My strength holds out until we get backstage, where in the dressing room, I’ve had enough. I sag into the couch, too exhausted to even unbutton my shirt.

“Enough . . . no more,” I say, leaning back. “Tell the whole world to piss off.”

“Once we get home,” Elise says, kneeling next to me. “You can let us take care of you . . . family.”

I nod, leaning back and attempting to relax for a second. I shouldn’t be so tired, but that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve spent so long keeping quiet about Carsen, and serving her up on a fucking platter for the morning news went against every code of honor I have. But I have to trust that it’s the right call.

Carsen’s privacy is a fucking impossibility now, though, because as we’re leaving the studio garage, the driver and bodyguard are talking up front in code. But I know what they’re saying.

There are paparazzi right outside the garage waiting for us. How the hell did they get over here so damn fast? After the interview, we whisked through the back halls and were out in minutes.

But they’re already here like vultures, waiting to snap and pick at the remains of our privacy even after I’ve literally given them everything I have and more than I ever wanted to.

“Just get us home safely,” I call up front, leaning back into the leather seats. “I can’t do any more publicity today.”

“Of course, sir. Make sure everyone’s buckled up back there . . . sometimes, I have to punch it.”

Carsen seems to be handling it well so far, still smiling, and it brightens my mood just a little.

As we drive out of the garage, the paparazzi swarm the SUV with their cameras and phones and faces pressed up against the glass. They’re knocking and slapping at the windows, their yells a jumble of noise I can’t understand except for my name over and over. Carsen cringes, the fun of being a ‘celebrity’ temporarily snuffed out, and she gets her first scary lesson in the price of her new identity.

Donnie, if I do see you again, I’d love to shove my fist so far up your ass people would think you’re a puppet. Damn you for doing this to my little girl, I think in anger toward Donnie, even as a wave of guilt washes over me at the part I might’ve played in this mess too.

I realize the driver is barely rolling and look out the front window, seeing a group of daredevil cameramen standing in front of the vehicle, their lenses zooming through the untinted front windshield to try and get a shot of us in the back.

“Mother truckers,” I growl, censoring myself at the last second. I’d say run them over but that’s probably not a good idea. “Should we just keep rolling or do we need to stop?”

The driver and guard don’t even respond to me. They’re too busy doing their thing. It makes me glad that they’re here and that they’re well-trained for these situations.

Deciding I’d be better served by not distracting them, I turn my attention to my family sitting around me. Carsen and Elise both look horrified while Sarah just looks disgusted, but all of their heads are whipping back and forth, taking in the swarm still calling out and banging on the vehicle. Hearing a particularly hard slap behind me, I whirl around to see several reporters behind us too. We’re completely surrounded on all four sides, barely inching forward as the horde moves step by step with us.

“Oh my God, Keith! I had no idea. I’m so sorry . . . is it always like this?” Elise asks, her voice small, but there’s an undercurrent of anger. That’s my girl.

I can feel Carsen’s eyes on me, wide with fear, and I try to reassure them. “No, it’s not usually like this at all. Maybe at some kind of awards show, where there’s lots of media coverage and cameras flashing, but even then, it’s nothing like this. Especially not in my daily life. No one usually follows me around, desperate to get pics. Still, might be a good idea to lie low for a bit until this whole thing dies down. Guess it’s a good thing the house is stocked with everything we need for a few days.”

Elise finally tears her eyes away from the chaos surrounding us and looks at me. “Right. I guess that Plan W-T-F is going into play?” she deadpans, but there’s still a touch of fear even as she tries to joke.

A small smile plays at the corners of my mouth, even though we’re still in a rather precarious situation. I reach over and hold Carsen’s hand, giving it a little squeeze.

“It’ll be fine, honey. I promise.”

After a few more minutes of tension-filled progress, we make our way into the street and the driver is able to find a hole in the human shield surrounding us, speeding up and getting us out of the area by punching it through a yellow light. Once we hit the highway, we all breathe a sigh of relief, the pressure ratcheting down as we put miles between us and the studio.

