Chapter 266

Chapter 266
Tara

I hadn't planned to stop at the market, but something about the little girl caught my eye. She couldn't have been more than seven or eight, with unruly brown hair tied in messy pigtails and a determined expression as she held out a basket of wildflowers to passing tourists. Her tiny shoulders were squared with purpose that tugged at my heartstrings.

"Flowers, miss?" she called out when she noticed me looking, her voice clear and hopeful. "You're so pretty. Would you like to take some flowers with you?"

Her earnestness made my chest tighten with emotion. I approached her makeshift stand—really just a wooden crate with the basket perched on top—kneeling down to avoid towering over her.

"These are lovely," I said, bending down to her level, gently touching a vibrant purple bloom. "Did you pick them yourself?"

She nodded vigorously, pride evident in her wide eyes. "This morning! Before the sun got too hot." Her small fingers nervously arranged and rearranged the blooms, betraying her anxiety. "They're only five dollars for a bunch."

I glanced at Lucas, who had wandered a few steps away to examine a display of local honey. The girl followed my gaze, her observant eyes missing nothing.

"Is that your husband?" she asked innocently. "You could get him to buy you the flowers."

I laughed softly, warmth spreading through me at the thought. "Not my husband. And I can buy my own flowers, thank you very much." I pulled out my wallet, my decision already made. "Actually, I think I'll take all of them."

Her eyes widened in disbelief, small hands freezing mid-arrangement. "All of them?"

"Absolutely," I confirmed, counting out far more cash than her entire inventory was worth, my heart swelling with tenderness. "And here's something extra for you. But—" I lowered my voice, pressing the additional bills into her small hand, feeling her fingers tremble slightly, "—keep this part just between us, okay? Put it somewhere safe, don't let anyone see."

She stared at the money, then back at me, her expression uncertain, lip caught between her teeth. "I can't take this much."

I remembered being her age, the pride that comes with earning your own way. But I also recognized the worn edges of her dress, the careful patching on her shoes. My throat tightened with emotion. "Sure you can. Think of it as a thank you for brightening my day."

After a moment's hesitation, she carefully folded the bills and tucked them deep into her pocket, her movements deliberate and secretive. "Thank you, lady," she whispered, a small smile breaking through her serious expression.

"Tara," I corrected gently, placing my hand lightly on her shoulder. "My name is Tara."

"I'm Lily," she replied, gathering the flowers and handing them to me in one generous armful, her small face brightening. "Come back tomorrow if you want. I'll have more."

"I'm Lily," she replied, gathering the flowers and handing them to me in one generous armful, her small face brightening. "Come back tomorrow if you want. I'll have more."

I was about to respond when I noticed two teenage boys lurking nearby. Something about their posture—the hunched shoulders, the darting eyes—sent a warning signal through me. Shit, those little punks are up to something, I thought, my body tensing instinctively. As I arranged the flowers in my arms, I saw them approach Lily's stand with false smiles.

"Hey kid, doing good business today?" the taller one asked, his voice falsely friendly.

Lily's smile faltered. "Yes, sir."

In one swift motion, the shorter boy snatched the small tin can serving as her money holder. "Thanks for the donation," he sneered, and they both turned to run.

"Hey!" I shouted, my voice sharper than I intended, rage instantly boiling up inside me. "Give that back to her, you little assholes!"

Without thinking, I thrust my flowers at Lucas, who had just returned to my side, and took off after the boys. I heard Lucas call my name, but I was already rounding the corner where the thieves had disappeared. What the hell am I doing? flashed through my mind, but my feet kept moving, propelled by pure indignation.

"Stop!" I yelled, my sandals slapping against the pavement, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Put the damn money down! NOW!"

The boys glanced back, surprised to see a woman in a sundress pursuing them with such determination. Yeah, that's right, assholes. I'm faster than I look, I thought savagely as I gained on them. They ducked into an alley, but I was quicker than they expected. I caught up to the shorter one, grabbing his wrist with more strength than I knew I had.

"Give it back," I demanded, breathing hard, adrenaline surging through my veins. "You don't steal from children, you pathetic piece of shit."

"Let go, lady," he snarled, trying to twist away.

The taller boy stopped and turned back. "Just leave it, Mark. She's nobody."

Something inside me snapped. My vision actually narrowed, focusing solely on these two punks who thought they could prey on a little girl. "I'm nobody who's about to make a scene you won't forget," I said, my voice dangerously low, surprising myself with its intensity. "You want to explain to the police why you're stealing from a little girl? Because I swear to God, I will scream this whole damn town down."

The boy—Mark—tried to pull away again, but I tightened my grip, my nails digging into his skin. Years of yoga had given me more strength than he anticipated, and frankly, I was shocking myself with how much I wanted to hurt this kid.

"You think you're tough?" he spat. "My cousin knows people in this town. Real people."

"And you think I give a flying fuck?" I shot back, my free hand reaching for the tin, fear mixing with my anger but refusing to show it. "Stealing from a little girl selling flowers. Do you have any shame at all? Does your mother know what kind of trash she raised?"