Page 54 of Ruthless Possession
It's not a question a child should have to ask. I look at Trenton, seeing the muscle jump in his jaw, the protective fire in his eyes.
"Never," he says, the word a vow. "You're staying with us."
Relief visibly floods Charlie's small body. Her grip on Trenton's shirt loosens slightly, her breathing evening out.
"I'm going to make some lunch," Matthew says, standing. "Maybe you could help me, Morgan?"
I understand his unspoken request, a chance to talk about what we need to do next. With a final squeeze to Charlie's shoulder, I follow him to the kitchen.
"She trusts him," I say quietly, glancing back at Trenton still holding Charlie. "Completely."
"She trusts all of us," Matthew corrects, pulling ingredients from the refrigerator. "But she especially trusts Trent. That's good, it means she's healing."
I nod, leaning against the counter. "But Evan is still out there."
Matthew's hands pause in their task. "Yes. And we need to be smart about how we handle this."
"He wants Charlie back," I say, voicing the fear that's been haunting me since we found her. "And he wants me."
Matthew moves closer, his hands warm on my shoulders. "He won't get either. The club is watching, the police are searching. We'll find him."
I want to believe him, but the memory of those women's faces on Techy's screen lingers in my mind. "He's killed before. Multiple times."
"And we've dealt with worse," Matthew reminds me, his voice steady. "Trust us to handle this, Morgan."
I nod, trying to let his confidence ease my fear. But as I glance back at the living room, at Trenton gently rocking a now sleeping Charlie, I know what we are facing could destroy everything we've built.
"We need to prepare," I say, my voice determined. "Fortify the house, set up surveillance, have a plan for every scenario."
"Already on it," Matthew assures me. "Greyson's sending a security system crew this afternoon. Caiden and the others are taking shifts watching the property."
I move back to the living room, watching as Trenton carefully adjusts Charlie's position so she's more comfortable. There's something so tender about his large hands cradling her small form, so incongruous with the lethal man I know he can be.
"What's happening out there?" he asks quietly, nodding toward the kitchen.
"Matthew's making lunch," I say, sitting beside him again. "The club is sending security this afternoon."
Trenton nods, his eyes never leaving Charlie's peaceful face. "Good. We need to be ready."
"We will be," I promise, my hand finding his free one.
The house fills with the comforting smell of Matthew's cooking. Outside, the world continues to spin, oblivious to the threat hanging over our small family. But inside our walls, for this moment at least, there is peace.
Charlie stirs, her eyes fluttering open. "I'm hungry," she announces, sitting up in Trenton's lap.
"Perfect timing," Matthew calls from the kitchen. "Lunch is ready."
As we move to the dining room, Charlie still clinging to Trenton's hand, I feel the weight of our new reality settling around us. We're no longer just three people rebuilding their lives. We're a family, with a child to protect.
I wake from a light doze to find the living room bathed in the golden light of early evening. Charlie's voice drifts from upstairs, punctuated by Matthew's deeper tones. I follow the sound.
I pause outside Charlie's new room. The door's cracked, and I don't push it open.
Matthew sits cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by every stuffed animal we bought today. Charlie moves around him like she's staging a military operation, placing each one with the kind of focused intensity that makes my chest ache a little. Her small face is scrunched, lips pressed together like she is trying to solve a puzzle.
"And this one," she announces, holding up her small pink unicorn, "is Princess Sparklehoof. She's the queen of the whole kingdom."
Matthew takes the unicorn with both hands. Nods once. Completely serious. "Queen Sparklehoof. A very important position."
