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After relief momentarily flickered across her face that it hadn’t been the "Mean Man," her tiny brows scrunched in confusion, as if she couldn’t i so horrible "Your daddy killed your mommy?"

"Yeah, he did," I replied, and I hated that my voice sounded choked with emotion

"He must’ve been a real bad h her hair again, I said, "Guess we’re a lot alike with the fact our mothers were killed, huh?"

A solemn look came over her face "Yes, but I’m more sad for you"

My brows shot up "Why’s that?"

"Because you loved your daddy, and he hurt your h I lostat me over her shoulder, she added, "And you would never do anything to hurt me like that"

My hands froze in her hair as I tried to process her words In spite of all uy ould never hurt her I sure as hell hoped I could live up to her expectations It was a lot of fucking pressure "You’re right," I croaked Cuffing the back of her neck playfully to ease the ed "Mrs Martinez used to say I was an old soul"

The mention of someone from her former life made me think for a ain The shrink she saice a week had warned us not to grill Willow for any information about what she had witnessed But at the end of the day, we needed more intel "What can you tell me about Mean Man?"

Willow ih her body In a strangled voice, she replied, "No I can’t … I can’t ever talk about hi her a lot of affection, I pulled her into my arms "No, baby He won’t Me, Uncle Rev, and Bishop, and the rest of the Raiders won’t let hiet to you I promise"

My words seemed to ease Willow’s concerns a little because she stopped treently eased her back to where I could look into her eyes "Maybe if we knehat he looked like, we could find hi to convince Willow to talk She just slowly shook her head back and forth "Okay, then, let’s change the subject All this shit is too heavy for so it around, I wrapped the hair tie around it "There How’s that?"

Willow turned around on the bench When she was facing the ood Will you put the ribbons in now?"

"You’re a bossy thing, aren’t you?" I teased, trying to lighten the reatly, I tied the ribbons around her bun I had to admit that she looked cute as hell Her outfit had transformed her into a ballerina Whether or not she had any talent for it was yet to be seen

"Okay That’s enough et you to Miss Alex," I said

She reluctantly turned froged on my hand, I bent down to her level She surprised the hell out ofon her tiptoes to bestow a kiss onher head at me, Willow asked, "Maybe soon I’ll be ready to call you ‘Daddy’"

Her stateer back Where the hell had that come from? Did I even want the kid to call me "Daddy"? I’d sure as hell have to be more of a father for her to call me one I couldn’t deny her words caused an ache to burn through my chest Somehow I finally found the words to respond "I think I would like that"