“No. My sister. Not that it’s any of your business. She sometimes needs help if her boyfriend’s drunk.” Why did I tell him that my sister was my neighbor?
He stepped toward me, and I backed up. He was emitting an aura of rage with his face screwed up and hands fisted.
“Go put something decent on,” he hissed through clenched teeth.
I spun around and left the living room. But why was I obeying his orders? It was my damn home, but I should have clothes on. Answering the door half naked wasn’t smart. My apartment building was full of men with questionable character.
I threw on joggers and an oversized tee, then brushed my fingers through my bangs. As I peeked at my appearance in the mirror, I drew in a deep breath and blew it out.
After Ciro and I parted ways at the pub, I’d thought about what I might say if I ever saw him again. I’d come up with several versions about why I’d kept Pippa from him. But they all ended with me begging for forgiveness, which I hated.
But with him in my home, my mind was blank. I couldn’t remember what I’d planned to say with my heart racing a mile a minute.
I returned to the front room, preparing for the fight of my life. The sight of Ciro cemented me in place. He was staring at a picture of Pippa on the wall and holding her stuffed lamb.
“Ciro.” I swallowed hard as my hand pressed against my chest, fearing what he might do to me.
He whirled around, his eyes wet, wild, and raging. “Where is she?”
“She’s not here,” I blurted in a panicked voice.
“Don’t play games with me. Where’s my daughter?” He stormed past me and went to my room.
It was the only room, besides the bathroom. A one-bedroom apartment was all I could afford, but I didn’t need more. Pippa slept with me most nights anyway.
Still, she had a crib. That was where Ciro was as I crept into my room. He was gripping the railing of her empty bed.
“I told you, she isn’t here.” I kept my voice soft to avoid upsetting him more. Oh God, this was bad. How did he find out?
He startled me, turning around and grabbing my shoulders. He shook me hard as he yelled, “You haven’t denied it. Where ismydaughter? Where is she?”
I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Had I known he would react like a man who wanted his child, I would’ve told him, even after seeing him with someone else. But here we were and for the life of me, I didn’t know how to reply.
Ciro instantly stopped shaking me. He pressed his forehead against mine and his nails into my flesh. “Where is she?” he repeated through gritted teeth. “I know she’s mine.”
“With the babysitter. My friend, Alba.”
“Is that where you went after work last Friday?”
“Oh my God, you followed me to her house.” I jerked out of his grasp and moved away from him. Of course he’d followed me to Alba’s. How could I have been so stupid to think the gas station was where he’d found me?
“Yes.” Ciro inhaled a ragged breath, taking in the small room. “Why did you leave her there?”
I walked out of the room, hoping he’d follow me and he did. I didn’t want him in my bedroom. Just seeing him againwreaked havoc on my defenses all over again. I needed to be strong and keep my wits about me. But damn him, he looked good, and his unique scent mixed with his intoxicating cologne heated my core.
I stood near the door and wrapped my arms around my stomach. Ciro paced in front of me like a lion readying to pounce on its prey. He still had Pippa’s lamb in his hand.
My God, I felt like a cruel, malicious bitch.
Ciro had all the power and money to take Pippa away from me. The last thing I wanted was to get on his bad side. I needed to stay calm and keep him calm. Appease him until I figured out my next move.
“Why didn’t you call me? You left the night of the party and took your little secret with you.”
“No,” I shot back defensively. “That’s not how it was.”
“Then tell me how it was.” He squared his shoulders, and I did the same.
“I didn’t find out I was pregnant until four weeks later. I was stunned. I mean, I religiously took my birth control pills, so I needed a few days to process. I was going to tell you.”
