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With the innocent glee that comes from youth and money, Aria grins. "I only do things that I enjoy."
Luca laughs, and together, they exit my shop. I suppose it's Niko's overprotectiveness that has helped her maintain such an innocent and excited view of life. The truth of the matter is I'm not much older than her age-wise, but I feel like I'm a lifetime older in experience.
At the end of the day, I tally all my receipts and feel good about the sales I've made. I close up the shop and head home. On the way, I stop at the grocery to pick up some fresh vegetables and fruit to have with my dinner. While I'm there, I decide that I'd also like to have some cookies.
As I come around the endcap to go down the cookie, I run into a wall, a man. "Oh, excuse me."
Hands hold onto my arms as if to steady me. “No, it’s my fault.”
I look up into James's face. "I should have been watching where I was going. I just barreled around the corner." I stepped back to give us some space.
"I was just thinking about giving you a call." His gaze drifts down, stopping at the swell of my belly. He stares at it for a moment, and his lips twitch upward while his brows dip down, giving him a slightly sinister looking smile. "You gave me the impression that you weren't married or had a boyfriend."
Instinctively, I press my hand over my belly and take another step back. "There is no boyfriend or husband." In hindsight, though, maybe I should give the impression that there is one. "But I did fail to mention this." I rub my hand over my belly.
He laughs affably. "That's all right. I'd still be interested in taking you to dinner. Actually, I found a nice restaurant. We could go tonight."
Really? Does he have some sort of pregnancy fetish? "That's very kind of you, but I have plans."
He shrugs. "Well, maybe the next time I'm in town."
I hope that my smile looks friendly and not like a grimace because all of a sudden, I'm a little bit creeped out. "Maybe next time."
He nods toward my belly. "Take care of yourself and that little person you're carrying."
"I will." I stand where I am and watch as he heads up the aisle toward the front of the store. I keep my eye on him until I’m sure that he's left the premises. He didn't even buy anything. A wave of fear rolls through me. I wonder if I should call Lucy. But then I'm angry that my world has come to this. I've certainly had creepy interactions with men before I ever met Elena and got tangled up in her world.
I finish collecting my items and go to the self-checkout. As I exit the store, I look around because Mafia or no Mafia, it pays to be diligent.
Everything looks normal, so I hurry to my car and get in, locking the doors and heading home. Once I'm in my house and I've activated the alarms and the locks, I let out a sigh of relief.
I put away my groceries and then make a dinner of stir-fried vegetables and chicken over brown rice. I pour myself a glass of seltzer water and head to the living room to eat while I watch TV.
As the baking competition show ends and I prepare to go wash my dishes, there's a knock on my door. I turn off the TV and listen as another more insistent knock sounds. I take my plate to the kitchen as I pull my phone from my pocket, ready to press the button to call 9-1-1.
I look through the peephole and gasp.
Liam.
I step back, resisting the urge to throw open the door. His being here has to mean that something's gone wrong, but I'm tired of this.
I turn off the alarm and open the door. For a moment, he just stares at me. Then his gaze drifts downward, stopping at my stomach. I step back, closing the door slightly to hide the evidence of the baby.
When he looks back up at me, all semblance of the Liam I had first met and fallen for is gone. He’s gone completely to the dark side.
"Pack a bag. We’re leaving,” he orders.
I shake my head. "No. I have a life now, Liam. Leave me alone." I start to push the door shut, but his arm flies out, hitting it and pushing it, and me, back.
"Don't fuck with me, Kate." He steps into the house and shuts the door behind him.
“I don’t want to go.”
“Too fucking bad. You’re coming with me even if I have to force you.”
19
KATE
