Maya Was Just A Pawn

Maya Was Just A Pawn
Tessa barely remembered getting out of her car. She barely remembered pushing open her front door. All she remembered was falling, straight into Maya’s arms.

Maya caught her, arms locking around her in a tight hold the moment the door swung open. She was already here before Tessa got home.

“Tessa? Oh my God Tess what happened?” Maya’s voice cracked with alarm.

Tessa didn’t answer. She couldn’t. The words were stuck somewhere deep in her chest, drowning beneath the humiliation, the fear, the adrenaline still pumping through her blood like ice.

Her body shook as she clung to her friend.

Maya guided her gently, one arm around her shoulders, the other rubbing slow circles on her back. They sank onto the couch and the moment Tessa felt the cushions beneath her… everything spilled.

She broke completely.

Maya wrapped both arms around her and held on tight. “Tess… talk to me, please. You’re scaring me.”

Tessa lifted her head, face streaked with tears. “Maya… they’re trying to take my baby.”

Maya stiffened. Then like fire catching gasoline fury burst across her face.

“What?” Her voice rose instantly.
“What are you talking about? Who's trying to take your baby?”

“Jordan and his mum.”

“You've got to be joking.” Maya was pissed.

“I’m not.” Tessa sniffed, wiping her face with her sleeve. “Jordan… asked where Naya goes to school. He asked he…”

Maya’s eyes went wide. Then wild.

“Why would he ask that?” she screamed.
“Oh, no. Hell no. No, no, no. Tessa, I’m about to commit a felony.”

Tessa let out a trembling breath, shaking her head. “I knew you’d say that. I knew you were going to say ‘I told you so.’”

Maya softened immediately. She kneeled in front of her, cupping Tessa’s cheeks gently.

“No, babe. I’m not doing that. I won’t kick you while you’re already down. We all make mistakes. And you,” she tapped her chest “are one of the kindest people I know. Your problem is you always try to see the good in people who don’t deserve a fraction of your goodness.”

Tessa’s eyes filled again.

“I thought he changed, Maya. I thought maybe… maybe he wanted to do right by me.”

“Please.” Maya scoffed. “That boy only has two brain cells bouncing around in his skull. And his mother? That old, bitter raisin? That woman couldn’t love a cactus if she tried.”

Tessa sniffed a laugh despite herself.

Maya’s expression softened. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

Tessa told her everything, without leaving anything out. By the time she finished, Maya’s jaw was on the floor.

“Oh my God. Oh my actual God.” Maya started pacing again, hands on her head. “His mother? The same mother who couldn’t even raise her own two kids right now wants to snatch your child? Tessa, is she mad? Has she lost her mind?”

“Maya please…”

“No. I’m not done.” She pointed a sharp finger in the air. “You mean to tell me this woman who almost lost her son but didn't flinch. Unbelievable.”

“Maya…”

“That woman probably thinks grandchildren are accessories or trophies. ‘Oh look, I’m a grandmother!’ Witch.”

Tessa covered her face with her hands again, overwhelmed.

Maya dropped beside her, rubbing her back. “Tess, listen to me. We are going to fix this. Together.”

Tessa shook her head. “I just want it to end. I want him to leave us alone.”

“Then we’re fighting back.” Maya stood again. “And first thing tomorrow morning, you’re getting a DNA test.”

Tessa’s head snapped up. “What? No.”

“Yes.” Maya’s voice was firm. “Yes, Tessa. Because the moment you have proof he is not the father, that clown loses all rights. Case closed. Then you talk to Damien.”

Tessa exhaled. “I can’t tell Damien.”

“Tessa…”

“No.” Her voice cracked but stayed firm. “I’m not telling him we have a child together. You remember how humiliated I was the day I went to his office. I walked out of that building and told myself I would raise my daughter alone. I meant it.”

Maya’s expression softened, but she didn’t retreat. “Tess, think about it. How would you feel if someone robbed you of the chance to raise your child? What if he doesn’t know?”

Tessa froze. Her heart thudded painfully.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “Not now. Not with everything happening.”

Maya sighed. “Okay. Fine. We’ll leave Damien out of it, for now. But what do we do about the kidnapper and his evil mother?”

Tessa stared at her. “You think he’s planning to kidnap Naya?”

Maya blinked. Then her eyes widened.

Tessa shot to her feet. “Maya, that’s what he’s planning! That’s why he asked about her school. Maya, what do I do?!”

“Calm down.” Maya grabbed her shoulders. “We’re going to the police asap. And tomorrow morning we'll talk to Naya’s school. They will not release her to anyone except you or me.”

Tessa nodded frantically. “Yes. Yes. Okay.”

“And we’re getting security cameras. And maybe a guard dog. And…”

“Maya…”

“What? I’m serious. A big one. Like a wolf. One that bites.”

Tessa weakly laughed.

Maya cupped her face again. “We’ll protect her. I promise.”

Tessa collapsed into her arms again. “Thank you. Thank you so much, I don't deserve you.”

Maya held her tight. “I’m your person, Tess. Always.”

……….

The house was quiet, too quiet just the way he liked it.

Roderick stood in the darkened hallway, the only light coming from the dim lamp near the bookshelf. His hands were in his pockets, his jaw clenched as he replayed Maya’s text message.

Tessa just got back from Jordan’s. She called me crying. I’m with her now. I love you.
Maya

He sneered. Love?

Maya had no idea what love meant. Not the way he understood it. Not the way he felt it.

He walked toward the window, staring out into the open front lawn. Somewhere out there, Tessa was crying. He hated it. It twisted something inside him, something dark and ugly and possessive.

He should be there, he should be comforting her. He should be the one holding her while she broke apart.

But she wasn’t ready for him. Not yet.

He tapped his fingers against the glass, imagining the rose he almost left at her doorstep earlier. He’d stood in front of her door for almost an hour, rehearsing what he’d say if she walked out.

But he didn’t dare scare her. Not now.
Not when she was already hurt, he needed her trust first.

Jordan was becoming a problem, he knew the only way to make this problem go away was to make Jordan go away, but he can't do that without Tessa's permission. He never liked that guy, but that didn't mean he should kill him.

He'll be keeping an eye on Jordan, to make sure he doesn't do anything funny. He loved Tessa more than anything in the world, and he won't allow anyone to make her sad. Maya was just a pawn in his game to get closer to the woman he loved.

His phone buzzed, this was the call he's been expecting.