Claiming Felicity (Ace Security #4)(75)

“I got my present already today,” Ryder said with a gleam of lust in his eyes. “I got to make love to my fiancée, and later I’ll make love to my wife in the same day. You couldn’t give me a better gift.”

She smiled, remembering how he’d yanked up the skirt of her dress earlier and proceeded to blow her mind. The orgasm was the perfect way to make her relax before the ceremony.

“Wait here,” she ordered.

He didn’t look like he wanted to let her out of his sight, but he merely crossed his arms over his chest and smiled at her indulgently.

Felicity exited the small room in the back of the church and headed for where she’d stashed Ryder’s surprise. She probably should have waited until after the ceremony, but she couldn’t. This was too important.



Ryder paced the small room as he waited for Felicity to return with whatever present she’d gotten him. He was a little annoyed because they’d agreed not to exchange gifts before the ceremony. The giraffe he’d arranged to be mended didn’t really count, in his eyes. He’d wanted to get her a diamond pendant or a tennis bracelet or something, but had refrained because they’d agreed on no gifts. He was mentally kicking himself, trying to decide if he could send someone to the store to pick up something he could give her after the ceremony when the door opened again.

He turned, expecting to see his soon-to-be wife enter. Ryder stood absolutely still and stared at the woman who walked through the door. Felicity had told him she had a surprise for him, but he’d never imagined this.

He stared at his fiancée as she entered behind the other woman, walked around her, and came to his side. “How . . .” Words failed him.

Luckily, Felicity understood him anyway. “I knew you wouldn’t ever look for her, so I got Alexis to ask her hacker friend if he could find her.” She gestured toward the woman standing next to them. “He did.”

Grabbing hold of Felicity’s hand as if he’d float away if he didn’t, he stared at the beautiful stranger. He’d recognize her anywhere. She was an adult now; years had passed since he’d last seen her, but it was as if no time had passed.

Her black hair now brushed her shoulders and swung freely as she moved. She was slender and healthy. Tears sprang to Ryder’s eyes. He wasn’t normally a crier, but seeing Zariya in front of him . . . smiling at him, was more than he could take.

The last time he’d seen her was etched in his mind as if in glass. Scared out of her mind. Hurting. Bleeding. Flinching from him.

“Zariya,” he choked out.

She held out her hand, and Ryder immediately took it in both of his. She smiled at him and didn’t protest when he didn’t let go. “It’s so good to see you again,” she said with a melodious accent.

Ryder just stared at her, wanting to know everything, but afraid to ask.

Felicity pressed up against Ryder’s side. “Thank you for coming, Zariya. It’s so good to talk to you in person.”

Ryder’s head came around at that. “You’ve been talking to her?”

Felicity looked up at him. “Well, of course.” She looked back at the other woman. “I couldn’t exactly spring you on her. So I called her up after I got her number. She’s been living in South Carolina. Told her who I was. We’ve talked a lot, and she agreed to come and see you.”

Suddenly needing to get the words out that he hadn’t said all those years ago, Ryder said, “I’m so sorry, Zariya.”

Zariya squeezed his hands, then finally let go. “Don’t be sorry. You saved my life that day, Ryder.”

“I . . . I don’t understand.”

“Felicity told me what you thought might’ve happened to me, and it probably would’ve if it hadn’t been for a soldier. Not one of the ones who was with you that day, but a different one. My parents came and collected me and told me I was a failure. That my duty was to marry. They had another man, even older, ready to marry me. But first I had to be punished for humiliating them. I was tied to a stake, and everyone had rocks ready to throw at me, but a soldier happened upon me and snatched me up. He didn’t even blink when my parents yelled at him. He just took me back to the base and refused to let anyone near me. I was scared, really scared, but eventually I realized you had saved me from an awful fate.”

“But I didn’t . . . he . . . I . . .” Ryder shook his head in frustration.

“The man . . . he arranged for me to come to the United States. I was adopted. I’ve been living in South Carolina for the last nine years. I’m happy. And it’s because of you, Ryder. I thought of you many times over the years. The memories of my time as a child in the village have faded, as has what happened to me, but I’ve never forgotten the soldier who took the time to smile at me. Bring me candy.” A tear fell from her eye. “Who braided my hair.”

Ryder couldn’t take it anymore. He felt Felicity’s touch at the small of his back, always there by his side, supporting him, as he held out his arms. “Please, I need to hug you.”

Without a word, Zariya stepped into his arms. Ryder looked up at the ceiling as he did his best to keep the tears in his eyes from falling down his face. God. In a million years, he never would’ve expected this reunion would ever happen. Without letting go of the little girl turned woman in his arms, Ryder turned his head and looked at Felicity.