“You sure?”
“Yes,” I say, evading his eyes.
“Okay,” he says softly. “Make sure nobody follows you. It’s really important.”.
“Don’t worry. I will. Is there anything you want me to tell them?” I ask, managing to keep my voice even.
“Tell Sara to take the money and leave town for a couple of weeks. Tell her I’m okay. I’ll call her as soon as I can.”
“Why can’t you tell her yourself?” I ask abruptly.
His eyes meet mine.
I hold his gaze.
“She, um...”
He stops, weighing his words.
“She doesn’t know what I’m doing, and I want to keep it that way. I don’t want to pull her into my mess. If she finds out something bad has happened to me, she won’t leave without me. And she and Emma must get out of town. The men who hurt me are after them as well.”
“I see,” I murmur faintly.
“Also, tell them that, um… I love them,” he says, visibly affected.
More pain claws at my chest.
Swiftly, he pulls his gaze away, and I walk out of the living room, a mess.
* * *
The door cracks open,and a young woman fills my view.
Surprise beams on her face while a smile tilts her lips. It’s only briefly before concern slides over her face.
She’s about my height, her face framed by blonde locks. Her eyes and lovely features speak of classic, timeless beauty.
A sleeveless dress hugs her silhouette, a blue sweater casually draped over her shoulders. Mascara brings out her blue eyes, a nude gloss setting off her lips.
“Yes?” she asks.
“Jaden... Jaden...”
A crystalline voice comes from the floor.
“Who is this?” I ask, bending at the waist as the little girl crawls up and hides behind her mom’s skirt.
“This is Emma,” the woman says, lifting the little girl in her arms.
Emma gives me a sweet smile, her adorable face, a carbon copy of Jaden’s. His eyes, his nose, the pout.
I take a long breath and stretch my hand to her mom, my heart leaping to my throat.
“I’m Senna. Jaden sent me.”
She studies me, intrigued.
Her hand meets mine. Hesitantly.