Page 46 of Justice II

“Out back. She fell down the steps. Daddy, her arm looks wrong.”

I sped past her and through the kitchen into the backyard. I could hear Dream crying before I reached the back door.

She was on the ground at the bottom of the deck steps.

“Daddy!”

“I'm coming, baby.”

I took the steps fast and crouched beside her. Tears covered her face. She was holding her arm close to her body, scared to move it.

“What happened?”

“We were playing,” Storie said from behind me. “She started coming down the steps and missed one. I tried to get to her.”

I looked at Dream's arm. There was a bend in it that had no business being there.

Fuck.

“Did she hit her head?” I asked.

“No. She fell on her arm.”

“It hurts, Daddy.”

“I know, baby. We're going to get you some help.”

I wanted to ask her to move her fingers or show me exactly where it hurt, but looking at that arm was enough. It was broken. I wasn't about to start moving shit around and make it worse.

“Storie, get me a towel. Then grab my phone off the desk.”

She ran inside.

Dream tried to reach for me with her good hand. I took it and leaned closer.

“I'm right here. You don't have to get up.”

“I want you.”

“I got you.”

I lifted her carefully, keeping the injured arm supported against her body. She cried out, and I stopped moving for a second.

“I'm sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”

She gripped my shirt while I carried her toward the door. I could feel her shaking.

Storie met us in the kitchen with the towel and my phone. Her face was wet now, too.

“I didn't know she was going to run down there.”

“Go get my keys. They're on the counter.”

She set the phone down and hurried to get them.

“I can stay here with Grandma,” she said. “I'll call you if she needs anything.”

Rita had only come back from Prime’s this evening. We were still trying to figure out what was best for her with Melody around. Damn, I missed Melody… Skye. Not just for her caretaking abilities. Because I was falling for her.