Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(86)

“You’re happy,” she whispered.

“I am,” I admitted. “I found happiness, baby, and you will too,” I whispered. “I promise you. We will get you the best help there is and do whatever we got to do to make sure that bitch of a maker shuts the f*ck up,” I said hoarsely as I winked at her.

She let out a giggle and glanced over her shoulder at her mother.

“I might not have said it that way but your father’s right,” she smiled reassuringly.

“That’s because you never agree with me,” I teased, blowing out a breath as I brought Lacey into my arms.

“What happens now?” She asked against my shoulder.

“I’ll call my doctor in the morning and set up an appointment,” I looked at Connie, who nodded in agreement.

“Until then, why don’t you get some rest? Tomorrow’s another day,” Connie added.

“We’ll order dinner, or I can go to that take-out place you like and pick it up,” Rob offered.

Lacey pulled out of my arms, pushed her hair back before looking between all of us.

“What?” I asked, knowing she was debating on whether to tell us something.

“It’s Daniela’s birthday tonight, and I promised her I’d go out,” she said, bringing her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Don’t you think you had a long day?” Connie questioned.

“I think I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and for just one night I want to be a nineteen-year-old girl who isn’t mentally ill. I want to be Lacey. Tomorrow I’ll be the girl who goes on lithium,” she said, turning her eyes back to mine.

Sometimes I think God gave me a daughter just to soften me.

“Have fun,” I muttered, as Connie stared daggers at me and Lacey smiled at me.

“Thanks Dad.”

“But Mack goes with you,” I added. “And if you start to feel a certain kind of way you call me.”

“I’ll be fine,” she assured.

“Yeah, you will,” I agreed.

She leaned in and kissed my cheek, then her mother’s and lastly Rob’s.

“Thank you guys,” she murmured hopefully. “I’m going to go get ready.”

I watched her hurry up the stairs and waited until she was out of sight to turn to Connie and Rob.

“You really think going out is a good idea?” Connie questioned as she crossed her arms against her chest.

“I think she’s been cooped up dealing with this on her own for a long time and having one night to be carefree is good for her,” I argued.

“He’s got a point,” Rob chimed in.

“Fine,” Connie said reluctantly. “So you’ll call the doctor in the morning?”

“Yes, get her an appointment as soon as possible,” I affirmed.

“There’s one more thing,” she started, glancing at the stairs again before lowering her voice and continuing. “Blackie.”

“What about him?” I asked as I narrowed my eyes at her, wondering where she was going with this.

“You should call him and tell him what’s going on with Lacey. She cares a lot about him, Jack and whether it’s a crush or not I don’t know but I do know she can’t afford to be confused by her feelings for him.”

“A crush or not? Of course it’s a crush, you going to tell me otherwise?”

“I’m telling you to talk to Blackie and let him know what’s going on. Until we have this under control it’s in her best interest if he stays away from her. She can’t handle having her heart broken when she’s trying to mend her head.”

I remained silent for a moment, processing that my daughter might have genuine feelings for Blackie and wondering what his part in all this was.

“I’ll talk to him,” I ground out before turning toward the door. “Call me if she needs anything,” I added before I walked out the door.

As I started for my bike I grabbed my phone about to dial Blackie when my maker decided to menace me.

I told you but you didn’t want to listen.

You stupid prick, you’re too blind to see what’s been in front of you.

He looks at her differently.

He notices things about her you don’t.

He’s protects her better than you ever have.

He becomes alive when she walks into a room.

How’s it feel motherf*cker?

To know I’m right and you’re wrong.

“Everything okay, Prez?” Mack asked, pulling me away from the war inside my head and back to the present.

“Where’s Blackie?” I questioned, the voice of doubt fresh in my mind.

“Not sure. Want me to call him?”

“Can’t order me to protect her one minute and not the next, can’t give me her life, tell me it’s precious then expect me not to put her high on my list of priorities. I’m not made that way and you of all people should know that, understand it, because it’s the sole reason you asked me to look out for her all those years ago…you knew I wouldn’t be able to turn that shit on and off so, don’t ask me to now.”

What the f*ck did I do?

I lifted my eyes to Mack’s.

“Nah, I’ve got this,” I hissed.