Jacob felt Faith’s eyes on him as well and he watched her nod out of the corner of his eye, adding her sisterly consensus to Patience and Honor’s opinions. “Please, baby,” he whispered, willing to beg if it meant he could hold at least one of his girls in his arms. “I know you got doubts and good reasons to have them, but I swear to Christ, I’d never hurt you or that little girl.”
“Mommmmmaaaa, down,” Heaven whined. “I wanna go Jake NOW!”
Harmony’s eyes drifted over each one of her sister’s concerned faces before falling to her daughter. Slowly, she bent and carefully placed her baby’s feet on the floor and watched as Heaven flew toward Jake. Seeing the big man sweep her little girl into his arms and how Heaven’s arms closed trustingly around his neck as her little face buried in his throat sent Harmony sinking to her own knees and sagging into Patience’s arms.
“Da bad man tried get us, Jake,” she heard Heaven sobbing into Jake’s neck. “He hitted my Momma and made my Auntie Honor cry. He telled me he was my daddy, but I telled him he wasn’t ‘cause he not! I telled him you’s gonna be my daddy ‘cause I pick you, and he called me a brat! I not a brat. I a princess. You beat up da bad man, ‘kay? He won’t hurt Momma ‘gain if you beat him up,” she babbled into the skin at his neck. Hearing everything through Heaven’s lips just made Harmony cry harder and she leaned heavily against Patience’s hip.
Jake’s arms contracted around Heaven and he buried his face in her soft hair, inhaling deeply as he reminded himself not to lose it. It wouldn’t do Harmony or Heaven any good to watch him lose his mind. He could do that later. Now, he had to focus on his girls and give them what they needed. Everything else could wait.
Jake’s heart clenched at her words and he squeezed his eyes closed for a moment as he felt his throat tighten with emotion. Christ, he wished he was her father. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t, though, he loved her like a daughter. And one day, after he’d overcome Harmony’s doubts and fears, he’d make that a reality. “Nobody’s gonna hurt you or Momma ever again, Princess,” he promised against Heaven’s temple. “I’m not gonna let that happen.” Jake saw Harmony open her mouth to argue, but he quelled her with a hard look. “I’ve got you, sugar,” he murmured, rocking the trembling child against his chest.
“He mean, Jake,” Heaven whispered in his ear, her arms clutching him harder.
“I know, baby, but I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere again.” He could feel Harmony’s glare burning his flesh, but damn it, she’d just have to deal. “You were a brave girl, but nobody is ever gonna hurt you. You’re safe, you hear me? I’ll take care of the bad man. You don’t worry about him.”
“He not gonna be my daddy,” she insisted, rubbing her nose sleepily against his neck. “He’s not.”
“No, he’s not,” Jake agreed softly. A sperm donor didn’t make a man a daddy, and that bastard wasn’t getting anywhere near this precious girl again. He didn’t care if he had to put a bullet in Tanner Suarez brain to insure it.
“I love you, Jake,” Heaven whispered, her hand curling around his neck as her eyelids fluttered.
“Love you, too, Princess,” Jake murmured as her body got heavier against his. Shuffling her against his chest, he whispered, “Look at me, sugar.” Waiting until he met Heaven’s tired eyes, he pressed another kiss to her forehead. “Right now, I need you to go with your Uncle Cain and Aunt Faith, okay? They’re gonna take you home.”
“N-no!” Heaven’s eyes widened with alarm as her arms and legs went back around Jake. “I stay wif you!”
“I’m gonna be there soon, Sweetness. I need to take care of Momma first,” Jake explained gently even as Harmony started to rise back to her feet, shaking her head the entire time.
“No, I’ll go with her,” Harmony said quickly, holding out her arms for her daughter. “I’ve got nothing to say, Jake. This is over.”
“This is far from over,” Jake countered softly, holding Heaven against him as he pinned Harmony with his eyes. “And I’ve got plenty I need to say.”
“Yeah, to all of us,” Patience growled, her lips tight as she stepped in front of Harmony.
“Look,” Jake replied carefully, “I’m happy to face a McKinnon Family Inquisition when Harmony and I get back to the house. For now, though, I owe her an explanation. Alone.”