Those few words crashed Aria’s whole world down with a thunderous force—splintering it into a million little pieces. Her veins turned icy and mimicked the cold weather outside. “No! It can’t be.” Her heart thudded harshly.No.Her chest tightened. She suddenly struggled to breathe. “Please tell me this isn’t happening?”
As though he understood her inner turmoil, Reece leaned in closer. “It’s okay, babe, Jay doesn’t know where you are.”
“Yes, coz, only my parents know you’re here,” her cousin reassured.
When Aria finally pried her eyes from the tabletop, her gaze met Reece’s gentle smile. She teetered on the brink of sanity, but he somehow guided her toward control. “How did Jay manage it?”
“Good behavior, apparently,” Samantha replied.
“Good behavior? Are you kidding me?” Aria resisted the impulse to hit the glass table with her fist. The last thing she needed was inane publicity. Given the news she’d just received, her future actions called for a lot more caution.
“I’m sorry, Aria. I’ve no idea how his attorney managed it, but Cody thinks someone was paid to make this happen.”
“Why am I not surprised? Jay has deep pockets and serious connections,” the stilted words drifted past her lips as her muddled brain tried to make sense of the early release. “Let me guess. He had a female attorney?” At Sam’s nod, Aria uttered a caustic laugh. The man deserved to stay behind bars for a long time but somehow lured another woman into doing his bidding. What were the chances of a female attorney representing the atrocities of a sick bastard? She found it unbelievable how abusers, especially husbands, possessed the ability to charm the panties of a woman. Aria shook her head in annoyance. “When was he released?”
“According to my father, about three weeks. Papa only found out a couple of days ago. He was away on a business trip.”
“Three weeks? God, what if he finds me?”
“He can’t, babe,” Reece whispered. Aria gave him a half-hearted smile. “And I’m right here even if he does. I’ll never let him hurt you, I promise.”
“The man’s a violent son of a bitch, Reece. You don’t know him as I do. Nothing will stop him from getting his way. When Jay wants something, he’s adamant.” She heaved a lengthy sigh. “God, if I never saw the man again, it would be too soon.”
“We’re all here for you, Aria. It’s the reason Cody sent me. He wanted me to give you the news in person.”
“And I appreciate it, Sam. But...” Her brain stopped processing as random thoughts of Jay filled her head.
“Hey, babe.” Reece stood and pulled her up into his arms. “That bastard will never come near you. You can’t keep running from someone your whole life. The world’s too big for him to know you’re in a small town like this.” He held her tight and caressed her hair. “Trust me, Aria, he’ll never hurt you again.”
Never say never.She clung to Reece, but for all intents and purposes, she couldn’t accept their comfort, not yet. Losing herself in the depths of Reece’s love while Jay roamed free was the last thing she needed right now. She stepped out of his embrace with a soft smile and sat. “Do we know his whereabouts?”
Her cousin shook her head as Reece took his seat. “Papa failed to track him down.”
“Then how do you know he’s not here?” Aria clenched her fists until her nails bit into her palms. Hostility burgeoned within. She fought hard to control her emotions; this was no time to lose her shit.
“He doesn’t know where you are, Aria,” Samantha’s melodic South African accent consoled.
“Yet.” She shook her head and digested the latest news. “Prisha? Oh, God, I left her with Kelly.” Fearful, Aria jumped up, sprinted out the restaurant, and hurried across the street to the Grocer. She wouldn’t let the child out of her sight now. Inside the store, she found Kelly chatting up a twenty-something attendant while he packed oranges.
“Where’s Prisha?”
Kelly looked up. Her smile faded. “Honey? Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Where’s my baby?” Aria asked stiffly.
Startled, Kelly jerked her head in surprise. “The girls went across to the library. Is everything—”
Aria turned away as Reece called out, “Ria.”
Ignoring him, she dashed off again and headed across the road. About to enter the library, she glanced through the large window of the ice cream parlor. Her gaze landed on the two girls giggling as they licked swirls of chocolate-flavored ice cream cones. Then her breath momentarily stalled. She caught sight of Rowena beside the girls, laughing. Chest heaving, Aria entered the parlor. Inside, she fought for calm. Four even strides and Aria stopped in front of the kids.
“Prisha?” When her daughter turned, she knelt and hugged her tight.
“Mommy?” As though the little girl didn’t understand the sudden emotion, Prisha giggled, tried to wiggle out of the embrace, and squealed, “Mommy, you’re killing me.”
“I’m sorry, sweetpea.” With a soft laugh, Aria finally let go.
“Hey, Aria.”