There are several idiots gathered around the house as we approach, but they’re outside the gate and they move out of the way as we go on through. As bad as it was, I know it could’ve been much worse, but thankfully, we’re home safe and sound now.

Heading inside, I see Elise and Sarah already getting out the coffee for us and hot chocolate for Carsen. Carsen is pulling off her ‘fancy’ clothes as soon as she steps inside, eager to get comfortable.

“I don’t know if I want to be a celebrity,” she says, looking out the window. “Guess there won’t be too many girls-only shopping sprees in the future.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. If we need to, maybe we can get a cool female bodyguard, like our own personal Wonder Woman,” Elise says thoughtfully, giving Carsen a comforting smile. She turns the stove on, pouring milk in a pot to warm it. “Come on. Hot cocoa with marshmallows always make everything seem better.” I appreciate the calm and sweet way Elise is handling this with Carsen, helping her find a moment of lightness even as we’re all freaked out.

Carsen smiles back, but it’s weak and I know she’s pretty shaken up by what happened. There’s a big piece of me that wants to just gather her in my arms and run away where no one would be the wiser, keep her safe and secret forever. But that ship has sailed and now, we adapt, grow stronger. It’s going to be tough, but looking around the kitchen, I know that Carsen has the best support system a little girl could ask for. Still, I go over and hug her tight.

“You did great today, honey. Did you know the first time I had to go on live TV for an interview, I got so nervous I puked all over the green room?”

“No way!” Carsen exclaims. “But you did it?”

“I did. And you were a pro today in comparison. You’ve already got me beat.”

She laughs a bit more fully at that, which soothes the anger still coursing through my veins like a salve. We look up as Sarah sets a cup of coffee in front of me and hot chocolate in front of Carsen.

The four of us sip at our cups, sitting quietly on each side of the table as our minds replay the morning’s events in a comfortable few minutes of silence. We’re all just taking the day in.

Always the planner, Sarah finally jumps in, setting her mug down and breaking the silence.

“So, now what? We can’t just hide out here forever. We got as far as the morning show interview, but we haven’t really made a plan for what happens now. Keith, what are you thinking?”

I hum, still wishing I could wake up and this all be a nightmare. For it to not be real. I drain the rest of my coffee, promising myself that after yesterday’s overload, I’m not going to have another cup, and think for a moment before answering.

“Well, I need to check in with Todd. I told him I’d do that the second we got back here. Just taking a moment. I’m sure he was watching, but he needs to know about every detail and the ride home after.” I intentionally don’t say the word paparazzi, not wanting to bring it up any more than I have to in front of Carsen.

“After that, I do think we’ll need to be a bit scarce for a bit. No coffee runs or errands for me. And Carsen, you’re going to have to take a few days off school. I’ll call the school. I’m sure they understand and can have your homework sent here.”

“Aww, Da-ad,” Carsen says, then stops when she sees my face. “How long, though? I wanna talk to my friends.”

“You can, honey. We’ll just be a little more reserved until all of this dies down. It won’t be long. There will be something else they’ll be buzzing over soon enough. Maybe after a few days, we can see if any of your friends want to come over.”

Carsen’s eyes twinkle. She’s never had her friends here. She always has to go to them. “Really?”

“Really . . . but let’s not rush things. First, we need to see what we can do. Elise . . .”

I look at her as I say her name, and I see that she’d been staring at Carsen with a sad look on her face as I told her no school.

“I’m sorry, Carsen,” she whispers. “Really, I am.”

Carsen, who’s probably already in her head planning a sleepover with her best friend, smiles at Elise. “No apology needed. This isn’t because of you. It’s that jerk boss’s fault.”

Carsen gets up from her spot at the table, hugging Elise around the neck. I can see the shock on Elise’s face as she pats Carsen’s back. Elise’s eyes are bright with unshed tears as she whispers into Carsen’s hair. “Thank you, honey.”

It’s a heart-warming sight, and even though the situation sucks ass, I’m glad that Elise and Carsen are bonding so much. It eases the knot in my gut about bringing a woman into my life while my little girl is still so young.

