Page 19 of Ensnared By Silence
“The one with the stroller is Amaya, and the other woman is Elise. I don’t see her son, DJ, though. They both worked for me a few years ago. They live in that building with their husbands. Brothers, to be more specific.” He pointed to the five-story condo that overlooked the lake across from the main entrance to the path.
“What are they doing here?” I asked, and he shrugged as we continued walking to the covered wooded area.
As we approached, I felt like I was being inspected by them, and suddenly, they both smiled brightly at us. Hayden spoke first as we met them at the table. “Elise, Amaya, it’s good to see you. This is my girlfriend, Aubrey. Aubrey, this is Elise and Amaya.”
It surprised me at being referred to as a girlfriend, but my heart took flight at the loving look he gave me when my gaze snapped to his. He lifted my hand to his soft lips and kissed the back before helping me sit down.
“What brings you by this afternoon?” Hayden asked Elise as his eyes cut to Amaya and the hidden baby in the stroller.
“I wanted Elizabeth to spend some time with my grandmother, Elanor, before she leaves for her cruise and we walked back.” Amaya smiled as she lifted a blanket covering the stroller to reveal a beautiful baby girl.
I leaned over and was smitten with the chucky beauty. She had a head of curly brown hair and a pair of green eyes that shone brightly up at me. She giggled and chewed on her fist. I stood and replied, “She’s so adorable.”
“Thank you. She looks like her daddy but has my temperament.”
“Thank God for that,” Skid remarked, and everyone chuckled at the joke.
“Would you like to join us?” I asked.
“We’d hate to intrude,” Elise remarked with a worried glance over her shoulder.
Hayden exhaled deeply and shook his head as Mathias joined the conversation. He tugged Elise into a side hug, and she returned it. “It’s good to see you, Elise.”
“You too, Mathias. Is this the famous Aubrey you’ve spoken so highly of over the years?” she asked and brought her kind eyes to me.
“The one and only,” he replied, and I tried to understand what was happening.
“Let’s eat. I’ll text Devlin and let him know I’m with you,” Skid explained, and we all took a seat at the table.
Everyone made plates and ate as a soft breeze blew off the lake, chilling the air. I shivered and Hayden wrapped his arm around my shoulder as he pushed his empty plate to the side.
“So, what do you do for a living?” Amaya asked me as she rocked the giggling baby in her arms.
“I’m in my last semester of college and I design websites and improve their security in my spare time,” I replied proudly.
“Small world,” she replied cryptically, and I looked at her with confusion. She smiled at me, motioning with her finger between herself and Elise, and explained, “Our husbands own Callahan Cyber Security. I’d love to see some of your work. Maybe there’s some projects they can contract out to you.”
My mouth popped open in shock. Callahan Cyber was the biggest and most trusted name in private security in the country. The government trusted them with secrets, and they were famous in certain circles for their ability to find anyone, anywhere. I glanced at Hayden and he nodded before I looked at the women.
“I would be honored if they’d look at my work. I know it’s not up to the level they’re used to, but any critique would be invaluable.” I rattled the words out, and they smiled at me.
“Let’s exchange numbers and that way I can make sure James sees it as soon as possible.” She winked at me before placing baby Elizabeth into her stroller.
Elise’s phone rang and she pulled it out with a smile. “I’m on the way now. Yes.” She glanced over her shoulder toward the condo tower before lowering her voice and replying, “I know you’re watching. I love you too.”
After quick hugs, they left us, and I turned to Mathias. “I’ll take you back to your car whenever you’re ready.”
“I’ve got him. We’ll swing by and pick it up on the way to the clubhouse,” Skid explained, and they packed up the last of the food.
Mathias hugged me, whispering in my ear, “At least let him know it wasn’t his fault.”
I nodded and felt Hayden slip his hand against mine as Skid and Mathias disappeared down the pathway. With a rub against the back of my hand, I turned to Hayden and asked, “Can I take you home? Or do you need me to drop you somewhere?”
He kissed me softly and replied, “I’ll go wherever you want to be.”
