It just kept getting worse. Jesus Christ. “Yes, I’m headed there now. Tell her I’m on my way.”
“She’s asleep.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Fuck, he had a lot to make up for, but he’d do whatever he needed to do to get her healed and make her happy.
Chapter Fifteen
Nolan threw a few bills at the taxi driver. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks, mister.”
After he walked into his condo, Nolan ignored the bloodstains everywhere and focused on the men in the kitchen. “Hey, is she still asleep?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to talk before you leave, but I want to check on her. I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll be here,” Sanchez said.
The breath left his lungs in a rush at the sight of her in their bed. If it weren’t for her bruises, he would have thought this whole this was a horrible nightmare. He smoothed the hair from her face and whispered because he didn’t want to wake her up. “Hey, baby girl. I’m home now, and I won’t leave you.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered against her ear.
When he returned to the men, he saw Richards putting a plate away.
“We cleaned up the kitchen. There was a full meal still on the stove. Someone must have turned it off.”
“Thank you for everything.”
“Do you have your head on straight now?” Sanchez said as he rolled down the sleeves of his shirt.
“I know I deserve that. I never left the hospital. I was down in the chapel, talking to the chaplain. The doctor told me she wasn’t going to be released until later today.”
Both men nodded.
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I have to tell you that if you fuck up and lose Caylee, I’ll jump in to take your place. You don’t find many like her.”
Nolan nodded at Sanchez. “I get it, and I don’t blame you for saying that. But I’ll never let her go.”
“You’d be stupid if you did,” Richards said.
“Thanks again.”
Nolan waited until the elevator door closed and then locked it. He made his way into the bedroom to check on her one more time before he stripped and showered. After brushing his teeth, he slid into bed beside her and curled his body around hers.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, baby girl, it’s me.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” she murmured.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to bring you home.”
She patted his arm. “It’s okay.”