Page 51 of Ruthless Possession
I agree, making mental notes. When I hang up, I find Trenton watching me from the doorway.
"Everything okay?" he asks.
"For now," I say, stepping closer. "We have temporary custody, but there will be social-worker visits and therapy appointments."
He nods, his eyes drifting back to Charlie inside. "And Harris?"
My stomach tightens. "Still out there. The police are searching."
"We'll be careful," he promises, taking my hand. "But we can't keep her locked up. She needs normalcy."
He's right. After everything Charlie's been through, she deserves moments of joy. "Let's go shopping. We'll stay together and keep our eyes open."
"Always," he agrees, pulling me in for a brief kiss.
Back inside, Charlie is showing Matthew how to draw her special strawberry design, her small hand guiding his larger one across the paper. My heart swells all over again.
"Ready for shopping?" I ask.
Charlie looks up, her face bright with excitement. "Yes!"
"Then let's go," I say, reaching for my purse. "We have a lot to get."
Matthew
I keep my hand on the small of Morgan's back as we navigate the mall parking lot, scanning the area for any sign of Harris. The morning sun glints off windshields, making it harder to spot threats. My body is wired, every muscle coiled tight with the need to protect what's ours.
"Caiden and Zach are already inside," Trenton murmurs, leaning close enough that only I can hear. "They'll text if they spot anything suspicious."
I nod, my eyes catching the familiar shape of Caiden's truck parked two rows over. The club's presence settles something in my chest, though the tension doesn't fully release. Harris is smart, methodical. We can't afford to underestimate him.
Charlie skips ahead, her small hand still clasped in Morgan's. The excitement in her movements makes my chest tighten. She deserves this simple joy of shopping, of being a normal kid for a day.
"Stay close," I remind them as we approach the entrance, my voice soft for Charlie's sake.
The mall is relatively quiet for a weekday morning. A few shoppers stroll past storefronts, mothers pushing strollers, elderly couples walking arm in arm. I catalog each face, searching for threats, for anyone who doesn't belong.
Morgan leads us directly to a children's clothing store, its window display filled with bright colors and smiling mannequins. Charlie's eyes go wide as we enter, her fingers tightening around Morgan's.
"Where should we start?" Morgan asks, crouching down to Charlie's level. "What do you like?"
Charlie looks overwhelmed by the choices, her gaze darting from rack to rack. "I don't know," she whispers, suddenly shy. "I've never… Daddy always bought my clothes online."
The mention of Harris makes my jaw tighten. I catch Trenton's eye over Morgan's head, seeing the same protective fury mirrored in his expression.
"Let's start with clothes then," Morgan suggests, her voice warm and encouraging. "Maybe a dress?"
She steers Charlie toward a rack of summer dresses, pulling out a yellow sundress with tiny, embroidered flowers. Charlie's face lights up as she touches the fabric.
"It's so soft," she says, wonder in her voice.
"Try it on," Morgan encourages, handing her the dress. "There's a fitting room right over there."
I move closer, positioning myself where I can see both the store entrance and the fitting rooms. Trenton takes up position near the front, his posture casual but alert. We've done this before in markets in Kandahar, in crowded streets in Bahrain. The strategy is the same: create a perimeter, control the exits.
Morgan helps Charlie into the dressing room, her voice a gentle murmur as she gives the little girl privacy to change. I stand with my back to the wall, scanning the store. A text buzzes in my pocket.
Caiden: All clear on this level. Zach's watching the food court exit.
