emmy down gently on the bed and tucked a blanket around her like he’d done it a thousand times before. The sight of it squeezed something in my chest so tight I had to look away.
“Did you bring anything with you?” he asked softly.
“Yes.” I nodded. “Clothes. Diapers. Bottles. Everything’s in my car.”
He hesitated. “What kind of car?”
“A black SUV. It’s out front.” My heart started racing again. “Can you… can you hide it? If they see it—”
“I’ll take care of it,” he said immediately.
He looked at me for a second longer, like he wanted to say something else, then forced himself to step away. Before he left, he tucked the blanket more securely around Emmy.
“I’ll be right back.”
The door closed.
I stood there, staring at my daughter.
“You’re safe,” I whispered, even though I wasn’t sure I believed it yet.
Every shadow felt too deep. Every sound from downstairs made my heart jump.
I’d lived like this for months.
In Italy, it had started slowly. A man who lingered too long near my building. A car that appeared twice in the same week. Someone who asked the café owner questions about me in a language he didn’t think I understood.
I did understand.
And I ran. I didn’t plan on staying there anyway. I just wanted a few nights to grieve.
I brushed my fingers over Emmy’s cheek. She slept on, peaceful, unaware that her life had been marked the moment she was born.
A knock at the door made me jump.
A woman with warm eyes and a gentle smile peeked in. “Hi. I’m Nora. Wolf’s wife.”
“Oh—hello.” I lowered my voice. “I’m Laney. And this is Emmy.”
Her face softened instantly. “She’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Saint told us a little. He said you might be staying for a while.”
If we survived, I thought.
Before I could answer, three older women appeared behind her like they’d materialized out of thin air.
“Oh my goodness,” one said. “Is that the baby?”
“She looks just like Saint,” another declared.
“I told you he’d have beautiful children,” the third said smugly.
Nora laughed. “These are the Magnolia Ladies. They run the town. And everyone’s business.”
“I heard that,” one of them said cheerfully.
“I’m sorry,” I said, overwhelmed. “I didn’t mean to cause a fuss.”
“Oh honey,” one said, patting my arm. “In this town, babies are never a fuss.”
They were kind. Warm. Curious.
And for a moment, I almost let myself believe we were safe.
Almost.
Wolf appeared in the doorway. “Let them rest. We’ll talk later.”
The women finally dispersed, reluctantly.
After they left, exhaustion hit me like a wave.
I lay down next to Emmy without meaning to.
When I woke, it was darker.
And for one terrifying second, I couldn’t remember where I was.
Then I saw Saint.
He was standing near the window, Emmy in his arms, humming softly.
She was awake, staring at him like he was her whole world.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “She needed a diaper change. I handled it.”
I stared at him. “You… changed her?”
He smiled a little. “She didn’t complain.”
“She never does.” My throat tightened. “She likes you.”
“I never want to put her down,” he said quietly. “I love her.”
Tears burned my eyes.
“I’m scared,” I admitted. “I keep thinking any minute someone is going to walk through that door.”
Saint’s expression changed instantly. Focused. Sharp.
“No one is getting to you. Or her.”
“What if you’re wrong,” I whispered.
“I’m not. Not about this.”
I wanted to believe him.
God, I wanted to.