“He’s just being nice,” I tell him, watching as Hope glides down the slide and lands with her feet in the sand before running back to the stairs again.
“No, he’s flirting,” he complains then growls when Hope reaches the top of the stairs, and the little boy says something to her that causes her laugh to ring out loudly above the noise of the park. “You’re telling me he’s not flirting?” he asks, and I feel my mouth drop open as the boy pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to Hope. She smiles at him then leans in, and I know she’s going to give him a hug or a kiss, but Jax’s ear-splitting whistle causes everyone to turn and look at him, including Hope and the boy.
“Let’s go to the swing,” he shouts to Hope, whose brows pull together before she says something to the boy and hands him back what he gave her then, slides down the slide, and runs to us.
“Can my new fwiend come wiff?” she asks when she reaches us.
“No,” Jax says immediately, and my hand gives his a squeeze. “Not right now, sweetheart,” he tells her more gently, taking her hand and leading her toward the swings, which just so happens to be on the opposite side of the park, far away from the boy.
“She’s asleep?” Jax says, and I turn, looking from him to Hope and smiling, because she had just been talking excitedly about the park moments ago, but is now asleep with one elbow on the table, holding up her head, while the other hand holds her piece of pizza.
“The park wore her out.” I giggle as her head dips suddenly, causing her eyes to spring open.
“Are you tired, Angel?” I ask, wrapping my arm around her so she can rest against me.
“No, my eyes are just wazy,” she mumbles, and I hear Jax laugh from across the booth.
“I’m gonna get a box for the pizza and we can eat at home.” Jax says, sliding from the booth and stopping at my side, dipping his head toward me, placing a kiss against my lips before straightening to his full height and going to the front of the pizza shop.
Adjusting Hope so her body is on the bench, I feel something prickle across my skin, and the fine hairs on my body stand on end. Looking around, I don’t notice anyone out of place, but something about the feeling is unsettling.
“You okay?” Jax asks, coming back to the table, carrying a box. Looking around again, I shake off the feeling.
“Yeah, just heebie-jeebies,” I tell him, and his eyes search my face before he looks around like he knows exactly what I’m talking about.
“Wait here,” he commands, dropping the box to the top of the table and moving through the small restaurant then out the door. My heart pounds as I wait for him to come back. I don’t know if someone is watching us, or if I have a reason to be worried, but when Jax comes back inside, I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to him.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, seeing the look on his face and the way his body seems to be strung tight, like all of the muscles in his torso are larger than they were before he went outside.
“It’s fine,” he says, but his tone and demeanor are saying something completely different. “Let’s go,” he states, picking up Hope and adjusting her in his arms. “When we get outside, you need to stick close.”
“What was it, Jax?” I ask, trying to keep the wobble out of my voice, which is difficult, because I’m so scared.
“There was a note on my car.”
“About me?” I ask, looking at Hope. I would die if anything happened to her.
“As soon as I get you two home, I’ll call my uncle.”
“Jax,” I whisper, feeling my insides begin to fill with adrenalin, which is making me want to take Hope and run as far and as fast as I can.
“Nothing will happen to you or Hope. Now, I need you to listen to me and do what I say.”