Before I could grab her, she darted across the small distance and stood so, so close to Fox. Too close. Dangerously close.
My heart f**king clawed into my throat when she placed her hand on Fox’s hip, looping her finger through a belt loop.
Fox’s eyes snapped closed, and he sucked in a huge lungful of air.
Everyone froze.
Clue and Ben had no idea the risk Fox presented, but they sensed it. They tasted my panic, and we all moved at once.
Gravel kicked as I rushed forward and grabbed Clara’s hand, jerking her away.
“No!” She clutched Fox’s belt loop, fighting me. “I want to stay.”
She’d never pulled a tantrum in her entire life. Never. She knew better, so what the hell was she doing? Twice in one day!
“Clara Hunter you obey me right now.” I slammed my hands on my hips, glaring at my disobedient child. The same child who held onto a monster as if she found a new pet.
Fox tumbled suddenly—he went from standing to kneeling in a second flat. The same position I found him touching my daughter. The same position that put him just below Clara’s full height.
His snowy eyes opened, locking onto Clara’s. “You need to listen to your mother. She wants you to go.”
Clara pursed her lips, colour dotting her cheeks. “I don’t want to go. You have stories. I want to hear stories. I want to hear about the bad man. I want to stay.” Her huge brown eyes welled with tears.
A few times in the past, Clara used crocodile tears to wrap me around her little finger. I was immune to her wily ways, but Fox…he wasn’t.
He groaned and hung his head, clutching his skull in his hands. I never thought I’d see such a violent threatening man come undone by a few glass tears from a child.
Clara stopped instantly and did something that turned my dark hair grey.
Her little arms wrapped around his head, pulling his face against her tiny, breakable, oh so vulnerable chest.
“No!” I rushed forward, but Clue jerked me back.
“Zelly, you’ll frighten her. It’s okay. Ben’s here if anything goes wrong.”
She didn’t know what Fox was capable of. She didn’t know!
I wriggled in Clue’s hold, tears springing to my eyes as Fox ever so slowly pushed my daughter away. Every move was precise, controlled, seething with discipline and strictness.
Clara didn’t stand a chance at holding onto him. With his large hand splayed on her stomach, Fox pushed until an entire arm length separated them.
Her arms unravelled from around his head, and she stood with wide hurt eyes. “You don’t like to be hugged? I like to be hugged if I’m not feeling well or hurt myself.” She fidgeted, never taking her eyes from Fox. “You’re hurting, so I wanted to hug you. It’ll make you feel better. I promise.”
My legs trembled. I had no idea how I remained standing.
Fox looked at her as if she was the only thing in the world. His entire body trembled; his hands clutched his thighs, digging hard into muscle. “A hug isn’t the same for me as it is for other people, Clara.”
She inched closer again. “So…how do you make yourself feel better?”
Fox’s eyes rose to latch onto mine. The power of his silver gaze untangled the rest of my emotions, and a small moan trailed from my mouth.
“Well, your mother has been helping me a little.” He smiled, his eyes looking more like soft snow than harsh blizzard when he looked back at Clara. “She’s amazing. You’re very lucky to have her.”
Clara looked back at me and shrugged. “She’s okay, I guess.” A small giggle escaped her.
Ben laughed and my legs gave out. I had no choice but to sink to the floor and kneel just like Fox. The two of us stared across the gravel; my daughter in the centre.
His eyes shot silent promises.
I promise I won’t hurt her.
I give you my word.
Please…
I didn’t know what the final plea was for, but I shut my eyes, blocking him off. I’d never known a man who could frustrate me, terrify me, and undo me all at once.
My heart, bruised and torn thanks to Fox, shed the armour I’d conjured against him. A fissure broke the hardened shell, and something twisted deep inside.
I wouldn’t be able to help Fox.
But my daughter could.
My tiny, dying daughter who I would miss for the rest of my life.
My eyes flew open, ready to answer his silent beg. He wanted permission to be around Clara. I could manage for a few hours, and then I would whisk her away and lock her behind closed doors. There was only so much tempting danger I could handle.
You hurt her, I’ll kill you.
I’ll do it with no hesitation.
But okay…
His large shoulders rolled inward and a faint smile kissed his lips. “Klyanus' moyey zhizni ya ne budu yey bol'.”
Clue shifted beside me, crossing her svelte arms. “Um, care to repeat that in English?”
Fox shook his head, eyes flaring wide. “Sorry. I didn’t know I slipped. I said, I swear on my life I will not hurt her.” His answer was for Clue, but he never looked away from me. His eyes resonated with truth. I honestly believed he would kill himself before he let whatever madness inside him hurt Clara.
A small smidgen of worry evaporated; I nodded.
Fox closed his eyes briefly, glowing with thankfulness.
Ben came forward, eyebrows drawing together. “Hang on, what do you mean you won’t hurt her?” His tone was sharp. “Of course, you won’t. Who the hell says something like that?”
Tension gathered in our small group, causing my skin to prickle. “It’s okay, Corkscrew. I know what he meant.” Ben looked at me with concern on his face. I nodded. “It’s okay. Truly.”
Clara bounced in her dusty black shoes. “I know what he means. I do. I do.”
My heart stopped, waiting for her declaration. Fox seemed just as anxious as he repositioned his knees uncomfortably.
“He means he doesn’t like hugs or being touched. I think the bad man made him hate hugs because bad men don’t like love. They’re evil and cold, and I don’t like them.” Her large eyes met Fox’s. “I’m right, aren’t I? You really do want my mummy to hug you even though she was mean and yelled at you, but you don’t know how. It’s easy, you know. All you have to do is wrap your arms around her.”
An eternity passed before Fox nodded infinitesimally. “You’re right, little one.”
The sweet surrender in his voice set fire to my blood. I just granted him the right to spend a few hours with Clara, not an eternity. I couldn't have him falling in love with her. She wasn’t his to keep.