I pasted on a smile like I wasn’t completely gutted by the thought. “How ’bout I hold you, sweetness?” I held my hands out.
Slow, like she wasn’t sure if she should, she leaned a little bit away from Siren. I took the opening and pulled her into my arms.
Siren smiled reassuringly at her. “Be right back.”
“There, not so bad, huh?” I held Maddie up so we were almost eye to eye. “I’m taller than your mama. You get a good view from up here.” I winked.
Maddie squirmed then buried her face against my shoulder like she was shy.
I couldn’t help it, I chuckled. “You shy, baby girl?”
Her arm went around my neck.
My heart fucking soared and I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my face. “Oh darlin’, you know just the way to my heart.” I hugged her tight. “You’re awfully quiet. You got any words waitin’ to come out?” I peered down at her.
Her hair combed back, her thumb in her mouth, she snuggled into me and I wondered how much she understood. Probably all of it. Siren came back and I handed her over. Two seconds later, she was snug in a diaper and wrapped in a dry towel. The issue of Stone weighing on my mind, I had to ask Siren about the cops. Carter had never given her a choice when Maddie had been taken but I wasn’t going to do that to her.
“We keepin’ a low profile on this? You wanna go to the cops? Throw the law at Stone?” I was torn. On one hand, Stone could rot in jail for this but on the other, if we said nothing, I had an open channel to go after him if Neil and André hadn’t already done something.
Siren casually put a hand over Maddie’s ear like she was just holding her close. “Are you sure it won’t happen again?”
Over my dead body. “Not on my watch.”
“Then I just want this over with and I want to move on.”
“That enough closure for you? Think before you answer.” Most people would want justice served.
“I have thought about it. With his son gone, I don’t think he’ll see any opportunity to try to manipulate me. I have nothing to offer him. He knows I’m not a part of his world and there’s nothing sentimental about him, he won’t want a relationship with her. The only leverage he could possibly want would have to do with you and I think he’s smart enough not to go down that road. But if he does, I know you can handle it.”
I leaned down and kissed her. “Thank you for the vote of confidence, darlin’. And for the record, you’re right, he won’t get at me, or you two.” I knew more Marines than he had LCs if it came to that.
“So it’s settled?”
“Consider it done.”
She nodded but she didn’t move and she didn’t say anything else, she just studied me.
“What?”
“I’ve never seen you nervous before.”
Inhaling, I smiled. “I’m not nervous, darlin’, I’m adjustin’.” I stroked Maddie’s soft hair. “Never thought I’d have a little one in this house.”
Siren’s expression turned grave. “It’s not too late to change your mind.”
“You getting’ cold feet on me?” I deflected, amping up my smile.
“No.”
Jesus, she was honest. “Me neither. C’mon, let’s get horizontal.” I led her to my bed and pulled back the covers for her.
She crawled in and lay down with Maddie still in her arms. Turning to her side, she whispered in Maddie’s ear, “Night-night time.”
Maddie looked between us then tried to sit up.
Siren gently pulled her back down. “It’s time to sleep, sweetheart. We’ll play in the morning.”
I quietly laughed at Maddie’s attempt at a protest and crawled into bed. The second my back hit the cool sheets, exhaustion roared up and grabbed me. My eyes burning, I dragged a hand over my face and settled it on my bruised chest. “Damn, Siren. Feels good to lie down.”
She reached across Maddie and grabbed my hand.
I turned and two sets of identical eyes met mine.
All at once, it hit me. Going without my whole childhood, losing my mother and half my friends in the Marines, not being able to save any of them, losing Leigh, the past two years, it all came down to this moment. This one moment. It was my gift. I made it here and I got the prize of a lifetime—two gorgeous girls.
I smiled wide. “That’s the prettiest sight I’ve ever seen.” I laced my fingers with Siren’s, kissed her once then touched my lips to Maddie’s forehead. “Good night, baby girl.”
Eyes wide, Maddie stared at me.
I glanced at Siren. “She gonna fall asleep?”