“Go ahead and take her, please. My arm feels like it’s gonna fall off.” I kissed Nova’s head before he reached for her. “She’s heavy too.”
“Come here, baby girl.” He effortlessly put her on his shoulder like she weighed less than a feather and hugged her.
“Daddy?” she muttered with her eyes closed.
“Yes, baby. Daddy’s got you.” He kissed her cheek.
I swallowed my emotion as I stood. Abe wouldn’t look at me or anyone else as he turned around to go out the back, to where we were staying in the family unit.
“Goodnight all.” I waved. “Thank you for staying with me.”
Sugar and Libby were sniffling and drying their eyes.
“That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen,” Libby said.
“Another growly Knight bites the dust after becoming a father.” Sugar laughed. “But I know Cobra won’t go soft, not when protecting his family.”
“No, he won’t.”
I picked up the pace outside to catch up to my man. He seemed to be in a hurry to get to our unit. I put my finger through the belt loop on his jeans to keep up. Plus, I just needed to touch him.
“Are you okay?” I asked him.
“Yeah. You?”
“Better now that you’re back.” I looked up at him when he stopped at the entrance to the unit. The porch light hit his face at the right angle, and I sucked in a breath.
I’d never point out his tears, never ask why he was crying. I knew the answer. It was in his arms.
Nova was in his arms.
She had called him daddy.
Her acknowledgment of him as her father meant the world to him.
My heart was so full it might burst.
Of course, I wanted to know the status of Stein. But I wouldn’t push Abe to tell me what happened at the dungeon. He had entered into a new dimension in his relationship with Nova. It was a huge breakthrough, something he’d been hoping and praying for since the night he met her.
My sick curiosity wouldn’t taint his happiness. I’d needed to let it go. Be done with that part of my life. Stein was dead. I didn’t need to worry about going to jail for stealing his money. I didn’t need to fear him hurting Nova or me.
I could step out of the shadows where I’d been hiding and live freely.
I could focus on Abe and Nova and look ahead to the future.
I could love my man and be loved in return.
I finally had what I always wanted: a family.
26
Nova
I went into Mrs. Fuentes’s classroom with a big smile, holding my dad’s hand. Mom stopped at the office to tell them I wouldn’t be returning in the fall because we were moving to Fargo.
When Grayson spotted my dad and me, his jaw dropped. I ignored the weirdo and focused on my dad.
“This is my desk.” I pulled out my chair. “All of my stuff is gone, but I wanted you to see where I sit.”