Chapter 52

GRACIE

I kissed her forehead murmuring a prayer of thanks after checking her hands and feet, I was glad to see that she was okay.

Her gaze focused on something behind me and her face lit up in a huge smile.

“Uncle Hayden!”

My heart lurched in my throat in full panic as she raced towards him wrapping her arms around his legs.

My stomach tightened and sank even deeper in despair when he scooped her up into his arms with surprisingly gentleness.

“Hey princess…how are you?”

She’d always been accepting and friendly towards everyone, I always loved that about her… until now…I only want to protect her… I didn’t want her getting hurt in any way…even not physically… but emotionally.

Any situation but this the sight of a father and his adorable daughter would have melted my heart but all I wanted right now was to rip her from his arms in this very moment, I wanted to protect her from every threatening danger with every fiber of my being.