chapter 38

Abbie I watch as Gannon cradles Tyson in his arms, the soft rise and fall of his chest matching the tapping of Tyson’s fingers against his shirt. Gannon holds him so carefully, like he’s something precious, and I feel my heart twist painfully in my chest. Tyson rests his head against Gannon, his little hand gripping tightly to the fabric of Gannon’s shirt like he’s afraid to let go. I never asked him. Never once did I ask if he even wanted kids. I never asked if he was okay with me keeping Tyson. It was selfish—so incredibly selfish—but the thought of being without Tyson was unbearable. Even if it meant Gannon leaving me, even if it meant losing the only person who had ever truly made me feel safe, I couldn’t give Tyson up. Not after everything. The fear I carried that Mrs. Daley had killed him, that Kade’s promise to return him was a lie I held on to out of desperation—still grips me now. If someone tried to take him from me again, I wouldn’t survive it. I couldn’t. I’d rather die tha