Hidden Depths

I proceeded to wipe some batter off a nearby counter and toss it at his head. It was a bullseye that I quickly followed by tossing some more at a stunned Maddison.

“I’m SO out!” Amber said, bolting from the room.

“Oh no, she got us.” Dalton paused to talk to Maddison again. “You have to help me get her back okay?”

He reached out, filling the child’s hand with batter. Maddison looked down at her hand, a small smile spreading across her face. Quickly she reached out, rubbing the batter into Dalton’s beard. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand as Maddy attempted to make her getaway.

Almost immediately, as Maddy tried to run behind him, her feet slipped out from under her. I took a step forward, promptly falling on my butt. When I looked back up though Dalton had laid on his back catching Maddy and cushioning her fall.

I slid over to where they were slowly sitting up. Covered in pancake batter and laughing, Dalton’s crystal blue eyes sparkled as he beamed down at Maddison. The look on his face took my breath away.

As I slid into them he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. I looked down at Maddy who sat comfortably on his lap. Then I allowed my gaze to travel back to the man himself. He surprised me by pressing his lips gently against mine. I had never liked pancakes, much less the raw batter, but he made it taste delicious.

“I’m sticky.” Maddison complained, effectively breaking us apart.

“Why don’t you two go get cleaned up? I’ll make Amber come help me clean this mess up.” Dalton suggested before turning to me. “I put Maddison's medicine in the bathroom behind the mirror, remember?”

“I do remember, thank you though.” I smiled at him thoughtfully.

“What?” He asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“I’m just not used to having anyone to remind me of things like that. I like it.” I blushed, though I wasn’t sure he could see that through the pancake batter

He chuckled, “I’m glad you like it because I don’t intend on stopping.” He hesitated for a second before adding. “However she is your daughter and if you ask me to stop I will. I don’t want to cross any lines.”

Dalton set Maddy on her feet then proceeded to stand and help me up. I watched as he crouched in front of her asking if she had fun. Maddison nodded, smiling brightly. Dalton grinned in response.

I smiled, running my hand over Maddy’s hair. “She is mine, but I get the feeling you might love her too.”

It took all of my courage to say what I had. I waited nervously for his response. I couldn’t meet his eyes at first, but curiosity eventually won out over embarrassment. He was watching me looking as if he wasn’t sure I was real. The expression puzzled me.

“Yeah, I do.” Dalton responded, bringing tears to my eyes.

I nodded and smiled at him before grabbing my daughter’s hand and leading her towards the bathroom.

“What do you want, Seth?” I heard Dalton say from the living room as I snuck out of my room.

Maddison and I had snuggled up with a book after showering. She had quickly fallen asleep. Now, in a tank top and my favorite sweatpants, I headed down the hall. I assumed Dalton was on the phone but as I entered the room I saw how wrong I was.

“I need to talk to Chels.” Seth said, seeming uncomfortable.

I crossed my arms and cleared my throat drawing Both men’s attention. After a second, I walked over to stand next to Dalton.

“Chels, what happened to you?!” Seth snapped.

I realized then that my arms and face were bare. No makeup or clothes to cover the bruises from the last two day. With being thrown down twice and backhanded once I was pretty bruised up.

“Her ex showed up when we were at her house. He won’t be a problem anymore.” Dalton said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“If you were there, how did he get to her? I thought you were protecting them.” Seth asked coolly.

“It wasn’t his fault!” I snapped as Dalton looked down guiltily. “I insisted on taking some bags out to the car. After Maddy saw what was happening he told to stay inside then came out.”

“Maddy?” Seth asked, taken aback. “Is that her name?”

I had to remind myself that he freaked out the moment he saw her before. He hadn’t even learned her name. I sighed but was glad for the change in topic; even if this one was just as uncomfortable.

“Her name is Maddison Elena Davis.” I admitted.

“You gave her my mothers name for her middle name?” He seemed shocked.

“I had just had a baby. I was a wreck, and I wanted her to have something from her father.” I spat, crossing my arms.

He winced before smiling slightly and speaking in a quiet voice. “Maddison Elena…”

“Yes, that’s my daughter’s name.” I snapped defensively.

“Listen, I didn’t come here to fight.” Seth sighed before sitting on the couch. “We need to figure this out.”

“What are we figuring out?” I asked about shifting my weight.

Dalton put his hand on my back and steered me to the adjacent couch. He sat, pulling me down next to him. I pulled my legs up leaning into his side as he draped his arm across my shoulders.

“What do you want from me?” Seth asked, watching us through narrowed eyes.

“Nothing.” I hissed. Dalton squeezed my shoulder and I looked up before sighing. “I wasn’t even going to tell you. However, now I need help protecting her. We need to know who is behind the threats. Then you can keep living as if she doesn’t exist. I’m not trying to alter your life and she doesn’t need you to be her father.”

Seth winced, but nodded. “Liam got back to me. We are pretty sure it’s the cartel. Liam agreed to accompany me to a meeting with the boss. Hopefully this’ll be over in a few days, maybe a couple weeks.”

“Okay…” I stammered, surprised at how quickly it was getting resolved.

“The problem is her identity is out. So now your choices are limited. Everyone in my world now sees you and her as my biggest weakness. She won’t be safe without our help.” Seth finished, deflating my hope with one sharp point.

“What choices?” I asked.

Seth flinched slightly, then sighed running his hand through his hair. It was something he had always done when nervous. Dalton tightened his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him as if afraid I was going to disappear. When I looked up he was staring stoically out the window beside him.

“I could fly you both to Sicily where I could be sure you would be safe. I have friends and family there that would be more than willing to give you a job and help find a house. You would be comfortable and protected. Or I could give you both forged paperwork, new identities, money, and plane ticket anywhere else. Not the best choice; you would be hidden but not well protected.” As Seth said the second one Dalton stiffened, clearly not liking it.

“That’s it?” I asked nauseously.

“No.” Dalton snapped, then he turned to speak to me desperately. “You could stay with me. We would protect you and simply being with me would make most people think twice.”

Seth hesitated thinking hard, “You would have to become very public fast. Show that she’s not just a side girl.”

“Wouldn’t that put us in more danger?” I asked, wishing I didn’t have too. “Isn’t this whole thing because I got to close to you?” I directed the last part at Seth who flinched again.

“No, if you were with me they wouldn’t dare.” Dalton insisted. “Right now they think you are a nobody who happened to trap Seth with a kid. They don’t think he’s emotionally attached enough to lash back. It’s a dangerous game, but they’re certain he’ll just give them what they want and shrug it off. If we made it public that I loved you, they wouldn’t risk it.”

“And if you change your mind and vanish? What then?” I glanced at Seth involuntarily.

This time he didn’t flinch a little, he cringed back as if I had slapped him. “Daltons not like that…”

At the same time Dalton said, “I won’t. Not ever.”

It was all too much and I felt tears welling up and burning my eyes. I wanted so badly to trust Dalton with this, but I wasn’t sure if I could. I stood up shakily.

“Chels.” Dalton started but I held my hand out to stop him.

“I just… I need to check on Maddy.” With that I walked away. Leaving both of them before either could abandon me first.