Laiken is shaking her head before he’s even done speaking. “No. I can’t. I can’t go back there. Not after the last time.” I position myself in front of her, holding her face in my hands and looking into her eyes. I’ve got to calm her down now before it gets out of hand. “Baby,” I say softly. “I know you’re scared, but you have to know that I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’ve got you. Okay? But we have to end this once and for all.”
