#Chapter 168 - Nightmares

Jane

“Daddy!” The sound of my pups’ frightened voices send me jerking upright in bed, suddenly and completely awake. I rush to their bedroom, flipping on the light and finding all four children piled on one bed, tears running down their cheeks.

“Oh my loves, did you have nightmares?” I croon, immediately moving forward to comfort them

They nod, but instead of running into my arms, they tighten their ranks. “Yes, but we don’t want you, we want Daddy!” Paisley cries.

Pain slices through me, so powerfully it steals the breath from my lungs. I feel as though I’ve been punched in the stomach. No matter how bad things are between us, I’ve always been the one my pups turn to when they’re frightened or upset. “Well Daddy isn’t here.” I say shakily. “So you can have me, or nothing.”

“T-then we ch-choose nothing.” Riley informs me through her sobs.

I close my eyes so they can’t see me cry, nodding as my insides harden to stone. “Please don’t be that way. You know I love you, I don’t want