The way Jo froze had Zach frowning, and he even further withdrew his arm until it was concealed under the table. "My apologies, I shouldn't have." He murmured in a low rumble. He hadn't meant to appear so forceful, but he couldn't lose her again. It had been a year of replaying their last few moments over and over until he thought he would go mad.

"And I will give that to her," Zachariah replied earnestly. Despite the rift between them, he would see to it that Ilona had a father she could count on. He had watched Hugo neglect to treat his children with any semblance of attention aside from ensuring they made him look good. They resented him. Zach would ensure that would never happen with their daughter.

"But what of her parents? What will they be to one another?" His tone held no malice, and the unaddressed grief that had ruled over their final meeting bubbled to the surface.