“I’ve rested enough.” She laughed. “Judging by your looks, I’d say you need the sleep more than I do.”
He grinned. “All in good time.”
“How’s Prisha?”
“Back home, she missed you. When we got here, Samantha’s parents kept her occupied at their holiday home.”
“Samantha’s here?”
“Yeah, and Cody too.”
She dropped her face into her palms. “God, I’ve disrupted everyone’s lives.”
“Hey.” Reece removed her hands from her face. He held her chin lightly. “No. Everyone helped ’cause they love you. Nothin’ inconvenient there.”
“God, Rowena...” Aria panicked as she remembered Jay’s words about Rowena’s help. “She wants Prisha. Oh, God, Reece. My baby,” she rushed on in panic.
“Babe, listen to me.” He sat down on the bed and took her hands in his. “Rowena wanted Prisha. We stopped her—”
“What did she do?” Aria tensed.
“She took Prisha when I left her with Kelly—”
“God, no.”
“Please, Aria, you need to calm down,” Reece whispered while he caressed her hands. “You’re safe. Prisha’s safe. Rowena is in prison. Her kidnap attempt failed. My brother, Jace, was there to help with Prisha—”
“Why? What happened to Prisha?” Her heart thumped wildly with the knowledge Jay had put her child in danger. Reece struggled with his emotions. Despair creased his brow. Aria suddenly understood. He felt responsible for whatever took place. She reined her impatience. “It’s okay, tell me, please.”
He offered her a gentle smile. “Once Rowena helped Jay, she kidnapped Prisha. But, Prisha escaped and collapsed—”
“Oh, my God.” Aria gaped open-mouthed. Tears blurred her vision. “What if your brother wasn’t there? My baby...”
“Don’t think about that now.” Reece leaned forward. He tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s over, babe. Jay and Rowena are in prison. He’s never coming out.”
She shook her head as the tears fell. “Yeah. I assumed he couldn’t the last time and see where it got me.”
“This time, it’s different.” He wiped away her tears. “Jay is paralyzed from the waist down. He’ll never walk again.”
“You’re kidding?” Aria’s jaw dropped. “How?”
“The gunshot damaged an artery.”
“Serves the bastard right,” she whispered, then heaved a lengthy sigh. “It’s finally over.”
“Yeah.”
“Mommy?”
Aria looked over his shoulder. Her daughter sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Hey, Sweetpea.” She held out her hands as Reece stood.
“Mommy,” Prisha cried and ran to Aria.
“Be careful, Pri, your mommy’s hurt,” Reece cautioned as he picked her up and set her closer to Aria.
“I missed you, Mommy.” Prisha put her arms around Aria’s neck and kissed her cheek.
“I missed you too, baby.” She dropped a kiss to each of her daughter’s cheek then her brow.