As Carsen sits back down, she ducks into her hot cocoa, obviously not wanting any more attention right now. I smile, knowing she’s going to be okay. She’s a tough cookie, that girl of mine.

“Elise,” I say, waiting for her eyes to meet mine. “We need to stay together, not be spread out across the city. You should stay here for a bit while this dies down, not just overnight.”

“Oh, Keith, that’s not necessary. I don’t want to intrude,” she says, looking pointedly at Carsen. I know she’s trying to say she shouldn’t stay over if Carsen is here, but fuck that. I want her here with me, where I can keep her safe . . . and fuck her whenever I want.

“No arguments. You’re staying here,” I reply in a more commanding tone.

Carsen chuckles. She’s probably never heard me use it with anyone but her before. “Don’t bother arguing. Once he uses that drill sergeant voice, just forget it.”

“Oh, his ‘drill sergeant voice’? Is that what you call it?” Elise asks, giving in, but in her way. She’s going to stay . . . but she’ll give me plenty of sass while she does it, too. Lowering her voice, she mock-whispers to Carsen loud enough for everyone to still hear her. “I usually call it his caveman voice . . . but I’m no dummy and I only say that in my head so as not to poke the bear.”

Carsen laughs, her eyes twinkling as she glances at me and mock-whispers back. “Poke the bear? Is that when he gets all growly and grumpy?”

I keep my voice deep, but the amusement is obvious as I interrupt them before they can go further. “That’s enough, you two. I’m right here and can hear you making fun of me. Next commentary outta either one of you gets punished.”

Carsen smirks, giving me a raised eyebrow. “I’m basically grounded already. What else you gonna do, Dad? Spank me? I’m too big for that now.”

I laugh at her joke, thankful she seems to be moving on from the trauma of the morning. I harrumph at them both, crossing my arms over my chest and looking down at them mock-threateningly.

Elise laughs too. “I know . . . he’s the worst at punishments, isn’t he?”

Elise’s eyes are flashing fire as she teases, and I silently promise her with my eyes that she’ll definitely be getting a punishment later. Maybe exactly the spanking she obviously wants.

Sarah interrupts us before things go on, probably for the better. “So Elise, for tonight, we’re good, but do you need me to pick up anything from your apartment? I can have someone go with me, just in case they’re scoping your place, but I can get whatever you need.”

“Oh, would you?” Elise asks, relieved. “Thank you! Yes, I need some clothes and bathroom stuff. But mostly, I need my laptop and my knitting bag. Maybe while we’re cooped up here, I can show Carsen a few stitches?”

Carsen’s face lights up as she realizes that our new family dynamic could have some benefits for her as well as me. “That’d be awesome! Thank you.”

A plan in place, Carsen asks to be excused, wanting to see if her phone has blown up with texts from friends at school. As she gets up, I give her a final bit of warning. “Remember, honey. Don’t say too much. Just that I’m your dad.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “I know! Don’t worry.”

I sigh, knowing she’ll do her best. “Just . . . be careful. Everyone’s going to be asking you questions. And I want you to . . .” I reply before stopping, seeing Sarah’s tiny shake of her head. Let her fly on her own, Keith. Even if it scares you. “Just be careful, baby.”

Carsen leans over and kisses my cheek, “I will. I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, Carsen.”

Sarah gets up, grabbing her keys from the board next to the door. “Well, no time like the present. I’ll grab the hunkier of the guards and stop by your place. Think you can text me a list of what you want before I get to your place, or should I just ransack it and grab what I think you need?”

Elise laughs, taking out her phone. “I’ll have it for you. Don’t stress if you can’t, though. Seriously . . . it’s not like I need to meet any deadlines. I’m kind of unemployed at the moment. Be careful, okay?”

Sarah pshaws, waving it off. “I’ve spent years knowing how to look normal after leaving this place, and I’ll have a cute guy with me who knows how to kick ass. He can even help me pack.”

Having a caveman moment, I let out a growl. “But don’t let him touch her stuff, especially not her clothes.”

