Page 35 of Power Play

“That’s a coincid?—”

“No. I remember everything about you.”

She expels a prolonged sigh and turns away from me, gazing out the window. I decide not to push her buttons more than I already have and start chatting to Maya instead. Apparently, she and Bon-Bon met in one of her dreams.

“I saw my daddy once,” Maya says quietly, as I turn into their driveway.

Layla swivels her head, her eyes narrowed. “Who did you see?” Her voice shakes a little.

“My daddy.” Maya’s cheeks are a light shade of pink as she talks to her lap. “I don’t see his face. Bon-Bon showed him in a crowd.”

My hands are gripping the steering wheel so hard, my knuckles turn white. I breathe through my nostrils, trying to force myself to stay calm. Didn’t he leave them when she was a baby?

“Sweetie, it could have been anyone. Maybe it’s just?—”

“It was my daddy. I know it.” Maya’s eyes veil with tears.

“Okay, sweetheart, you’re right,” Layla adds soothingly and turns away, her eyes fixed ahead of her. The expression on her face is vacant, and she looks a little lost.

The desire to find this dude and fucking kill him rises in my chest again. What kind of prick would abandon such a precious little girl? Would leave someone as loving as Layla behind?

He’s a useless idiot, and I would do anything for them to never have to think about him again. They deserve to be loved and happy, and it’s clear this man isn’t capable of that.

If my plan is successful, he will be nothing more than a ghost. A distant memory for them both.

“We’re home,” I say, stopping my car. The implication of my words registers in my brain too late. “You have a nice house,” I add, trying to dissolve the tension.

“Thanks.” Layla unfastens her seat belt, and within a second, she’s already climbing out of my car.

I follow her, beating her to the back seat. Opening the door, I smile at Maya as I reach over and unbuckle her seat belt. “Let’s get you out of here. I’m sure you want to go home.”

I take her in my arms and slowly set her on her feet. Maya catches my fingers and wraps her tiny hand around them. “I want play.”

My gaze darts to Layla, and I tip my chin up, wordlessly asking her if I can stay. But before she can answer, Ava’s car pulls into the driveway, and I know it’s time for me to leave.

Crouching down to Maya, I look her in the eyes. “I’d love to play with you but not today.”

Her mouth collapses into a frown, and I see sadness in her eyes.

“Ava is here with Meghan. I’ll come play with you some other time. Deal?”

“Promise?”

“I promise, Princess.” I stand up. My eyes find Layla’s, and I smile. “It was nice to see you.”

“You too,” she murmurs, sneaking a glance at Ava climbing out of her car. “Thank you so much for bringing us home.”

“Of course. Next time you need a ride?—”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure my car is fine.”

“Okay.” I take a step back and remove Maya’s car seat from my back seat. “I’ll text you later so we can make a plan to go to Angie’s shop.”

“You have my number?” Layla takes the car seat from me, and my fingers brush hers on purpose. The feeling is still the same: powerful and endearing. It’s a need. Like a hot shower on a cold day, when you finally get inside and don’t want to go back out because it means you’ll be freezing again. I want to stay like that forever. With her and her little daughter.

“Is it still the same?” I manage to ask, barely escaping getting lost in my own memories. She nods. “Then yes. I have it.” I wave to Maya. “Bye, Princess.”

“Bye, Clay.”

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