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She points with her finger to her room off the foyer. I thank her and rush over, opening the door without knocking. I have a sense that it's probably not wise to go barging into a Mafia Don's office, but it's too late for me to worry about that now.
Niko is standing leaning against his desk with his arms crossed. Donovan is leaning against the wall, while Lucy has been pacing the floor.
They all look at me, and when Lucy sees my distress, she comes over and wraps an arm around me. "Did he hurt you?"
"What's he doing? What are his plans?" I demand of Niko.
Niko's eyes are soft, and yet at the same time, he retains a serious rigid stance. "That's not anything you need to know."
"I'm not a child. I've been kidnapped to be sold into trafficking. I have been in a house that was blown up. I shot Liam to protect myself when I thought he was a bad guy. I think I've proven I'm able to endure the ugly, gritty side of the life you lead."
"She’s got a point,” Donovan says.
"I know without a doubt that Liam would not want you to know what his plan is. And so I am not going to tell you." Niko's firmness tells me there will be no discussion.
I turn to Lucy. "So you tell me."
Her expression is apologetic. "I'm sorry, honey, I can't. I can't betray Niko and Liam like that."
I look at Donovan, who shrugs. “Sorry.”
I turn back to Niko. "So, what happens now?"
"For now, you stay here at the compound with us. And anything you need, we’ll get for you. You need to see a doctor? We can arrange that."
"What about my house? What about my bookstore?"
"I've taken care of those," Lucy says. "We hired a manager, so the store is running, and we have people watching your house."
I nearly ask if they’re laundering money through my shop, but that’s not important right now.
I feel so helpless and lost. I throw up my arms. "But what do I do?"
"Well, you can spend time with Elena. You're welcome to make use of any of the amenities in the house and on the grounds," Niko says. "It shouldn't be for long. And if everything goes as Liam has planned, you’ll be back in your house and your business soon."
I hate this. My life is not my own. I'm worried sick about Liam. At this moment, I hate them all.
I stalk out of Niko's office, and when I get to the foyer, I don't know where to go. Should I go up to my room? Should I go find something to eat because I do have a baby who needs nourishment?
"You look like you've been talking to my brother."
I turn around as Aria comes into the front door. "He makes me feel the way you look." She walks over to me, looping her arm through mine and guiding me toward the back of the house. "Let's go swap how much we hate Niko stories and have some lunch, eh?"
Since I have nothing else I can do, I let her guide me to the kitchen where she orders lunch from the staff and then guides me to a back terrace.
"So, what’s got your panties all in a bunch?" Aria asks as we wait for our lunch to be served.
"I've just lost the man that I love."
Her snarky, flippant expression morphs into sympathy and sadness. "Heartbreak is the worst thing ever, isn't it?"
I wonder if that means things with her and Luca have not worked out. Has he left her for her own good, too?
Her eyes fill with tears. “Niko says it will pass.”
I shake my head. I know I’ll carry my broken heart for the rest of my days.
The next five days are more of the same. Profound grief and irritability. I'm angry at everyone, but especially at Niko, Elena, Donovan, and Lucy. Why are they able to live happy lives but I can't?
