The Crescendo by Fiona Palmer Page A

anything could go back to the way it was. No Pax. A drug lord as a father. Being with Ryan in the Wicked van. He was sure it all had changed her in a way. Jaz had changed him, he knew that. She’d made his life fuller, along with her crazy dedicated friends, and yet at the same time she made it more difficult.
    â€˜If you’re sure?’
    Jaz shrugged her slim but muscled shoulders. She could hit like a boxer though she wasn’t built like Rambo. She was a secret weapon in her own right. He loved that combination of femininity and power.
    â€˜Come on then, let’s go get something to eat. They are passing around some finger food and it’s yum.’ He stood up. ‘I’ll introduce you to my family. I’m sure they’re all dying to know who you are.’ He’d seen the long glances, his aunties whispering about the new girl and did anyone know who she was. He’d bet his right arm that most of them assumed she was his girlfriend.
    It would be nice to let them all think that.
    Together they walked back to the party and Jaz ate the finger food passed around while Ryan chatted to people. He made sure she was always by his side and introduced her to aunties and uncles, old friends and cousins.
    His cousin on his mother’s side sauntered up to them. He was a few years younger than Ryan and used too much hair gel and cologne. He held out his hand to Jaz, his eyes starstruck. Jaz did have that effect on people even though she had no idea. ‘Hi, I’m Brent, Ryan’s cousin.’
    Ryan pushed Brent away. ‘Goodbye Brent.’
    â€˜Hey,’ he said, but he stayed away when Ryan shot him a cold stare.
    â€˜That wasn’t very nice,’ said Jaz. ‘You even gave him your killer glare.’
    â€˜Believe me, I’ve just saved you.’ Ryan took a sip of his beer before he spoke again. ‘Killer glare, what do you mean?’
    She raised her brow at him. ‘You can be a very scary man, Ryan. When I first met you I had a feeling you were dangerous. I’ve seen that look and I know it kills,’ she whispered. ‘Literally,’ she added.
    He knew she was thinking of Pakistan. He wished that hadn’t happened for it had been traumatic for Jaz and he never wanted to see her go through that again, yet in this line of work he knew it wasn’t the last time. ‘You were scared of me?’
    â€˜I did think you were stalking me, remember.’
    Jaz smiled and he could feel his own face break out in a goofy grin. ‘Gosh, those were the days, weren’t they?’ It seemed as if that was years ago, when she was just an innocent young girl who seemed to keep popping up on his radar. ‘You didn’t seem to stay away.’
    â€˜Bit hard when you were everywhere I was,’ she teased. ‘But to answer your question, I don’t think I was ever scared of you, I just had a feeling you could be very scary if you wanted to be. Yet the man I was getting to know had a big heart. I could tell you were a good person, even with that killer glare and those mysterious dark eyes.’
    He chuckled at her description of him.
    At this moment he felt like he was flying; he was with his family and this time with Jaz was amazing and all seemed so great and happy. But he knew tomorrow would be a different story and it stabbed him in the guts every time he reminded himself. Time could be so fleeting.
    â€˜Hello darling, sorry I haven’t got back to say a proper hello.’ Kathy came up and draped herself in his arms. He narrowly avoided the bright red lipstick kiss to his cheek.
    â€˜Hey Mum. Steph be back soon?’
    â€˜Yes, I’m rounding everyone up now to head inside. Jaz, you’ll be sitting with us, right next to Ryan,’ said Kathy.
    Ryan chose to ignore his mum’s blatant matchmaking.
    â€˜Thanks Mrs Fletcher, it’s been a beautiful day,’ said Jaz, who didn’t seem fazed by his