Jenner’s too.

“But what if, legally, you lose all parental rights?” Dominick asked. “What if Rebecca comes back and takes her from you?”

“She can’t, Dominick. Give me more credit than that, asshole.” My voice lowered as I added, “Her parental rights were terminated. I legally adopted Everly.”

It didn’t matter that she’d just turned five and she’d legally been mine for almost as many years; saying those words came with such relief.

“What about the father?” Jenner asked. “You haven’t mentioned anything about his rights. Does he not know she’s his? Or that he has a daughter? What if he comes back and wants her?”

I glanced at the floor, a path that I’d paced several times today. “He’s dead.”

Another fact Jefferson had found during the legal process.

A copy of his death certificate was even in my safe.

“Ford …” Sydney’s voice cut through the quiet room, her fingers still tightly linked with mine. “I know Rebecca has no contact with Everly, but does she have any desire to?”

“No,” I replied. “Every year, on Everly’s birthday, I send her a photo. I just want her to see her. I …” My voice trailed off as I exhaled, trying to come up with a way to describe my motivation. “I don’t know. I guess I just want her to know she’s well cared for and loved. That there’s someone in this world who’s a part of her.” I took in Sydney’s eyes, their softness, gentleness. “She’s never once acknowledged the photos or reached out.”

“You’re a good man, Ford.”

I glanced at Dominick just as he finished speaking. “I wouldn’t say that, Dom. I’m just a father who loves his daughter with every fiber of his being. When Rebecca handed over that little girl, when I held her, when I smelled her, she was mine. No one and nothing would ever take her from me.”

“I still wish you had told us,” my mother said.

I gazed at her.

And I tried to put myself in her position, to process what it would feel like to be hit with this news.

“Mom, I can understand how shocking this is, especially to find out this way, but I want you to remember something. Everly is half me. The moment Rebecca set her in my arms, my duty was to protect her. One day, I’m going to have to tell that little girl this same story, and she deserves to hear it from me. That was the main reason I didn’t tell anyone.” My stare shifted between each family member. “What matters, what’s most important, is that she’s a Dalton, whether she has our blood or not.”

The moment the words left my mouth, there was a knock on the door, the same nurse walking in as before.

She glanced around the room until she found me and said, “Everly’s in recovery. You’re more than welcome to go see her now.”

Without any hesitation, I pushed myself off the wall, continuing to hold Sydney’s hand. We walked out of the room and followed the nurse down the hallway.

I needed Sydney with me.

I didn’t know what we would be walking into, how banged up Everly would be.

But I needed Sydney’s strength.

She held my fingers with both of her hands, keeping up with my pace as we passed several corridors, finally arriving at post-op.

Once we got to Everly’s bed, my chest ached.

There were pads stuck to her chest, machines beeping as they monitored her, a needle taped to the crease of her elbow, which was attached to a full IV stand.

My baby.

She was so tiny in the bed, her head so small as it sank into the pillow.

I looked at the nurse as she said, “She’s going to be a bit out of it from the anesthesia. Don’t worry; we’ve got all eyes on her, and we’ll be handling her pain.”

I thanked her and moved to Everly’s side, sitting on the bed next to her. I pressed my lips against her forehead, my eyes closing as I breathed her in. “My princess. I love you so much.”

As I pulled my mouth away, her eyes fluttered open.

And as she stared at me, I saw the recognition in her eyes.

“Daddy … where am I?”

I held back the emotion—she didn’t need to see that—and kissed her cheek. “We were in a car accident, and the doctors had to fix you up, but you’re going to be okay, baby girl.” I held her hand and brought it up to my face. Her skin, usually so warm, was cold, the scent nothing like I was used to. “You’ve been such a big girl, my Eve. You fought so hard today and did so well.”

There was movement on the other side of Everly as Sydney took a seat next to her.

Everly’s lips were so dry as they parted. “Hi, Syd.”

“Eve,” Sydney whispered, “my little muffin.” She rubbed Everly’s leg over the blanket. “You’re the strongest girl I know.”

Everly’s eyes got heavy, and they closed.

I didn’t panic.

I knew she would go in and out until the anesthesia wore off.

But just because she was sleeping didn’t mean I was going to leave her side.

I wasn’t going anywhere.

I’d continue listening to the beep of the machines. I’d watch her chest rise and fall.

And I’d think about how grateful I was that her injuries were treatable, that she would make a full recovery.

I rubbed my hand over her forehead, sinking my fingers into her curls, my thumb reaching down to brush her cheeks. “My ever and ever, my little Everly.”

“Ford …”

My eyes shifted to Sydney.

“Is that how you came up with her name?”

I was sure she had other questions.

I was sure the conversation I’d had in the waiting room was far from over.

But I nodded and replied, “When Rebecca placed her in my arms and I finally made my way inside my house and it all hit me”—I swallowed and tried to take a breath, the emotion returning—“I knew only one thing. Ever and ever—that was how long she’d be mine.”

Tags: Marni Mann The Dalton Brothers Erotic
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