“Let’s talk about Roman later.”
“Sure.” I sipped my water. The bistro probably wasn’t the best place to talk about Pippa.
Chris promptly returned with the bill. He eyed me as if searching for a sign that I might need help. I didn’t. Ciro would never physically hurt me.
But he could destroy my life if he fought me for custody of Pippa. My stomach twisted into knots.
Stop thinking like that. He wouldn’t be so cruel.
Of course, he would. He’s the head of an Italian crime family. He can make me disappear forever if he wants.
What was I to do?Anything to keep my daughter…
Ciro didn’t even read the check. He removed his wallet from his back pocket, put two fifties in the padded folder, and passed it to Chris.
Confusion swept across Chris’s face. “Do you need change?”
“Thank you, but no.” Not once did Ciro take his eyes off me.
“What are you doing?” I asked Ciro. Our meal wasn’t more than forty dollars. I was confident Chris had given me the employees’ discount judging by his wide grin. “I only had a cup of soup.”
“What do you think I’m doing?” Ciro’s brown depthssmoldered in the dimly lit room. I loved it when he looked at me this way. As if I was the love of his life and the only woman he’d ever want.
But I knew better. The redhead grinding on him the day I went to tell him I was pregnant flashed behind my eyes and transported me to the palm tree I hid behind…
I gaspedas if gut punched. There was the love of my life sporting expensive sunglasses and a pair of tropical printed trunks. His tan skin shimmered under the sun, so infuriatingly handsome.
But it was the woman on his lap moaning as she bucked faster on him that stole my attention. She tossed her head back, her long red locks blowing in the breeze, and she held onto his shoulders as she got off on my love.
Ciro gripped her hips, but I couldn’t hear what he said. It must have been something dirty because she rode him harder and faster.
I turned away, sick to my stomach, and unable to watch any longer. It had barely been a month and he’d already moved on. I touched my stomach, caressing where our baby was safely tucked inside me.
“Okay, Ciro. I won’t destroy your life. Be free my love…” I ran back to my car, my heart breaking for the last time, and drove off, resigned to never seeing Ciro Remotti again.
“Isla, where are you, baby?”Ciro’s concerned voice pulled me back to the present.
“Don’t play games with me,” I snapped, remembering why I’d vowed to never see him again.
“I’m not. You know what I’m doing. You’re just afraid to say it. So, I’ll say it. I’m trying to get you back, Isla.”
“Never going to happen.”
“What changed? One second, you’re softening toward me and the next you seem to dislike me.”
“No, I pretty much hate you.”
He reared his head back like I slapped him. “My-la, what the fuck is going on?”
“Now is not the time to talk about it. I’ll be back.” I stood, and so did Ciro. “Relax. I need to get my jacket and purse.”
I quickly went to my locker, hoping to avoid Falina and Jon. I couldn’t believe how those pains in the butt kept peeking out the kitchen window. Thank God Ciro didn’t see them, especially Jon.
“Trying to sneak off?” Falina snorted behind me.
“Yes.” Apparently, I wasn’t sneaking off fast enough.
“That man of yours is sinfully delicious. Remotti…” Ciro’s last name rolled off her tongue almost orgasmically. “He certainly fits the qualities of a billionaire. Damn, girl.”
