SLAM.
I feel Coltello’s hand loosen its grip just moments before the other one makes contact with my face. I careen backward, dropping Aurora in my surprise and pain, and bring my hands up automatically to protect myself from the arm that I can just tell is itching to strike again.
The next moment, I let out a strangled cry as I come to my senses and realize I’ve just let go of my baby.
Fuck!
I nearly collapse in relief when I see she’s safe in Logan’s arm, though she’s sobbing loudly. His other arm still squeezes me to him tightly.
Before I can even manage to wriggle around and latch onto her again, he’s whispering something in her ears that seems to reassure her.
“Logan,” I say, trying to lift out my hands to take her.
But his arm is like a vise, crushing me, and he ignores me entirely, his attention focused on my daughter.
As soon as her cries cease, he takes out his cell phone and types out a message, while Coltello looks on in bemusement.
Moments later, Everest enters.
“Time to babysit,” drawls Logan, handing Aurora over to him. “I promised her an ice cream. Make it a popsicle, though, okay?”
“Wait,” I beg, trying to keep the sobs from my voice. “Please don’t take her from me.Please, Logan.”
But unlike before, he doesn’t promise not to hurt her. He merely rolls his eyes when Everest protests, “Really? An ice cream? It’s not even six!”
“She’ll live,” snorts Logan. “Off you go, Everest.”
“Logan! Please!” I cry.
Helplessly, I watch Everest carry Aurora outside. If it were anyone else, I’d be beside myself with anxiety. But some part of me knows she’s safe, even though it’s torture to see her disappear behind the door, listening to her babble excitedly about the promised treat.
The minute she’s gone, the adrenaline that’s been holding me together disappears, and I dissolve in tears. Debbie, still leaning against the far wall, as white as the sheet she’s draped in, actually looks like she feels bad for me.
“Can I go?” is all she mutters, though.
“You can go to the kitchen, yes,” says Logan, “and serve us up… let’s see.” He looks at the laminated menu. “I’ll have a coffee. How about you, Coltello?”
The latter looks decidedly amused as his eyes rake up and down my body, while I sit helplessly on Logan’s lap. I try to bring a hand up to dry the tears mingling with the blood from my nose, but Logan’s arm around me prevents me from doing anything more than wiggle helplessly.
“Make it two coffees,” he requests.
“And eggs and bacon for Lia,” concludes Logan, handing the menu to Debbie.
“Lia?” she repeats, blinking slowly. “Isn’t your name… Piper?”
“Piper,” repeats Logan musingly. “I like that.”
“I don’t want eggs or bacon,” I huff out, ignoring his reaction. “I want my daughter. Please, Logan, you promised…”
He claps a hand over my mouth. “Two coffees, eggs and bacon,” he snaps to my employer. “Now scram.”
She does just that, and he turns back to face Coltello. “You tryin’ to fatten her up for the kill?” jokes the latter.
I hiccup out a muffled sob against Logan’s hand, and for the first time, the arm holding me to him loosens, and I feel the pads of his fingers dip under the hem of my shirt. Soon he’s stroking them up and down my back, soothing me despite myself.
All it does, though, is make the tears fall even faster, as I sink into all the emotions I’ve been battling against.
“You’re my little crybaby, aren’t you?” he croons in my ear. “Keep crying, little ghost girl. I just love hearing you cry.”