Page 95 of Stolen By the Enemy

Marco was not always kind to me, but he would never have thrown me to the floor in a fit of rage.

Maybe Kate was right to ask Marco for help in hiding her from a man like that.

I remember the way Elio’s voice washed over me like a fall of decadent silk and I shiver. I also think I understand why she succumbed to his obvious charms in the past, in spite of the violence he seems to be capable of.

“Is my mommy your friend?” Mateo says to me as we reach the swings.

I bite the inside of my cheek. I am starting to feel guilty about being so angry at her.

“No,” I say to the child, who is already swinging happily. “I just met her today.”

Mateo nods. “We don’t see too many people. Mostly just Marco and sometimes delivery people who bring us food and stuff.”

I take a seat in the swing next to Mateo, pushing myself lightly forward and backward.

I have so many questions about all of this, but now isn’t the time. I hope that I can trust my brothers to keep this sweet little boy safe.

“Would you like to go on an adventure with your mom to the US?” I ask the little boy happily pumping his legs so that his swing will go as high as possible.

He looks over at me as he passes by, a huge grin on his face.

“Yes! That would be super fun!” he exclaims.

I smile at him. “Good. Pretty soon, one of the security guys will tell me it’s time to go meet up with your mom, and then you guys will get on a plane to go to the States.”

“Yay!” he cries out, swinging even harder.

I watch him for a moment and press my hand to my belly again. Maybe soon Mateo will get to meet another Baldini child who he can be friends with.

I notice movement from the corner of my eye and see that one of our security staff members is walking toward me.

I push back up out of the swing and hold out my hand to Mateo.

“Ready?” I ask him.

“Yes!” he says, dragging his feet to stop himself and hopping from the swing.

He takes my hand again and grins up at me as we walk away from the playground toward the front of the hotel.

“Is my mom in the car?” he asks me as we approach a black SUV under the portico of the hotel building.

“She is!” I tell him.

I open the door to the back seat and point at his mother. I see her force a happy look onto her face and my heart pinches in my chest.

I suddenly feel worried about this woman I barely know who almost ruined my entire wedding.

“Mommy!” the little boy cries, letting go of my hand and flinging himself into the SUV. “Grazia says we are going on an adventure!”

“She’s right,” Kate says. “Tell Grazia goodbye.”

“Bye!” Mateo says to me, waving merrily.

I wave back and close the car door.

I can’t stand another moment of lying to this sweet child. I feel like a terrible person, but there’s nothing I can do about any of this now.

I walk away from the car, determined to find my husband and ask him what in the world is going on.

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