Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

As I stepped into the house alone, Jaylan's face lit up with warmth, "Allie, take a seat."

"What do you want to talk about?" I wasn't keen on lingering alone with him any longer than necessary.

His smile stiffened for a moment but then plastered itself back onto his face, "Easy does it. Have some water."

"Cut the crap. Where's the kid?" I cut straight to the chase.

"If not for the kid, it seems you really wouldn't spare me a glance," he retorted, sinking into the couch with a smirk that was exceedingly irritating, giving me the kind of shivers as if ants were marching down my spine.

"Do you have any news about the child or not?" I demanded.

"Sure do." Jaylan said, all casual-like, "But there are conditions."

"Spit it out. What conditions?" I asked without a hint of hesitation.

His eyes, red as a fox's, lit up, "Such a straight shooter and big spender."

He sneered, "Aren't you even gonna ask what it is?"

"As long as your lead is worth something, name it," I shot back.

He looked at me lazily, then sat up and reached for an apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table. He started peeling it with a knife, taking his sweet time just to test my patience.

I took a deep breath, steadied my emotions, and locked eyes with him, "Jaylan, whatever game you're playing, you better know that I have to find that child."

I tried to appeal to whatever shred of decency he might have left. "You best not be using the kid's situation to play games with me, or using it as a bargaining chip. Even if you're a beast, that child is still yours. Are you really going to sit back and let him be raised by strangers?"

Jaylan's hand paused, the apple peel broke and fell onto the table.

"What's the condition? Just say it. As long as the lead on the child is legit, I'll deliver," I reiterated.

He let out a snort and tried to play it cool, arching an eyebrow as he said, "Simple. I don't care how much you're willing to pay, just get me a plane ticket to Australia and five million dollars."

I snorted back, pressing him, "Where's the child?"

"I'll tell you where the kid is once I see those things," he insisted, not budging an inch.

I glared at his face, wanting to tear it apart, but this wasn't the time for my vengeance.

My mind raced with thoughts.

After a long stare-down, I asked him, "Why did Hazel work with Zora? How did she snatch the child from Zora's clutches?"

Jaylan's gaze snapped up, his pupils contracting, but then they relaxed. He put down the knife, left the half-peeled apple on the table, leaned back on the couch, and stared me down.

"How did you know it was my mom who took the child?" he asked, feigning nonchalance.

"Where has she hidden the child?" I pressed on, "Is Hazel even human? Where did she stash the kid after taking him?"

Jaylan remained silent, probably weighing his options.

I roared, unable to contain my frustration, "Where has Hazel hidden him? Does Zora even know it was her?"

He just sat there, studying me with an unreadable expression.

I quickly analyzed Jaylan's current state of mind and then said to him, word by word, "Jaylan, if you don't tell me where Hazel has hidden the child, I'll take the story about you and Azure Enchantress to the cops."

"Who told you?" He remained seated, not moving a muscle, but the look in his eyes grew gloomy, the coldness creeping in.

"You don't know, do you? Before Zora killed her whole family after stealing Carl, she called me when I tracked her to North Town. She told me a lot in exchange for letting her go. The bargaining chip was your secret with Azure Enchantress, and I got it all on tape. As for Australia, I can make that happen, but first, tell me where Hazel has hidden the child?"

"I told you once the ticket and the money are in hand, I'll tell you where my mom stashed the kid," Jaylan said, confident he'd win.

I reined in my emotions, showing him a glimpse of vulnerability.

"Have you seen the child? Tell me, is he okay?" I asked, my expression wracked with pain, "How's he living?"

Without hesitation, Jaylan told me, "He's been doing just fine, actually. Living with a simple country couple, sweet as can be."

It was becoming clearer by the second that Jaylan was potentially feeding me a load of nonsense.