Free Sweet Seduction Shield by Nicola Claire Page B

His
hands gripping my upper arms and his hot breath washing against my
lips, as he lowered his head down enough to look me in the eyes.
His were deadly serious.
    "Listen up,"
he said quietly. "Abi escaped him. Then brought him down in the
end. Ben almost died at the time. Her father risked his life to get
evidence against the whole organisation. It was enough to arrest
the piece of shit and hopefully put him away for the rest of his
life. Abi is not McLaren's, nor has she ever been."
    A soft
clearing of a throat sounded out behind us. Pierce didn't back up,
but turned us slightly so we could see Abi at the door, her hand on
Daisy's shoulder. Daisy's eyes were big and wide, but otherwise she
looked OK. Holding it together. Abi's were misted, as though she
was the one about to burst into tears.
    I sucked in a
shaky breath and said, "I need to sit down."
    "Maybe this
was a mistake," Abi said quietly, directing her words to
Pierce.
    "I disagree,"
Pierce replied, as he helped me to the side of the bed. I
immediately reached out a hand for Daisy, when he stepped back
giving me space to move.
    Daisy ran
across the small room and threw herself into my arms. I pulled her
close, buried my nose in her soft hair and inhaled deeply. Feeling
centred for the first time in days. My hand started smoothing down
her brunette pigtails, realising belatedly that she was still in
her paint splattered borrowed t-shirt and the paint had now
transferred to my blouse. I didn't release her.
    "Marie,"
Pierce started, but I held up my free hand to stop him. I was done
discussing these things in front my child and she needed
reassurance now from me.
    "Please just
give Daisy and I a few moments alone. Whatever you have to say can
wait." Confidence brimmed in each word. Confidence I didn't feel,
but welcomed.
    "Fair enough,"
Pierce said softly and turned to walk out the door. He stopped on
the threshold. "But I'll be just down the hallway, I'm not going
anywhere."
    There was
something about his tone that made me believe he wasn't saying that
as a cop. I didn't look at him as he left, choosing instead to keep
my eyes on Abi. She was shuffling her feet again, looking nervous.
I felt a little bad that she had to experience that emotion in her
own home.
    "We'll need to
talk too," I announced, still calling on my customary confidence.
She nodded. "I don't suppose you have a change of clothes for me?"
I asked. "After I've settled Daisy, I wouldn't mind cleaning up.
I've been in this for two days and now I have penguin paint all
over me."
    Daisy giggled,
the exact response I was going for, but the relief on Abi's face at
my teasing words was not expected.
    "Sure," she
said and turned to leave the room.
    Before she
made it to the door, I said softly, "Thanks, Abi."
    She glanced
over her shoulder and smiled, it was a cautious smile, but better
than the threat of tears I'd seen earlier.
    "No worries,"
she murmured and then I was alone with my girl.
    I hugged her. Held her. Rocked her. And then started singing
her favourite lullaby: Daisy Bell .
    "Daisy, Daisy.
Give me your answer, do. I'm half crazy all for the love of
you..."
    She tightened
her grip around my body when the tune ended and we just sat there,
for a good long while, in silence.
    Finally, I
murmured, "This has been one big adventure, huh Daisy-girl?"
    She nodded,
but didn't say anything, which started to alarm me slightly. Daisy
was a very vocal five year old. I'd never had a conversation with
her where she'd had so little to say.
    "How's your
painting going? Get a penguin finished yet?" I asked, trying to
engage her.
    She shook her
head from side to side, but didn't utter a sound.
    "Daisy," I
whispered, pulling back to get a look at her face. But she ducked
down and tried to keep her cheek plastered to my chest. I had to
use a thumb and forefinger on her chin to gently tip her head up.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
    "I want to go
home," she whispered, eyes big and wet, bottom lip trembling.
    Oh, for