Page 31 of Merciful Lies

“Day after tomorrow we go to the doctor. Gonna get this little one checked out. Little Mama, too,” he whispers.

“Okay,” I reply.

“Ready to go?” he asks.

“What about the bakers? And the books?”

“Luc and Angel have it.”

I nod. Then I step back, forcing his hand to drop.

Truth is, I could use a little break from all his intensity. Nico is an enigma to me.

I suppose I should just feel grateful to him, but that’s a shitty way to feel about your baby’s father.

I don’t want him to see me as some charity case. Even if it’s what I am.

If only things were different.

If only he married me because he cared.

He takes my hand and guides me to the door, and I have to work to control my racing pulse.

“Where are we going?”

“To get your clothes,” he answers.

I nod again. My apartment is only a few blocks away, but his driver is waiting, and we don’t walk there.

“Wait for me,” he says when the SUV rolls to a stop outside my building.

I look at it, frowning, wondering what he must think of this place. It’s so much worse than his flashy condo.

My door opens, but I’m still stuck somewhere between embarrassment and shame. I hate feeling like that. And the truth is, he has done nothing to warrant it.

It’s just me.

All the ugliness I’m feeling is all me.

Shit. Tears prick my eyes, and I suppose I could blame hormones. But that’s not all of it.

I know I’m not Nico’s type. I’m not even in his league. But he married me, accepted my claim that this baby is his, and just took my word for everything.

I know he’s a powerful, smart, cunning, and well-respected man. But I worry I might be bad for him. I might weaken his reputation.

To anyone else, it must look like I tricked him.

“Anna? You okay?” he asks, when I remain glued to my seat.

“I, um, I mean, are you sure about this? It’s been a day, Nico. We can get an annulment,” I start, needing to offer him a way out.

“No,” he growls, pulling me out of the car.

“Look at me,” he says, and I obey. “You’re my wife now, Anna Fury. The mother of my child. There will be no annulment. No divorce. Not between us. Not ever.”

“But what if you fall in love with someone? I don’t want to be in your way,” I whisper, confessing one of my greatest fears out loud.

“That’s not possible,” he replies, and my heart constricts.

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