The Dragon's Fate - Roxie Ray Page 0,2

at my daughter and Bianca’s eyes went wide.

“I’m sorry,” she mouthed.

But the damage was done. “What’s going on?” Hayden asked. She cocked her sassy, too-smart little head at me and fixed me with a glare.

Damn, my child was smart. “Nothing, baby. Nothing for you to worry about.”

She narrowed her little eyes. “Mom, what is it?”

“Nothing, just got into a little drama out with Kaylee the other night. It’s settled now.” I waved my fork at her. “Get back to eating.”

Everyone stared at their plates like they held the secret of life. Hayden looked at her grandparents, then her Aunt Bianca, then back at me. “Mom, is Dad back?”

My heart broke into a million pieces. My first instinct was to lie and keep her totally innocent, but being lied to never felt good, no matter the age. “Yes, sweetie. He stopped by and talked to me as I left my girls’ night. But there’s nothing to worry about because he won’t be back in our lives.” I tried to sound as if I wasn’t worried in the least. I was terrified, but I’d do anything in my power to keep it from reaching Hayden.

Hayden studied me for a moment before she nodded and went back to her breakfast.

“I’m going to get some fresh air,” I announced a few minutes later. “Bianca? Join me?”

My sister paled and swallowed her bite. “Sure, yeah.”

She followed me out onto the back porch. I smiled at Hayden, who was still looking askance at me. That child! Too smart.

“Loose lips sink ships,” I hissed at my little sister as soon as I closed the door.

“I’m sorry.” She moaned and yanked me into a hug. “I wasn’t thinking.”

I relaxed and let her hug make me feel better. When I pulled back, she smiled in her cocky way. “I am very interested in that bartender. He’s freaking hot.”

I would’ve been blind not to have noticed that. “It doesn’t matter how hot or not hot Jace is.”

“Oh, so he has a name.” She nodded coolly. “I see.”

“Of course he has a name.” I tried not to smile at her teasing. “But he helped me out and I appreciate it. And that’s it. He gave a statement to the police and Damon is being handled for violating the restraining order. I just hope he listens and leaves me the hell alone.”

“I hate that he found us,” she whispered.

I wanted to give up and cry. “I know. My first instinct is to run again, but I can’t do that to you guys or Hayden. I’d pay a lot of money to find out how he found us, though.”

She hugged me again. “We’re family. We stick together no matter what. If you need to move again then we’ll move again.”

They’d all uprooted themselves and followed me to Bluewater as soon as the divorce was final. Making them move again wasn’t an option. “I’ve got to find a way to get through to him,” I said, “before it’s too late.”

2

Jace

It was hard to believe how cute these babies were. I’d never thought babies were cute, especially little wrinkled newborns. But since Anthony had proclaimed me Uncle Jace, nothing had been the same since.

Holding them was another story. I was terrified I was going to squish, drop, or otherwise do something to damage something so tiny and fragile.

“You look like you’re going to shit yourself.” Anthony chuckled and adjusted the baby in my arms. He was wrapped in blue, so I gathered it was little Sean I held.

“Listen, I’m great with kids. But they’re usually potty trained before I’m around them very much.”

The little bundle of terrifying joy squirmed suddenly in my arms and his eyes opened. “Uh, Skye?” I looked around for Sean’s mama. “It’s awake.”

Skye burst out laughing as she came over. “I would torture you and make you hold him longer, but it’s time for him to eat, and he’s probably a soggy mess. Want to change him?”

I grimaced as she took Sean out of my arms. “Nope, I’m good. I appreciate the offer, but no thanks.”

I watched her walk away and take the baby into the next room to nurse. “Doesn’t that one need to eat?” I pointed at the little pink bundle in Anthony’s arms.

He shook his head. “We’ve got them on an extremely strict schedule, and little Star eats exactly thirty minutes after her brother. She’s a pig, though, and keeps trying to ask for her food early. I’m just glad she’s still asleep.”

Shit, I still couldn’t believe the