Chapter 32 I didn't use the Come on Rover app anymore-not since Tony had given me carte blanche access to their backyard. More often than not, the kids were already outside, waiting for Benjamin and me when we arrived. Today, Tally and Scarlet were on the deck. I released Ben from his leash, and Tally darted down the stairs to chase after him, all gangly legs and enthusiasm, while Scarlet stayed put, offering me a small wave from her perch. "Where's Lace?" I called to her. "She's finishing a drawing." Scarlet came to the top of the steps, hesitating before climbing down. "Hey, Bea?" "Yes, darling?" "Do you think...I mean, if you have time, do you think you could teach me how to do my hair like yours? I know mine is longer, but I was hoping there's a way. I tried to follow a tutorial, but it didn't turn out right-" "Hey, you know"-I laid my hand on her arm-"that's my favorite question? Hair is kind of one of my things. I'd love to. I'm busy tonight, but we could try tomorrow, or whenever you're free." I surprised myself by how much I was looking forward to hanging out with a teenager. Part of me wondered if it was because she was close in age to Maddie and I was looking for a replacement for the sister I'd lost. Maybe that was part of it, but Scarlet was interesting and bright in her own right. I liked her. And maybe, just maybe, she saw something in me she had been missing-an older woman she could talk to about things she couldn't say to her grandpa or her uncle. "Tomorrow," she rushed out. "Do you have a date tonight?" I nodded. "Yeah. There's a guy." Her dark eyes lit with curiosity. "There is? What's he like? Does he have cool hair too? He has to be cool if you like him, but what kind of cool?" Before I could answer, my name was shrieked from the top of the steps, and Lacey appeared, waving a piece of paper. "Don't go yet! I made you a picture. Stay right there!" I laughed at the panic in her little face. "I'm not going anywhere." She must not have believed me. She raced down the steps, her feet tangling midway. Lacey stumbled, and time slowed. Her wide, terrified eyes locked on mine as I rushed forward. As long as I lived, I wouldn't forget her sheer panic as she reached for something, anything to save her. I tried. I tried so hard to get there, to catch her before she hit the ground. But I was moving through sludge, racing against gravity. Two unbeatable foes. She rolled head over heels to the bottom, landing in a crumpled heap. The screech she let out rendered my heart and the world in two. Gravity finally released me, and I ran to her. She was so small-a pile of skinny limbs and wild hair, crying so hard, her entire frame trembled. But if she was crying, that meant she was awake. Conscious. That was important. My first instinct was to lift her into my arms, but I thought better of it. Falling on my knees beside her, I brushed her hair from her face. Her head rolled toward me, rivers of tears coating her round cheeks. "Oh, baby," I whispered. "You're okay. You're going to be just fine." "Bea?" Her little voice wobbled. "My arm hurts." I couldn't take my gaze off hers to check her over. My eyes refused to move. "I'm so sorry, darling. We'll fix you up in just a minute, okay? We'll make it better." Things blurred as action swirled around us. Tony took over, getting Benjamin back into my house, helping me off the ground, and loading everyone into the car since Lacey refused to leave me behind. I sat in the back seat with her and Talon, holding both their hands and telling them it would be all right. Once we arrived at the hospital, time bent again and lost all meaning. I had no idea how long we were there before Scarlet breathed, "Uncle Sally," with soul-deep relief. I was on the bed with Lacey, holding her in my lap, Talon tucked on my other side, looking at the hundreds of pictures of Benjamin on my phone, when a tall man in a suit strode in. It was good I was sitting down. If I hadn't been, there was no shot my knees wouldn't have given out. Our eyes met for a mere second, and the world tilted. Salvatore. He was white as a sheet, eyes glassy and panicked, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. His chest heaved, like he'd run as fast as he could to get here. "Lace," he uttered, his voice cracking. In an instant, he was across the room, his hand hovering just above her cheek without touching, vibrating with intense, barely contained energy. Helplessness and fear carved hard lines beside his mouth and a deep crevice between his brows. "I hurt my arm, Uncle Sally." Lacey sniffled, pressing her back into my chest. He didn't even look at me. All his focus was on Lacey-right where it belonged. Because she was his. All three of these kids belonged to him. My Tore was their Uncle Sally. My head turned like it was on creaky hinges to look at the kids. Lacey, curled in my lap, her arm against her chest like a broken wing. Talon, studying my phone with fervor, like he couldn't bear to see anything else right now. Scarlet, her blotchy cheeks and fisted hands, holding herself together by the skin of her teeth. Finally, I looked at Tore. He wasn't shocked to see me here. He didn't wonder why I was with his children. He'd known. How could there be any other possibility? This man controlled every facet of his universe. He had peered into my life for two years without me having an inkling. Of course he was aware of who was in his children's lives. He'd known and didn't tell me. An ache bloomed behind my ribs. Not pain, exactly. Not even anger. I couldn't quite name what I was feeling. Then it came to me. Betrayal. That was it. I had come to care for these kids, and he'd let it happen. I'd played with them, told them ridiculous stories, let them into my house, my life, even though kids were not my thing. And all that time, I hadn't known who they were to him. Or who he was to them. He didn't look at me. Even now. He was gripping Lacey's tiny fingers, demanding his father find her doctor immediately, reminding me why we were here. Lacey was hurt, and her needs were immediate. Everything else could wait. So I didn't say a word. I didn't ask questions. I didn't demand explanations. Not here. Not now. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!