Emmett exhaled. “Yeah. I know how.”
“Okay, good.”
I blew out a hard breath as I climbed up into the treehouse. “How the hell did she do this?” I muttered as I reached the entrance. Using the railing around the edge, I braced my foot on the edge of one window, clutched the line of the roof with both hands, and boosted myself up. The treehouse made an ominous creak as I moved carefully over the roof and found the branch she was on. There was one lower than her, and I pressed my foot against it to test the weight-bearing.
“Okay, Anya, remember when you said I looked like Wonder Woman?” At her nod, I exhaled steadily. “Well, we’re both going to channel her. I’m going to keep my feet on this lower branch right here and hold onto the one you’re on. Once I’m a few feet out, can you try to scoot back a little? I’ll be able to grab your arm and help you come back all the way.”
I kept my movements slow and steady, but each inch I moved felt like a mile. Anya watched me with huge eyes, and I made sure to smile encouragingly as I inched closer. Now that I was closer, I did not really like the look of the branch she was on, which swayed as she shifted her weight. Every time she did, her hands gripped even more tightly.
“Here we go,” I said as I got closer. How I was standing put my head about level with her chest. It wasn’t perfect positioning, but I trusted this branch a lot more than the one she was on. “I’m going to grab your arm, Anya. Keep holding tight to the branch just like you’re doing and slowly start backing up. It’s okay if it’s teeny tiny little movements. Once you’re back far enough, I’ll scoop you right up, okay?”
A tear slipped down her face, and she hiccupped. “O-okay.”
“I want you to look at me.” When she did, I held her gaze. “You can do this, sweetheart. You are strong and brave, and once we get down, we will have whatever treat you can find in the pantry, all right?”
“Even your Pop-Tarts?” Emmett asked. “She really likes you if she’s willing to share those.”
I managed a strained laugh. “I’ll give you the whole box, kiddo.”
Anya nodded. “Okay.”
I took one more shuffle sideways and the branch creaked. With a slow exhale, I extended my hand and gripped her upper arm. But instead of holding onto the branch, like she was supposed to, Anya turned her weight and grasped frantically at my arm with her other hand.
“Okay, okay,” I breathed, “move slow, sweetie. You’re just fine.”
But then she swung her leg over, like she was going to try to clamber into my arms exactly as I stood. The last thing I heard before we fell was the violent snap of the branch, and Anya screaming my name.
Chapter Eighteen
Aiden
“Thanks, Aiden,” my client said. “Best sparring session I’ve ever had.”
There was a reason I’d worked him so hard, but it wasn’t like I was going to explain it to him.
I nodded. “Glad to hear it. Next time we’ll focus on your footwork. You still have a tendency to want to square up in front of me, you’re leaving too much of your body open.”
He grinned. “After today, that’s the last thing I want. Felt like I was facing you back in your fighting days.”
Somehow I managed a polite smile. There was a reason for that. In that tiny closet, I’d almost descended on Isabel like a ravenous fucking beast. One more second, and without the interruption that had stopped me, I would’ve torn clothes, knocked over shelves, held her still while I lost my mind from want.
It wouldn’t have been slow or sweet or respectful. And if I was expected to share space with her, even for five minutes, I needed to sweat all of it out.
“I’ll see you next week,” I told him.
“Sounds good.” He hooked his gym bag over his shoulder, smiling at Emily as she approached with the gym phone in hand.
Judging by the look in her eye, I was not going to get out of here like I wanted. I was already itching to go get Anya.
“Phone’s for you,” Emily said. “You can take it on the cordless or in your office.”
I sighed. “Did they say who it was?”
“It’s Molly Ward. Isabel’s sister.”
Brows lowered in confusion, I took the cordless from her outstretched hand.
“This is Aiden.” It was still loud in the gym, and I pressed my free hand to my other ear to hear her better. And as soon as I did, my stomach dropped out of my feet. “Shit,” I barked. “And you haven’t heard back from her?”
“No, I’m so sorry. And I don’t want to distract her by trying to call if she’s right in the middle of climbing down with Anya.”
I jogged back to my office and snagged my keys and cell phone. “Unfortunately this doesn’t surprise me. My daughter has a tendency to do this whenever she wants a little extra attention.”
“I’m sure she’s okay,” Molly insisted. “Isabel would never let anything happen to her.”
Words stuck in my throat, because even if I knew Molly was probably right, and the likelihood that Anya was hurt was slim, even the idea of it had my body going cold with terror.
Losing Beth had been awful. Exhausting. Heartbreaking.
But if anything happened to Anya … I wasn’t sure I could survive it.
“I’m leaving the gym now, but this is my cell,” I rattled off my number and Molly repeated it. “Call me if you hear anything.”
“I promise, I will.” Molly said my name quietly. “Just take a deep breath, okay? Especially before you get behind the wheel.”
I clenched my teeth, but somehow her voice was comforting enough, kind enough, that I was able to do as she said.
Disconnecting the call after thanking Molly, I shoved my phone in my pocket and yelled for one of the trainers. He looked exactly like one of the other guys, and they were both in college, and I still couldn’t remember their fucking names.
“I need you to stay and help Emily close up. If you can’t, ask the other one.” I snapped my fingers. “What’s his name again?”
He grinned. “He’s Grady, I’m Gavin.”
“No fucking wonder,” I mumbled.
“What?”
“Nothing. You can stay?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
I jogged out of the building with a shove to the front door, my feet pounding on the pavement.
The peel of my tires drew a few dirty looks as I turned out of the parking lot, as did my driving abilities as I broke just about every land speed record from the gym back to the house.
She was probably fine. My daughter, the little shit, climbed everywhere. This was hardly the first time she’d bitten off more than she could chew. But I was used to it. My family was used to it.
Isabel wasn’t.
And that was probably why Anya did it in the first place, to gain her notice. My hands tightened uselessly on the steering wheel. Of course she’d want Isabel’s notice.
I was no better than my daughter because Isabel’s notice was turning me into an animal. At least in my head.
That was something to deal with later, as my foot pressed just a little bit harder on the gas, the roar of the engine matching the energy under my skin.