Off Limits Daddy

little boy in front of her. Her p

mised you wouldn't leave me," he whispered,

around him in return. "Oh, come her

surprise, she had found him crying by the corner o

dering around calling for hi

aughing, teasing, threatening to snatch the small

way, and scared the boys off with words she didn't eve

ly wiping his cheeks with a tissue from

the bus station, leaving him in the care of an o

ing right in front of her aga

scanning his small face. "

here," he said, with the kind of

hing the boy's curls off his foreh

nose with the back of his hand.

"Where are you from, Tris

sy... He was on the phone again. I just wanted to play." He peeked up at her. "So I r

his dad in a suit, walking ahead without looking back, while the

his chin gently. "Tris

himself with a little grin.

d hard. "Ki

me rang bells. She grabbed her phone quickly, typing th

who didn't take 'no' for an answer. Jet-black hair, sharp jawline, exp

estinations around the world, told stories of mon

ing didn't

lled and

rticle mentioned a wife. No partn

ed at one particular photo-Killian step

ristan again. The sa

whisper. "How do you ha

rough his curls. "Come on, let's get you

y, his little fingers curling around he

d the quiet, dim street for any sign of a patrol

ked down at him. "Trist

grip on her hand

crouched beside him. "It'

yes suddenly a little glassy. "

nked. "T

tiful woman in the whole wide world. But her

o go away... up, up, up into the sky. And w

he watched him point his

d quietly. "Even when no one

oice came out rougher than she wanted. "T

eyes. "Daddy said when I'm brave, like t

, whispering, "You're the brav

ound of the fridge was the only sound as she ge

," she said with a small smile,

d, wide-eyed. "

ed. "Glad y

something casual-a loose t-shirt and shorts. Her

. "Tomorrow, we'll take you to your dad,

ile, already curling up on the

ft throw blanket and brus

tch off the lights, a loud, u