It still seems unreal that this pretty, kind, and sweet baby girl is my daughter, a part of me, the best thing I’ve done in this world.
Alive and happy, flourishing under the love and attention of her loved ones.
Although the scar that Zachary has inflicted on my heart still hurts, I’ve still chosen to trust my heart that led me to him, seeking to soothe the pain inside him that is so similar to mine.
We can never forget what happened between us in the past, but we can move forward hoping for a brighter future, trying to learn to be happy again and live the life of what could have been if we’d met on the Empire State Building.
However, I don’t think either of us regrets it, because if it weren’t for that twist of fate, we would have never met amazing people with whom we built happy lives, for however short it was.
Or had Emmaline.
We are shaped in this world by what we experience; each new encounter or situation teaches us something that brings us to the next level.
Everything happened in this life as it was supposed to, or that’s what I prefer to believe, instead of rolling in self-pity, wanting back years of my life that no one will ever be able to give.
Well, everything but the unsub who decided to play God and interfered.
After we made love yesterday, we lay in bed for a long time, thinking about our next course of action and not finding any good solutions. The footage of the party didn’t show anyone suspicious entering the house, and since no cameras were near the library, it was impossible to figure out who slipped that note.
However, we both were concerned for Emmaline and how the unsub might use this truth to deliver his next blow, at the prospect of the press showing up at our doorsteps or worse, popping out in front of Emmaline’s ballet school.
I jump up from the bed, placing my hands on my hips while I lift my chin and grate through my teeth, “If you think I’ll allow you to send my daughter to some island where she can stay with your college buddy, you are out of your fucking mind!” I finish the last part on a hissed scream while Zachary simply adjusts the pillow behind him, leaning on it, relaxed, with one of his legs bent.
The blanket barely covers him, and he is the picture of male beauty that so many painters want to capture, and this only bristles my annoyance, and without thinking, I pick up another pillow and throw it at him.
He easily catches it and drops it next to him so he can rest his elbow on it and finally speaks up, his freaking voice nonchalant as ever. “Our daughter.” My eyes narrow, and the protest is about to slip past my lips, but our earlier encounter doesn’t let me do it.
I came to him. I decided to give us a chance, so I have no right to throw it back in his face that he’s not her biological father.
“He is not some college buddy. Our families used to be friends… well until certain events that is. Then we lost touch for almost a decade,” he replies vaguely without elaborating on the past. “Then we went to college together, and he is one of the best men I know.”
I’m not sure if those words were supposed to reassure me or what, but they do the exact opposite. “With a serial killer on the loose, you want to send our daughter to some town I’ve never heard about and leave her there? You might as well invite him here and offer her to him on a silver platter!” Fury fills my every bone; I can’t believe this plan. Is he insane?
I just found her, and he wants to take her away from me? How can he even propose something like that?
Zachary chuckles, somehow finding my statement amusing. “Trust me, love. He is not an ordinary man. Serial killers won’t step near him. Not his level.”
My brows furrow, confusion washing over me, because I’m not sure what to think. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he is implying his friend is a dangerous criminal himself. For how else can he face a serial killer without fear?
“He will take care of her as if she were his own, and Patience will be with her.” He exhales heavily when I shake my head, too angry with him to open my mouth for fear of lashing out and unintentionally hurting him.
He motions with his hand to me. “Come here.”
“You can’t fix this with sex, Zach,” I fire at him and see his jaw tic before he repeats again, “Come here.” But this time, steel laces his tone, and I know if I don’t come to him willingly, he will force me.
So with a huff, I get back on the bed, crawling to him, and gasp in surprise when he grips my hips and settles me on top of him, my knees dipping in the soft mattress as my hands land on his chest.
He palms my head, threading his fingers through my hair, and pulls me closer to him so our eyes are on the same level. “Do you really think I would do anything to endanger Emmaline’s life?” There isn’t accusation in his words, yet embarrassment still hits me hard and I sigh, pressing my forehead against his.
“No.” I lick my dry lips. “I’m scared, Zachary. Of what he can do to her.”
His hold on me tightens, and he admits, “I’m scared too.” My eyes widen in surprise, because I thought nothing scared men like him. “The idea of him getting his hands on our daughter kills me. That’s why we have to protect her. And I can’t think of any other place.” He waits a bit before adding, “We’ll go there together so you can see it for yourself. We can even stay a couple days and then come back and wait for the fucker to make his last move.”
“You are that sure of this island man?” And what does it even mean? Does he own an island or what? I wouldn’t be surprised, since they studied together.
I feel his smile against my skin and then he leans back, giving me a light kiss on the nose. “Yeah.”
“The water is so blue!” Emmaline’s voice pulls me back from the memories, and I nod, studying the image from the window in awe.
The small island seems super green from above with several buildings and houses giving it an interesting vibe, as if it’s a small town on the edge of nowhere, as nothing but the ocean surrounds it with several yachts and boats sailing nearby.
The water almost shimmers under the bright sunlight, its crystal-clear blue color luring you in, and I shudder a little imagining what it would be like to fall into it.
Ever since almost drowning in the ocean several years ago, I don’t step foot in it and prefer to hang around pools.
“Honey, stop staring at the window and sit properly,” Zachary orders, and she listens right away, her feet dangling from the seat, and then she giggles when Patience’s loud snore echoes in the cabin.
I wink at her, glancing at the elderly woman who fell asleep the second her head touched the pillow and stayed oblivious to anything during the hours of this flight.
The plane circles the island once more before the pilot announces the landing, and I check Emmaline’s seatbelt as we gradually start to descend, all while she continues to chatter. “Daddy, can we go see the ocean today?” She rests her head on my arm, and I hug her shoulder, letting her rest on my chest instead, placing my chin on top of her head and inhaling her scent.
Despite the killer on the loose hunting us, I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy, with my daughter in my arms and the man I love.
“We’ll have to see,” Zachary replies, typing something on his phone and then grinning when Emmaline sighs heavily. “But I promise you we will have some fun.”