Falling into You (Falling Stars 3)

They needed me, and this was the little I could give. I just wished I could offer everything.

Violet’s storm raged around me as I began to carry the child back up the trail to the main house, the woman flustered and perturbed and agitated, flitting around behind me like a little bird.

Caught somewhere in the crux of wanting the best thing for Daisy and wanting to rip her out of my arms.

Save her from the pain that I would bring.

My attention darted to a man who was probably a year or two older than me coming over the hill, rushing faster when he felt the turmoil that bound us.

“Violet…what happened? Is Daisy hurt?”

Could feel his eyes on Violet. Like he wanted to go to her. Wrap her up.

I attempted to shun the jolt of jealousy.

The possession that lifted and burned in my veins.

I tightened my arms around Daisy like some kind of selfish prick who had a right to make a claim on these girls.

“Yes…no…she’s fine…she’s gonna be,” Violet stammered.

“I flew out of the tree, Saul…just like a bird. I wasn’t even scared,” Daisy shouted as she tried to poke her head up to see him.

I cringed.

She needed to be scared.

God knew, I was fucking terrified.

“Climbing that tree was not a good choice, Daisy,” Violet chastised, worry bleeding out, the woman overwhelmed with this kid I was fast realizing was a handful. “You know that’s against the rules. I’ve told you before that you were gonna get hurt.”

“But just a little hurt, right?” She peeked up at me when she asked it, like she trusted me to have her back.

God, this kid.

“Can I be of help?” Saul offered. He came toward me like he actually thought I was going to hand her over.

Not happening.

“I, uh—” Violet started to answer.

“No,” I shot at him with a scathing look, a warning in the single word.

Fucking no.

Back the fuck away.

Animosity poured from him. Undeniable.

My stomach curled in resentment. What the fuck was wrong with me?

I wanted to lay the fucker out.

I couldn’t stop it. The fierce swell of envy that rose from the darkest depths. Where vengeance lived and hatred grew.

Where I was a prisoner to what I had missed.

To what I had lost.

“I think we’re fine, Saul, thank you,” Violet answered.

Could tell he didn’t want to give up when he continued along a few feet behind us. He finally fumbled to a stop where he stood between two rows of roses while we continued to cut a path back toward the house.

My family trailed us.

Royce on edge, Emily fretting. Was pretty sure the only thing my mom wanted to do was smack me upside the head.

Couldn’t blame her.

I could hear Melanie whispering to Maggie far in the distance.

No doubt, she was dishing the dirty details to Maggie since Royce’s little sister didn’t have the first clue about them.

But it didn’t matter.

None of it did.

Nothing but the little girl who I carried in my arms. I didn’t stop as I stormed up the last hill to where Violet’s truck was parked in front of her house. I went directly to the back, opened the door, and carefully situated Daisy into her car seat, being careful of her injured arm.

“Is that good?” I asked, warily, glancing at her cherub face and trying not to get my heart smashed all over again as I buckled her in.

She grinned.

Fat chance.

I was toast.

A motherfuckin’ goner.

“You did it right! Do you got a little girl to take care of? You are really very smart. My papa can never get these darned contraptions locked up right.” She rolled her eyes that still had tears, clearly parroting her grandfather’s sentiment.

I would have laughed if what she’d said didn’t feel like razors dragging through my flesh.

Four inches deep.

Flaying me open wide.

“No, Daisy, I don’t.” It sounded like an apology.

Before I lost it, I shut the door and climbed into the driver’s seat. Violet was right behind me, her voice lowered to a stunned hiss. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Driving you and Daisy to the hospital.”

“Oh, no, you’re not.”

“Just get in the truck, Violet. You are in no shape to drive and you don’t need to be taking her yourself. You’re upset.”

“Yeah, well I can think of a hundred other people I would prefer to be doing the honors,” she hissed under her breath.

I could tell Emily was getting ready to offer with the way she surged forward. I pitched her a warning glare.

My sister stopped in her tracks, confusion knitting her brow considering just a few days ago I’d been spitting teeth that she’d had the audacity to ask Violet to be in her wedding.

My actions nothing but contradictions.

“Get in, Violet.”

“Get in, Mommy,” Daisy shouted from the back seat. “I need to get my arm all fixed up so I can be good for dancin’. Don’t go ruinin’ this weddin’ for me.”