Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
The hair in my nape pricks. I stop and give him my attention. “Thinking what?”
“I have a niece on my late wife’s side. She’s ten now, but in eight years, she’ll be ready to marry.”
He must be fucking kidding me. I’ve got twenty years on her, not that I’m looking for a wife.
“It’s not going to happen,” I say, gritting my teeth.
He taps his cane on the floor. “Think about it.” He flashes me with his yellowing teeth. “You have enough time.”
“You seem to have forgotten I have Anya.”
“Yes, well.” He throws the cane into the air and catches it with surprising agility. “She’s not going to be around forever, is she?”
With that, he turns and leaves.
I clench the spanner so hard in my palm my knuckles crack.
Over my fucking dead body.
I’ll keep Anya right here, happy and safe, if it’s the last thing I do.
CHAPTER
FIVE
Anya
Staring at the sparkly surface of the Hudson River, I stir honey into my mint tea. I’ve done multiple searches for keys with cylinder-shaped ends and came up with a few for strongboxes and safes but not one resembles the key I found in the vault at the firm.
I wish I could ask a key maker, but Saverio’s men follow me everywhere. He’ll no doubt find out about such a visit, and I can’t explain why I’m searching for what the key unlocks.
“Hey.” Tersia snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Where are you? I bet you heard nothing I said.”
We’re sharing a table in a cozy tearoom not far from the firm. Our lunch dates became a regular habit. We’re meeting at least twice a week.
“I’m sorry.” My smile is guilty. “I can’t stop my thoughts from wandering today.”
“Wandering where?” she asks, cupping her mug between her palms.
Besides trying to solve the riddle concerning the key? “I was just thinking about the future and what it holds.”
“Baby stuff, huh?” She blows on her mug. “I’m sure Sav has things figured out right down to applying for the best schools the very moment your baby is born, but you’re right to stay on top of things. I never rely too much on Richard even though he’s a gem. I like to know I’m self-sufficient.”
I hesitate. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
She arches a brow.
“Sav isn’t the father of my baby.”
Shock washes over her features. “You could’ve fooled me. He’s so…”
“Protective?”
“Yeah.” She searches my eyes. “Is the biological father in the picture?”
I shake my head.
“It doesn’t matter,” she says. “Sav obviously loves you and your baby. From what I’ve seen, he’s not the kind of man who makes decisions lightly. He knows what he signed up for.”
I don’t correct her, and I don’t feel lighter for getting that off my chest because even though I gave her a part of the truth, I’m not being completely honest with her. “I should’ve told you sooner.”
“Hey,” she says. “Your private life is nobody’s business, but I’m glad you shared that with me.”
I bite my lip, considering how to phrase my question. “Does Richard know anyone who deals with wills and things like that?”
“You mean as in what happens to your estate when you’re dead?”
“Yes.” I do my best to keep a poker face. “I need someone I can trust.”
She frowns. “Is everything okay?”
“Sure.” I force a laugh. “I just want to put measures in place if anything happens to me.”
Her brow smooths out. “You want to make sure your baby is taken care of.”
Something like that.
She smiles. “Having children sure changes one’s perspectives on life, doesn’t it? I’m sure he has a few contacts. I’ll ask him.”
“Thanks.” I avert my eyes and set the spoon in my saucer. “I appreciate that.”
When I look up, she’s studying me.
Leaning over, she pats my hand. “You know it’s normal to have weird feelings and nightmares when you’re pregnant, right?”
Weird doesn’t come close to describing my situation, but I can’t tell her about that. I can’t confide in anyone, especially not if I care about them.
“How was the wedding?” she asks, putting on a bright expression.
“Strange.” I search for the right words. “I mean it was pretty with beautiful flowers, and the bride looked gorgeous, but…”
She remains quiet, waiting for me to finish.
I don’t tell her that it was an arranged marriage, that Elena looked miserable and that Raphael was drunk before the end of the party. I don’t mention that the groom took his bride upstairs to consummate the marriage while the family waited downstairs to be presented with the bloody sheet. Saverio told me about the tradition, but thankfully, he took me home long before then. I especially don’t relay what Saverio and I did in Elena’s bedroom. The memory alone sends heat to my cheeks.
“Spill it,” Tersia says. “I can see something bothers you.”
“I met Saverio’s ex-wife,” I blurt out.