Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
TOBIAS
My entire family is gathered in Dad’s living room, and I know what they’re waiting for: me. Or rather for me to explain why I’ve brought the woman whose husband shot me, as well as her daughter, to stay at Oakleigh.
“Let the interrogation begin.” I grin, flopping into the spare seat next to Nicholas. “I can take it. Give it your best shot.”
“You’re so dramatic.” Saskia rolls her eyes. “You haven’t said much. We’re curious, that’s all.”
“She’s in a bind.” I shift my focus to Dad. “And I feel responsible. This shit went down at my club, and while I’m not going to betray her confidence or her trust by telling you what I saw that night, suffice to say there isn’t a woman on the planet who deserves our protection more than Rebecca.”
My father catches on to the truth in a split second. His lips thin, and his eyes narrow. “I see.”
“And now her delightful former in-laws have applied for custody of her daughter and, to help tip the scales in their favor, are spreading lies in the press about Rebecca’s mental health and how she’s an unfit mother. I intend to make sure they spectacularly lose their custody case.”
“Hmm.” Dad runs a hand over his chin. “I’m vaguely familiar with the La Salle family. I’ve met Preston on a few occasions. Can’t say I care for the man. Only met his wife once. Took an instant dislike to her. She has a cruel streak.”
Like mother like son. “Well, there you have it. Cruella De Vil—no relation—is about to get her comeuppance. I just want to make this go away for Rebecca so she can start to rebuild her life with her kid.”
“She’s welcome to stay here,” Dad says. “For as long as she wishes.”
“When do we get to meet her and Isla?” Imogen asks.
“When she’s ready. She’s… wary, distrustful. I don’t want to overwhelm her. This is a lot. We’re a lot.”
“Speak for yourself,” Xan drawls.
“I am a fucking delight, and you know it. You only wish you had my funny bone.”
“When she’s had time to settle in, we’ll take her under our wing,” Victoria says, twisting Daisy’s ears as the dog softly snores on her lap.
“We will,” Grace chimes in. “She must be so frightened.”
“Yeah. If anyone tried to take Sasha from me…” Imogen shudders, and Xan gets this murderous look on his face—Mama and Papa in full protective mode.
I envy them, their connection, their fierce loyalty to one another, and the baby they made—one my brother thought he’d never have. Not that I’d ever admit my envy out loud. I’ve been playing this part for years. The amusing one, the joker in the pack. It’s an automatic reflex by now.
“Does she have family she can call on?” Grace asks.
I shake my head. “She has a mother and a brother whom she’s estranged from. Even if they were in touch, from what little I’ve gleaned, they’re nowhere near financially or influentially capable of taking on the La Salles.”
Grace’s brow creases. “Poor thing.”
“Oh, and you should also know that Isla is non-verbal. She makes her needs known easily enough without words and she’s the sweetest child you’ll ever meet.”
“Look at you.” Victoria winks at me. “You’re smitten.”
I feel my face heat. She isn’t wrong, and it’s not only Isla who’s punched a hole in my chest. There’s a second one right alongside it that Rebecca made the night I took a bullet for her.
Except I still can’t figure out what it is about her that’s pulling me in.
Is it because, in her, I recognize another broken soul, just like me?
“I showed her a picture of Daisy. She can’t wait to meet her.”
Victoria nods. “A good ice breaker. Dogs have a way of making connections humans can’t, especially with kids.”
The conversation turns away from me and the unexpected guests I’ve foisted on my family and had them so warmly accept. We may have a lot of faults and, at times, have questionable morals to get what we want, but this… this open arms to offer our protection to a person in need is what we do best.
Even surrounded by the people I love most in the world, my mind wanders upstairs. To her. The woman who should feel like a complication but doesn’t.
“Go.” Victoria nudges my arm with her elbow. “Check on them. You’re twitching like a watchdog.”
I press a hand to my chest. “Lies. I’m shocked at you, Victoria. I thought you loved me.”
“Sure. Whatever.” She rolls her eyes, then grins.
“I’m with Victoria,” Nicholas pipes up. Color me shocked that he’s taking Victoria’s side. “You’re fidgeting like you just discovered some twat’s put itching powder down your trousers.”
“See, that was almost funny. You were right there. So close.” I rise from the sofa. “Don’t get any fucking ideas about taking my role as the funny one in this family.”
Their laughter follows me from Dad’s suite.
By the time I reach the staircase, it’s faded.
Oakleigh’s quiet this time of day, the kind of stillness that carries every sound.
The plush carpeting on the stairs dulls the thud of my rapid footsteps, each one bringing me closer to Rebecca and Isla.
An invisible twine reeling me in, like a fish caught on a hook.
I’m checking they’re settled and don’t need anything, that’s all. It’s what any good host should do. As I approach the door, a sound cuts through the silence. A piercing, high-pitched scream, followed by another smaller one. A choked panic that wallops me in the ribs.
I rap once on the door, then enter without waiting for permission.
I’ll apologize later. The door to Rebecca’s bedroom is wide open, and she’s kneeling beside Isla’s bed, stroking her hair.
The little girl’s bolt upright, tears rolling down her face, hands fisted in the Paw Patrol quilt I had specially bought for her the second Rebecca agreed to come to Oakleigh.
“It’s okay, Isla. Mama’s here. I’m right here.”
“What’s wrong?”
Rebecca looks up at me, face wretched. “She woke up, and I wasn’t here. I can’t calm her.”
“Can I come closer?”
Her expression falters, like she doesn’t quite know what to do with kindness or someone asking for consent. “Please.”
I edge a bit nearer while still keeping my distance so I don’t spook Isla. “Hey, sweetheart.” I pick up her bear from the floor. “Here you go.”
She reaches out and takes him from me, hugging him to her chest as her sobs quieten.
Rebecca bites her lip. “I should have seen this coming. I shouldn’t have left her, even to sit in the other room.”
“Hey.” I sit on the floor and cross my legs. “You’re doing great. Both of you.” I turn my attention to Isla. “I saw Daisy before. She can’t wait to meet you.”
Her trembling eases a fraction.
“You’ll like that, won’t you, Isla?” Rebecca rubs circles on her daughter’s back.
I get a lump in my throat just watching the way she is with this kid. A memory worms into my mind. Me in bed, sick with the flu, and Mum doing to me exactly what Rebecca is doing to Isla. That quiet comfort mothers seem to master without trying.
Isla nods, then crawls toward her. Rebecca gets up and sits on the edge of the mattress, lifting Isla into her lap. I exhale, every muscle in my body unclenching. Isla sucks her thumb as her mother rocks her.
Haunted eyes travel to me. “Thank you. I’m sorry we disturbed you.”
“No apologies. Call me anytime, day or night.”
She nods, nose buried in her daughter’s curly brown hair.
I rise to my feet and take a step back to give them space. “Would you like me to arrange for something tasty to be delivered for dinner?”
“That would be lovely. Thank you.”
“Leave it with me.” I head for the door.
“Tobias?”
Pausing, I glance over my shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Would you like to eat with us?”
It’s ridiculous how such a simple request lights me up inside. I hardly know this woman, but right now, I want to be with her and Isla more than I want to be with anyone else.
“I’d love that.”
Her smile reaches her eyes. “So would I.”
For the next two hours, I walk around Oakleigh with an idiotic grin plastered to my face.
Thank God I don’t bump into any of my family.
They’re already adding two plus two and coming up with five.
My connection to Rebecca isn’t what they think it is.
It’s something far deeper than sexual attraction—something I’m incapable of feeling.
All I need now is to figure out a name for it.