Page 44 of Oliver
He wasn’t merely a nuisance. He was something far more dangerous.
I checked my watch. I had limited time frames to access the county records, find the proof I needed, and secure Emmet's future. That had been the plan. Clean, precise, logical.
But now?
Now there was Ryan, watching Zahra like she was prey, waiting for an opening.
I made my way back to Zahra, handing her a glass of sparkling water. Her fingers brushed mine as she took it, the touch lingering just a moment too long.
"Thank you," she said, and I knew she wasn't just talking about the drink.
"That's what I'm here for," I replied, meaning it more than I'd expected to.
Across the terrace, Ryan was still watching. I met his gaze steadily, letting him see the challenge in mine. His eyes narrowed, but he looked away first.
It was a small victory, but this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
I came to Norman for one thing. One mission. One battle to fight.
Then Ryan Calloway walked in, looking at Zahra like she was property.Hisproperty.
I hadn’t factored in this level of threat, but I couldn’t ignore it.
My plans for the trust documents remained unchanged, butsomethinghad changed. Because now, it wasn't just about my mission. It was about Zahra too.
Elena wouldn't be enough. She needed more. Someone whose sole purpose was to make sure Ryan couldn’t get near her.
And if there were any other way to handle Ryan, maybe I'd take it.
Maybe.
But there wasn't.
Ryan thought I was nothing but a minor inconvenience. Another pawn to play on his way to taking something—someone—that wasn’t his.
He was about to find out just how wrong he was.
Because I don’t fight fair. I don’t play games. And Ineverlose.
Fourteen
ZAHRA
I tappedthrough the schedule on my tablet, focusing on the screen with laser precision. The wedding timeline glowed back at me, each item meticulously organized, color-coded, and assigned. Tomorrow was dedicated to final dress fittings for Parisa and the bridesmaids, hair and makeup test runs, and a special facial and mud bath treatment for the ladies.
Simple. Safe.
But the day after… Brunch at 10:30 AM, a tour of the gardens at 2:00 PM, dinner at 7:00 PM, followed by a joint night at Norman’s local beer garden turned outdoor nightclub.
More opportunities for Ryan to get to me.
I inhaled deeply through my nose and held, slowly releasing the breath through my mouth. As long as I kept moving, kept planning, kept controlling what I could control, I would be fine.
My gaze darted across the terrace against my will, scanning for Ryan's tall frame among the guests. I spotted him by the bar, laughing too loudly with Darryl's cousin. The sound carried across the space, setting my nerves on edge.
I dropped my gaze back on the tablet. Three more event confirmations needed, then I could justify leaving early.
A warm presence materialized at my side, and I knew without looking that it was Oliver. He'd been doing this all evening—hovering close enough that I felt his protective presence but far enough that an outsider wouldn't catch on that he was shadowing me.
