Chapter 45

Emilia

My Dad had filled me in with all the pertinent details. I'd called a private doctor who was coming shortly to check on the little girl, but watching Cyrus carry the tiny girl made me want to cry again. I saw her knotted hair and stained nightdress, and it made me want to smash more of Moorcroft's bones.

My Dad walked over to me and hugged me tighter than usual.

"He's a good man," he whispered, and I nodded against his chest. "I love you, baby girl. We will see you in the morning."

"Thanks, Dad. I love you too," I said before he nodded to Cyrus. His eyes dropped to Rose for a moment, and shook his head before he walked down the garden towards my car.

We had planned everything out beforehand. The only hiccup was finding the little girl, but I'd rather we found her alive than dead. If Boyd got wind of this, he would have gone to finish her off or take her to sell to someone else.

"The doctor is coming."

Cyrus nodded, but his face remained grim.

"She might need to sedate her before she checks her," I said as I opened the door for them.

"No, I can give her something that won't need to be injected," he said. "She shouldn't have to feel any more pain."

"Do you want me to take her upstairs?"

He shook his head and looked down at her before glancing towards me.

"My Dad messaged me while you were working on the gate. If I can't trace any relatives, then we should adopt her," I said.

His eyes widened with shock before they softened. "I love you, Angel. Without you—" he said, but his voice cracked.

"We have enough love to share, Cyrus. My obsession might have led me to you, but you made me fall in love with the man you are," I said before I put my arm around his waist.

He bent down and gently kissed my lips.

"I will be eternally grateful for you becoming my stalker," he said with a hint of a smile.

I sighed happily as we walked upstairs. Cyrus didn't know how much love he had to give. I could already see what kind of a father he would be. I said a small prayer for Ruby because somehow, somewhere, her love for her brother was still with us.

**

The report on Rose was devastating for both of us. Her attack had been as recent as the last three days, but the doctor was hopeful because she could monitor and treat any hymenal scarring. She got tested for any sexually transmitted diseases. I had to pull the doctor aside and explain that I worked for the FBI and that Rose was linked to a larger case, which is why I couldn't take her to a specialist sexual assault centre.

I knew from work everything had to be documented fastidiously to ensure a conviction was successful when cases went to court. Every medical professional had to adhere to the rules, but the doctor was satisfied after speaking to Rose alone. Cyrus had insisted on her signing a Non-Disclosure Holo form and had paid her handsomely to ensure Rose got the best treatment.

My family left the hotel and moved into our house to help support us with Rose. After doing a deep dive search on Rose and her mother, I found there was only one family member who turned up, but when I did a background search, he was a degenerate.

Once I finished work I handed my notice in, but Director Chavez hadn't been surprised. He did surprise me by asking me to do some consultancy work for him from home, which I accepted because I didn't know how long we would be in the United States.

It had been the most fucked up forty-eight hours I'd ever experienced, but climbing into bed with Cyrus was a reprieve.

"Why do you keep calling him Dad, though?" I asked Cyrus.

"Because I can't call him asshole," he mumbled.

I elbowed him in the ribs until he grunted.

"I was trying to keep Rose calm, and I told her he was my Dad," he said, rubbing his ribs. "And now, I don't want her to think I'm a liar."

"Hmm, I think he is getting used to it now," I said before I snuggled into his chest. "When will the therapy start for Rose?"

"Next Wednesday," he murmured as he rubbed my belly. "Why can't I see him yet?"

"It takes time to grow a baby," I said patiently before I added. "Rose will miss my family when they leave."

"She can HoloTime them anytime until we move to England," he said as he pushed me onto my back. "I don't like you wearing clothes in bed.

"We are parents now, Cyrus," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Rose will be seven by the time the baby comes," he said with a smile.

"She is settling in so well, and she is excited to go back to Virginia with us. I can introduce her to Sapphire when she is ready."

His face hardened because we had a few days before we rounded up the rest of the ring. My Dad had dealt with Boyd and Rochester today. My grandparents took out another two with my Mum as their driver.

Thankfully, Moorcroft was still alive but in excruciating pain from the poison and my work on him. I'd taken a sledgehammer to his dick, legs and feet, only for Cyrus to call me a savage. He had a cheek since Cyrus had spent the evening peeling his face off.

Cyrus began to kiss my neck when he hesitated. I frowned when I heard a faint banging noise. I pulled the covers off to go and check on Rose.

"Where are you going?" Cyrus demanded.

"To check on Rose."

"Why?"

"You don't hear that noise?"

"That came from upstairs, so either your parents or your grandparents are fucking."

"Ugh, I don't know which is worse," I said as I got back into bed.

"Hey, I want to be eighty-five and still be able to fuck you like that."

I giggled as he pulled me beneath him and tugged my T-shirt over my chest. There was a knock on our door.

"Come in," I said after I pulled my T-shirt down.

The door opened, and Rose poked her head in.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" I asked as I sat up.

She looked like a regular child again. She wore blue pyjamas, with her hair in two low pigtails. My Mum and Grandmother had pampered her while I'd been at work. We were taking our time and made no physical contact with her unless Rose made the first move. It was still early days, and she had a long road to recovery, physically and mentally.

She stuffed her new teddy bear through the door.

"Bear had a bad dream," she said.

I smiled at her and stood up.

"I'm going to tell you some stories my Grandma used to tell me. It will chase away Bear's bad dreams," I said, walking towards the door but not before I gave Cyrus a little finger wave.

He didn't look annoyed. He had a sappy look as he looked at us.

"Why can't I get to hear these stories?" he asked with a pout.

"What do you think, Rose? Should he come and listen to our story?"

She put Bear to her ear before she looked at Cyrus and nodded.

My heart overflowed with a burst of love at her childlike innocence. I had a feeling she would grow up to be another badass, but instead of the name Molloy, she would carry the name Wicke.