Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,82

her shoulders and pull her snuggly against my chest. Her fingers grip the back of my shirt as she tries to keep her breathing under control. “What did he do when he couldn’t take her?”

“Well, he basically left. Miss Hanson said she was going to call you, but he didn’t want that. He did tell me I couldn’t have his family,” I tell her, choking on the words.

The tears she was trying to fight fall now as she shakes her head. “I should have known he was getting out soon, but I wasn’t expecting it yet. He was supposed to be in until closer to Christmas.”

“In…”

“Jail. Prison. Whatever.”

I bring her to my chest once more and just breathe her in. She’s shaking and crying and fuck, do I hate that. I want to beat the shit out of the guy for making her cry. For scaring her. For breathing.

“About a year ago, he was arrested. Devon had been the primary target in a large drug sting operation back in Gibson,” she whispers against my chest, her tears soaking into my shirt. “The problem was, he had Lizzie with him when they made the bust.”

I tense. “What?”

“I was living with a drug dealer, and didn’t even know it, Walker. He had our daughter with him that day. He was arrested and my baby was taken by Child Protective Services. I had to jump through all sorts of hoops and prove I wasn’t part of it before they’d give her back to me,” she weeps.

“Jesus,” I mumble.

“I didn’t know, I swear. We had been together for about three years when I got pregnant with Lizzie. Devon worked as an accountant. At least he did in the beginning. I learned after his arrest that he was the accountant for some questionable people, and at some point, started working for them. He quit his job and started selling drugs after Lizzie was born, and I had no clue. He went to work weekdays before eight and came home after five. So many nights I went to work and left her with him, Walker. I unknowingly endangered the life of my daughter.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Mal. None of that was. It was all on him, okay?”

She closes her eyes and exhales loudly. “I know that now. At the time, I blamed myself. Hell, everyone around me blamed me too. Devon was likeable and had tons of friends.”

“They blamed you?” I ask, unable to believe what I’m hearing.

She shrugs. “Well, they didn’t say it outright, but I could see it in their eyes. All of our friends just sort of disappeared when everything went down. Everywhere I went, I could hear their whispers and see them pointing. After Devon’s trial and being sent away, I left town. I needed a fresh start.”

I lean back and meet her eyes. “You are the bravest, strongest woman I know, Mallory Sargant. I don’t want to ever hear you say one word to dispute that fact.”

She gives me a slight grin. “It wasn’t easy. When we moved, we had nothing. They froze all of our accounts. I sold a lot of our belongings so I had money for food and rent. Basically everything we had left fit into my vehicle.”

I pull her against my chest once more and just hold her. “I’m sorry you went through that, Mal, but you’re not alone now, okay? You’ve got me. And Isaac and the others. We’re not going to let anyone take Lizzie from you.”

“What do I do now? If he’s here, he’s going to want to see her.”

“That’s up to you, sweetheart. You don’t have to let her see him before you’re ready, if ever.”

“He’s her father,” she counters, but I’m already shaking my head.

“He endangered her. You could have lost your daughter due to his negligence. You get to decide if and when he ever sees her again, Mal. Do you hear me? We’ll get a lawyer.”

She sighs and rests her chin against my chest. “I can’t afford one.”

“I’ll help you. We all will.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t. I offered. No way is he going to take or endanger that girl ever again. I won’t allow it.”

She doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, just lets me hold her. Finally, she pulls herself back, and reluctantly, I let her go. “I should get back out there.”

I nod, but hate to let her go. “I want you to keep an eye out for Devon, okay? I don’t know what