Surrendering to defeat, I sag into his arms and rest my head against his chest. “I wish there was some other way. I know we can’t go to the police, but two wrongs don’t make a right.”
He’s silent.
“I don’t know if I can live with myself.”
“Shh,” Cayden calms me. “You won’t have to live with anything on your conscience. I promise.”
Just as I’m about to protest because there is no way I’m letting him do this on his own, Ellie appears. “Hi.”
On instinct, I’m about to break apart, but Cayden keeps a firm hold on me so we’re facing Ellie together. His arm is wrapped loosely around my waist as he draws me into his side. It warms me to know he wants Ellie to see us this way.
After everything I uncovered, I want to say something, but I don’t want to freak her out. A piece of paper hangs from her small hand, giving me the lead-in I need.
“What’s that?” I ask her with a smile.
She bites her bottom lip. “I drew you a picture.”
“You did?” I coo, my heart melting at the sight. Ellie nods and passes me the piece of paper.
When I turn it over and see what she drew, I gently untangle myself from Cayden and drop to a squat so I’m eye level with Ellie. She appears nervous. But I soon soothe her worries. “I love it. Thank you so much.”
“It’s a map of my house,” she explains. “So you don’t get lost.”
Cayden mutes his laughter while I keep a straight face. “This will definitely come in handy.”
“This is my bedroom,” she says, pointing at the biggest, pinkest room of all on her map. “Daddy snores sometimes. So we can have a slumber party.”
This time, I’m the one who can’t contain my laughter. “That sounds like an amazing idea. Thank you, little mouse.” I tenderly brush her cheek.
Hoping I’m not crossing a line, I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “I promise, I won’t leave you again, okay?”
I didn’t just drift in and out of Cayden’s life. I did from Ellie’s as well. No wonder she was so frightened when we first met.
“Okay,” she says, but I can sense her apprehension.
“I’m really sorry for ever hurting you.” I’m on the verge of tears, but I hold them back. “But I’ll never do it again.”
Ellie nods, her intelligent eyes taking everything in. I don’t expect her to say anything, but I need her to know I’m here to stay.
“So it’s okay for me to stay here for a little while?” I need her approval because she means as much to me as Cayden does.
“Yes.” And who knew a simple word could feel so good.
She throws herself into my arms and squeezes me tight. I do the same to her.
Feelings of nostalgia overcome me. We are one little family, and when I peer up at Cayden, I see it in his eyes. He would do anything to protect our family, which leaves us no choice. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice something to save another. And in this case, sacrificing our souls seems like a small price to pay to save the ones we love.
Nodding slowly at Cayden, he knows what to do.
He leaves me hugging Ellie while he digs into his pocket to make a call that will change everything forever. But I’m ready.