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Her head tilts to the side, and then she rises from the bed and comes to stand in front of me. "Are you leaving now?"
I nod. "I'll be gone for a couple of days." Inwardly, I kick myself because that makes it sound like in a few days, I will be back with her. And I know that she takes it as such when her eyes light up with hope.
"So, I'll see you?" She looks down at her fingers that are fidgeting together. "Because I was thinking that maybe?—"
My hands come out of my pockets, and I put them on her arms, stopping her from finishing her statement. I'm having a profound sense of déjà vu of being in the situation of having to leave and her asking me to stay.
"I need you to promise me something, Kate."
She looks up at me, and there's pain in her eyes. She's insightful enough to know that I've interrupted her on purpose. I've interrupted her so that she won't ask me to stay.
"I need you to promise me that you will live your life to the fullest and give this child a full life as well."
Her breath hitches and tears come to her eyes. "You sound like you don't think you're going to come back."
I'm trying to be delicate about this. "You and I both know that our lives cannot be entwined for you to live the full life that you want."
"But that's what I?—"
"I don't know what's going to happen, Kate. Whether I live or die, promise me that you will live a full life. I’ve provided for you?—”
“Liam—”
“The thing is, for you and the baby to be safe, you may need to stay under Niko's protection. Do you understand?"
She stares up at me, and I see such longing in her eyes. But then finally, she nods.
"Good."
It's time for me to break away and leave, but I have to soak her in one last time. My gaze roams over her, from her gorgeous auburn hair and beautiful eyes, her luscious lips, and then to the round belly where she carries her child.
I press my hand over her belly and return my gaze to her eyes. "I'm not going to make you promise this, but it would be nice if you told our child how much I love him.” Fucking hell, I’m about to lose it. I clear my throat. “Tell him how much I love him and his mother."
I give her a quick kiss on the forehead and then abruptly leave the room because I’m precariously close to breaking.
28
KATE
What did he just say?
“Tell him how much I love him and his mother.”
His words come back to me, seeping into my heart, into my soul, and yet at the same time, shattering them because I finally have heard the words I wanted to hear, but now he's gone.
I rush to the door, flinging it open and going into the hall, wanting to catch him. I know I can't stop him. But I can tell him I love him too.
I hurry to the stairs, but I don't see him. I rush down to the door, but by the time I reach it, he's in his SUV and heading down Niko's long drive.
Grief overwhelms me and the tears come uncontrollably. My knees give way, and I sink to the floor as I watch the man I love leave me. The man who I now understand is thinking that he's going to his death.
“Miss Walsh." Rosa bends down next to me. "Are you all right? What can I get you? Should I go get Don Leone?"
I push her hands that are trying to be helpful away and manage to pick myself up off the floor. "Where's his office?"
Her brows knit together in worry. "He's in a meeting?—"
"Please tell me."
