Page 81 of Smitten with the Single Dad

“Nadine is running the bar for me. So I think I’m just going to take Si home for the night.”

Silas’s eyes lit up. “You’re home for the night?”

“Yeah, bud. Trying more of a work-life balance thing.” He winked at Clint and Jagger before he and his son left.

“Thanks, Vica!” Silas called back to her just before they closed the door.

“Prego!”she replied.

“What does that mean?” Griffon asked.

“No problem. You’re welcome. Don’t mention it.”

“Prego,” he repeated. “And what is ‘thank you’?”

“Grazie.”

“Grazie. Prego. Scorregia.”He did the same thing with his thumb and fingers as before and it made Jagger and Clint chuckle.

“Okay, I’m going to head home,” Clint said. “Message me if you need anything.” He lifted the bowl of pasta. “Thank you for this.”

“Prego,” Griffon said, beaming.

“Do you think Dad is hungry?” Jake asked, glancing down at his sleepingfather.

“I think we just need to let him rest, buddy,” Jagger said, resting a hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “If he wakes up and wants something to eat later, then we can offer. But right now, he just needs to rest his mind and body.”

Jake nodded. “Okay.”

“Let’s go finish our dinner,” Jagger encouraged, steering his nephews toward the kitchen table again.

Vica sat down at the end of the couch by Wyatt’s feet and just stared at him. This was her fault. All of it. And yet, she was so unbelievably happy here. She was in danger. She was a prisoner because she refused to be silenced. She refused to take hush money, and now, Wyndham Croft was trying to quiet her for good. How long before they really did work a lot harder—and succeed—to get rid of her?

Wyatt was already really hurt, and the boys could have been hurt so much worse as well.

Maybe it would be safer, be better for everyone if she just left.

A dull ache formed in her chest at the thought of leaving. She’d fallen in love with her husband, his children, his family, and his island. And yet, her presence there was putting them all in peril.

Tears stung the back of her eyes, and her throat grew tight and painful.

She loved them and her heart would break.

But to keep them safe, she needed to let them go.

Standing up, she grabbed her phone from the pocket of her tight yoga pants and called Gabrielle. Her lawyer would know what to do. She used to help relocate women in danger all the time. Maybe she could help Vica too.

Otherwise, Vica would have to do it herself.

Either way, she couldn’t stay here. Not if it put those she loved most in the path of danger.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Wyatt was told to take it easy, which was not easy at all.

He never liked sitting still, which was hilarious considering that he was a scout sniper with the marines. He could sit still for hours waiting for his mark and had patience in droves—when it came to the job. But when it came to his personal life, he was absolute shit at it.

Justine came by every day to check on him and every day she said the same thing, “Take it easy. Rest is best. Don’t over do it. Your body needs to heal.”

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