Savage Crown II

10. Ten

Natalia

Moments later we were dropped off at the private lounge where we waited for the plane to finish fueling up. Zoey had woken up and was a extremely fussy from being moved around in the middle of the night.

"I want to stay here mommy!" she pouted as she rose from couch to stand in front of me with her little arms crossed in front of her chest.

"We can't right now sweety, school is starting soon for you back home, remember the school you liked out there we have to get you ready for when it starts"

She smiled, "yeah ! I can't wait " a smile that was quickly diminished as she ran into my arms with fright from a loud knock that made the door shake like it was about to break off its hinges. "Zo go play on your tablet" I ordered her. She ran out of my arms and went to grab her tablet out of my purse and sat down on the lounge couch with her blanket.

The loud knock at the door continued. Part of me was hoping it was a rude flight attendant but something in me kept telling me to have my hands on my blades.

I went to open it half expecting the flight crew letting me know we could board the plane now, instead my body froze at the person standing before me.

"Mama who is it!?" Zoey yelled as she walked up behind me and held onto my hand as I stood frozen in place she stared up at him.

"Mama? " Callum questioned as he looked down at Zoey then back at me. Quickly putting two and two together his face shifted quickly getting more furious by the second.

"Go play on your tablet Zo" I said looking down at her smiling as I finally snapped back to reality. "Mama is going to be right outside this door okay? mama just needs to have a quick chat with her friend."

"Okay" she smiled innocently, "bye mama's friend" she waved at Callum.

I walked out of the lounge closing the door behind me and walked a bit further down the hall away from the door. Creating some distance between me and him.

"STOP Natalia!"Callum yelled from behind me as he caught up "MAMA? She called you Mama?" He yelled as he grabbed onto my shoulders and pressed me up against the wall, "How long were you going to keep my daughter away from me?"

"How do you know she's yours it's been years since I've been with you!" I retorted. "I could have easily taken on a new partner after you."

"She looks every bit like me Natalia!" He huffed. Closing the small gap between us. "You're not going anywhere with her... You can get on that fucking plane by yourself but my daughter stays here"

"No Callum, Im getting on that plane with MY daughter and you can't fucking stop me" I responded bringing out my last switchblade to his neck. "you can't tell me what to do, she's not a pawn in your game for power"

"Is that really all you see me as? A power hungry monster?" He scoffed. "You're not going Natalia."

"If I don't board that plane, my family will hunt you down like a dog" I threatened. "Or I'll fucking kill you myself right here if I have to Callum. I'm not one of your stupid soldiers that you can just bark orders at!"

"Your family doesn't scare me Natalia, they never fucking did! If you want to kill me so bad do it it right here! Right now!" Callum snarled as he pressed his neck onto my blade. "Finish what you started earlier tonight" he taunted.

I searched his face, his blue eyes a stir of emotions but most of all pain. My breathing giving away just how much I was holding back tears and hesitating to glide the knife across his neck. Something that I wouldn't hesitate to do if it was back then. Callum quickly twisted and slammed my arm that wielded the blade against the wall and pried the blade out of my hand. He grabbed me by the neck and put the blade to my neck, his hot breath running down my neck angrily breathing "and this...this makes us far from even Natalia, you owe me some fucking answers" he said as shoved me back against the wall. His face that once full of warmth and love was now dark and twisted with rage.

"Now come lets go sit down in the lounge with our daughter" he said as he pulled away from me putting my blade in his pocket.

When we walked back in Zoey was on her tablet watching her favorite cartoon. She smiled as she saw me enter the room again.

"Mama come watch with this with me" she said as she ran up to me and pulled me by my hand. Callum sat on the couch across from us watching Zoey as she worked her tablet.

"Mama who is he" She asked me in a low curious voice. As she pointed over to him.

"That's mama's friend Callum" I smiled down at her. "Why don't you go say hi to him?" I looked down at her. She poked her head up higher observing him and was hesitant on getting up.

"go on sweety its okay"

She finally got off the couch and went over to his side. His facial expressions completely softened as she stared up at him. "And what's your name mo leanbh (my child)?"

Zoey a bit confused by the last phrase stood silent observing him for a moment and then finally smiled up at him, "my name is Zoey Maeve De Leon" she clasped her hands over her mouth and stared back at me, " R-Raya Carter!" she changed her name quickly"

"Nice to meet you Zoey, my name is Callum Clarke" he said as he observed her. His facial expressions calmed down as his anger was extinguished by seeing his daughter.

My heart swelled with a mix of emotions seeing Zoey meet her father. Callum no longer upset and fully melting like putty at the hands of his daughter . He began talking to her as the two began to play and talk in their own little buble quickly. As if the blood they shared had the two at ease and so full of trust from the very first moment.

The flight attendant finally had come to fetch us suprised by the extra guest. "He'll be joining us on our flight tonight. " I quickly said.

"No problem at all Ms. Leon."

We boarded the flight and Zoey was now wide awake and no longer fussy. Talking with Callum about her recitals and dances all while Callum observed and followed her conversations fascinated by her as she showed him some of her toys on the floor.

I sat in my chair watching as the two grew closer and closer by the minute. Zoey giggling at Callum's jokes and funny faces. Moments in between he'd look up at me and smile. I shyed away from his eyes focusing on the dark view from the window.

Zoey finally started looking tuckered out and rose from the floor and walked over to me scratching her eyes tiredly. "Mama can you read me a bed time story?"

"Of course Zo, go grab a book from the bedroom and climb into bed, I'll be there shortly."

Zoey ran towards the bedroom cabin and slided the door closed behind her. Callum rose from his feet and stood in front of me as I got up from the chair so that we were only inches apart.

"Our daughter is beautiful, how old is she?"

"Four years old"

"You kept her hidden from me for that long Natalia?

"You wanted me dead Callum...what was I supposed to do?

"You have such little faith in me" he paused, when are you going to tell her who I really am? Or would you like me to tell her now?"

"I'll tell her when we are settled back home" I quickly responded.

"It won't be her home for long" he responded.

"You don't have a say in this Callum!" I hissed.

"Yes I do, I have every right as her father." He said in a low voice trying not to let his anger pull through. " now go read to her, don't keep her waiting." He pulled away clearing the path for me to walk by.

I slid open the door where Zoey was waiting for me with her book. Callum followed and sat at the seat in the corner. As I read her the story Callum's sight never left Zoey. A big smile on his face as he watched her fall asleep. I quietly pulled away from her and placed the book on the bed side table.

"Get some rest Natalia" Callum softly whispered to not wake Zoey up. "We have a long week ahead of us."