Page 67 of Silver Linings

Mae came rushing back towards the table. “Oh my gosh, I heard the announcement from the bathroom. What happened?” When all eyes at the table turned to Lily, Mae blanched. “Are you okay, Lily?”

“I’m fine. Sober as hell now, which stinks. But yeah, I’m okay.”

“I think maybe she could use something warm to drink,” Grace said as she stood, walking away from them towards the bar.

“I’m going to take little ears here on a walk to help her Auntie Grace.” Emma walked away from the group with her daughter in tow.

“What happened?” Mae still looked concerned as she sat next to Lily and pulled her into a side hug. “You’re white as a ghost. Are you feeling sick? I could bring you home. Maybe call Stone over?”

She shook her head. “Gunner’s on his way. I imagine girls’ night is about to end. The same guy who tried to grab me in the park just tried to take me again while I was outside.”

Gunner pulled into the parking lot of Davney’s as his stomach soured from the sight of all the flashing blue and red lights. The deputies were there because someone had almost taken Lily again.

Hopping down from the driver’s seat, he took a minute to calm himself before reaching in the back and removing Sage’s car seat. There was something to be said for his little girl; she could sleep through just about anything.

His eyes immediately went to the deputy placing someone in the back of their vehicle, and Gunner stormed towards them.

“Whoa. No. You can’t go over there right now, Reaper.” Sebastian stepped in front of him with his hands raised.

“Get out of the fucking way, Cap.”

“You have your baby in your hands, Gunner. Are you going to let her throw a punch at the bastard too?”

He held out the car seat to Sebastian.

“Take her for a minute.”

“No. Let the deputies get him out of here and go to Lily.”

Fuck. Lily. The whole reason he was ready to pummel some asshole to death in front of half the sheriff’s department.

“Where is she? Is she okay?”

“She’s inside with the girls. I asked the manager to have everyone else leave, so it’s just them inside. Hawk and Stone were around the corner and got here before you, so they’re in with them now.”

“You’ll talk to the deputies for me so I can check on her?”

“Of course. Go.”

“Thanks, Cap.”

Gunner turned and carried Sage up the steps, trying his hardest not to rip the doors off the hinges as he stormed in.

“Lily?!” Gunner’s voice filled the bar. His eyes locked immediately on the women who were sitting huddled around Lily, while Hawk and Stone stood next to the table.

He rushed towards her, placing the baby’s car seat into Stone’s hands before he lifted Lily up out of her seat and pressed her tight to his chest. Her arms wrapped around his waist and he felt her relax into the hug.

“Gunner, I’m fine.” Her voice sounded wonky, most likely because her cheek was pressed so tightly to his chest. She’d just have to deal with it. He wasn’t going to let her go.

“What the hell happened, Lil? Did he touch you? God, I’ll go out there and kill him myself right now if he did.”

“Hey.” Her hands gently pushed away from his chest and then found their way to his face. “Listen to me. I’m fine.”

“Tell me what happened, and I’ll decide if you are fine or not.”

“Stubborn man.”

“Tell. Me.”