“Either he has good taste or he has a fascination with watches,” Jaz groaned through her smile.
“He responds to the name Maddox. I think he’s fascinated with anything around the wrists for some reason,” Julian offered. “He did the same to us on the plane.”
“I wonder why.” Jaz scratched her brow, her lips puckered in concentration.
“He doesn’t speak,” Julian said and all our gazes dropped to the little guy. “According to the lady he’s been with, the doctor said infancy trauma and he’ll develop on his own time. He’s a pianist, though.”
“So, you’re a little baby genius,” I asked rolling the back of my finger down his cheek. Abruptly he stood, placed a hand on each of my cheeks, and rubbed his nose against mine. Surprised, I laughed and rubbed my nose over his. Then he kissed me on the lips, and I felt the strangest warmth in my chest, a firm grasp on my heart I’d never felt before.
“I think he likes you,” Jaz teased.
Maddox went back to playing with my watch. Ruffling his hair, I straightened and leaned against the car.
Julian handed her the duffle he was carrying. “That’s his clothes, papers Gianna had made for him in case you have any issues, and some toys.”
At the mention of Ria’s other name, I glanced over at the jet and my breath caught in my throat. In a simple white sleeveless dress, she stood at the door, reminding me of the innocent Ria I once knew. I waited for her to look at me but her gaze remained fixed on something behind me. Curious I glanced behind me but couldn’t see anything. Given her height, she could probably see something I didn’t. I looked her way once more and this time our gazes locked and my lips widened in a slow smile. That far out, I couldn’t read the look in her eyes and I wanted to—to see if it still held the coldness from last night or had she warmed up enough to tell me what I’d done to make her angry with me.
“Why don’t you go on over and say hi,” Julian suggested dragging my gaze to him. When I didn’t move, he added, “what’s the worst she can do?”
“Close the fucking door in my face.”
He chuckled. “One person always has to be flexible in a relationship, son.”
“Women!” I cursed, earning a reproachful scowl from Jaz.
Without a word, I headed for the plane and while I expected her to go back inside, I was surprised to see her run down the stairs and toward me, her hands waving. My heart rate kicked and every inch of me fired up with elation. I didn’t need to read her eyes, her wave said all. She reached the bottom stair and then she was running toward me. Like a mid-flight tennis ball, the momentum bounced off her and headed my way. My legs reacted on instinct, my lips unable to hide the laugh, I ran toward her.
It was only as we drew closer, I noticed she wasn’t laughing but frowning, her eyes weren’t smiling but panicking. “Zayne,” she screamed. I could barely hear her as a plane took off. I picked up speed and as we neared each other, she held out her arms. I did the same. Only, when we stopped, breathing hard and holding each other at length, she grabbed my arms, flipping us around, and screamed, “noooo!”
The next few moments, my brain recorded in slow motion.
I saw the fear in her eyes a second too late.
My ears catching the zing and a crack of a sound I recognized.Barrett M82 Sniper Rifle.
Ria’s body jerking on impact.
My arms banding around her waist.
Her head falling backward.
Her eyes wide with panic and tears.
My vision hazing.
My head shaking from side to side.
My heart fragmenting in my chest.
My voice screaming a silent sound I couldn’t hear.
Blood turning her white dress red.
Julian yanking her from my arms, screaming, “go!”
Declan grabbing my arm and pulling me away.
Then silence.
