Anna tensed at my side, drawing in a sharp breath.
Walker gave John an easy smile. “I work for the people of this town. And I’m simply carrying out the law as it stands. Anna has custody right now.”
“I just hope you’re prepared to carry out that same law when a judge awards us custody.”
Walker shrugged. “We’ll just have to see what the courts say. Have a good afternoon.”
John and Elise turned and headed out the door. As John put his hand on Elise’s lower back, she flinched.
The doors shut, the bang of the action seeming to echo in the silent entryway. Jefferson moved quickly to lock them. “I think this is best for now,” he said.
Kennedy moved to help him. “You’re right. Just in case.”
Anna stepped out of my hold. “I’m so sorry.”
I felt the loss of her warmth instantly. I wanted to pull her back, to shield her from all of the ugliness I knew was coming her way. “This isn’t your fault.”
“I brought this here. Hope House is supposed to be a haven. A place where people feel safe. Not somewhere strangers barge in and create a scene. How did they even know where I was?”
Kennedy moved to her friend, pulling Anna into a hug. “Mase is right. None of this is on you. And we’ve had far worse scenes than this one. That’s why we have security and the police department on speed dial.”
She was right. I’d seen a handful of incidents that were far worse than what we’d just encountered. Ex-husbands looking for wives who had left them, a dealer looking for someone who owed them money, even a fight between two residents. But those were few and far between. Kennedy and Anna had worked hard to make this place into exactly what Anna had called it: a haven. And one dustup wasn’t going to change that.
Anna straightened from Kennedy’s hug and looked at Walker. “He’s going to cause trouble for you. He’ll probably contact the mayor and the city council. Maybe even some higher-ups in the county.”
Walker shook his head. “Let them try. I’ve had far worse thrown my way.”
Anna braided her fingers together, squeezing tightly. “You don’t understand. Today was nothing. My dad thought he’d be able to simply show up, and Justin and Lyla would be given to him. He didn’t think he’d even have to try. Now that he knows there are people who have my back…you don’t know what he’s capable of.”
My fingers itched to pull Anna to me again. As if that would make it all better. “We aren’t taking this lightly. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep Justin and Lyla safe.”
She glanced over her shoulder towards the doors. I could see the panic racing through her body. The pull to simply grab the kids and run. I moved in closer, slipping a hand under her hair and giving the back of her neck a squeeze. “We’ve got this. I promise you.”
Anna looked at me, her eyes dull and dead, none of that fire I normally saw in the blue depths. “I hope you’re right. But even if you are, I’ll have to go through hell first. And my dad will drag you all along for the ride, simply for supporting me.”
I brushed my thumb back and forth across the nape of her neck. “We can take it. No one’s leaving your side. You’re not alone in this.”
Cain stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Kennedy’s shoulders. “He’s right. We’re not going anywhere.”
Anna blinked a few times as if forcing back tears. “Thank you. But if it gets to be too much—”
“It won’t,” I cut in.
“If it does, it’s okay if any of you needs to walk away.”
Kennedy gave her a serious look. “You know, it’s a little insulting that you think we’re so wimpy. We can handle your ass of a father.”
Anna was quiet for a moment, and then her mouth curved the barest amount. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“Good. Apology accepted. Now, where are Justin and Lyla?”
“At the cottage with Kristin. I need to get over there because they’re probably freaking out.”
Kennedy motioned her friend towards the back hall. “Come on, I’ll go with you.”
Anna looked up at me, and I was frozen for a moment, not wanting to let her go. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Anytime.” I forced my hand to leave the back of her neck and then stepped away. But I couldn’t keep myself from watching her walk off, not turning around until she’d disappeared out the back doors.