Sarah smirks, twirling her keys in her hand. “Oh, really? I figured he could pack up her bras and panties while I got her makeup. No?”

I growl, but I know she’s messing with me. She knows better than that. I just couldn’t control myself. “Get out of here . . . and thanks again, Sarah.”

She sticks out her tongue and heads for the door, and I hear her calling to the driver before she gets too far away.

Once it’s the two of us, Elise comes over to me and I push back from the table, spreading my legs wide to let her step between them. She sits down on my left thigh, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Are we okay? I mean, really okay?”

I encircle her waist with my arms, nuzzling her neck, pressing my lips to her racing heartbeat to feel the soothing arousal she brings me before answering. “Yeah, we’re okay. At least, we’re gonna be.”

I pull back, grabbing her chin with my fingers in a firm grip so she’s forced to look into my eyes. “Elise, I love you. All of this drama, that’s outside of us. What I want is right here . . . you, me, Carsen, and Sarah. That’s all I need.”

I see her eyes soften as she sighs, letting the rest of the guilt she’s been feeling slip away from her conscience. “I love you too, Keith. I still feel so bad it’s all turned into this . . . this shitstorm,” she says, gesturing toward the world outside before laying a hand on my chest. “But I wouldn’t change this right here.”

I growl, covering her hand with mine and clasping it to my chest. “Stop worrying yourself or I’m gonna have to smack your ass for it every time.”

She grins, raising an eyebrow. “You are so bad at punishment.” She leans in, kissing me sweetly. As our lips part, I slip my tongue into her mouth, exploring and tasting. I feel her relax into me, and I rear back and smack her cheek where she’s lifted it from my lap.

“Hey!” she gasps as I grab a handful of her ass, kneading it firmly, spreading the heat from my hand and turning the outraged gasp into a deep, throaty moan. “God, yes.”

I nip at her chin, licking the spot before pulling back reluctantly. “There’s more where that came from, but while Carsen’s distracted with her friends, I really do need to call Todd. Make sure everything is okay on the professional front.”

Elise sighs in disappointment and acceptance, placing her head on my shoulder. “Do you need me to leave while you call?”

“What? No way. We’re done with secrets around here. Everything in the open, at least between us. Okay?”

She hums happily but still gets up to let me get my phone. “Okay.”

Grabbing my phone, I dial and Todd picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Keith! How are you doing?” His voice is serious, not his usually chipper clip.

“Well, all things considered, I guess I’m okay. Still, I think I’d rather be in the Yukon right now. How’s it looking on your end?”

“Good and bad, if I’m honest.”

I freeze, not liking the sound of that. “What do you mean? Tell me.”

Todd adjusts, and I can hear a tap-tap-tap sound that tells me he’s fiddling with a pen on his desk. “The media is having a goddamn orgy with the news about your ‘secret daughter,’ still-frame shots of the show are already hitting online news sites, and there’s lots of speculation about why you’ve hidden her, where her mom is, that sort of thing. We kinda expected that though, right?”

“Yeah. You got a press release ready about that, though, I assume. What else? There’s obviously more, judging by your voice.”

“Yeah, that’s the bad news. Donnie and the tabloid already lawyered up. They contacted me within minutes of your accusations on TV. They’re talking about suing you for slander.”

“It’s only slander if it’s not true. And it’s definitely true.”

“Yes, I know. But we’re going to have to fight it, since it’s your word against his. I’ve already contacted the local authorities. They’re sending out a detective this afternoon to talk to you and Elise. You’re going to have to file a report so the paper trail starts on our end. With no real evidence, there’s not much a DA can do, but at the same time, a civil suit could be a possibility.”

“A civil suit? You’ve gotta be joking.”

“Don’t sweat it, man. The lawyer from the label I talked to said that there’s no jury in the country that’d find against you for trying to protect your little girl. And if Donnie says one bad thing about Janie, about your past, any of it . . . I’ll have his ass nailed to a board so fast he’ll wonder what the fuck hit him. Just hang in there, bud. And no talking to reporters. Other than Elise, that is.”