Page 60 of Monster in Disguise

"You thought what?"

"I thought maybe you were only taking care of us because you had to. Because something happened to mamma and she was afraid...especially after Father Guerra..." Her voice trails off, and I can see the tremble in her lip. My heart aches, wanting to pull her into a comforting embrace. To tell her that no one will ever hurt her again.

But I can't.

"Mamma is trying to protect me, isn't she?" she asks, and I struggle for an answer.

"You don't have to worry about any of that anymore, Claudia. You're safe here. Your mother is safe here," I try my best to placate her.

"But... she's not very happy," she finally says. Is this why she came here?

"What do you mean?"

"You don't like her, do you? That's why you avoid her."

"Did she say that? That I don't like her?" I frown. I didn't realize my actions would be construed like that.

"Not exactly... but she thinks she's imposing on you."

"That's not the case, Claudia. I assure you. I like your mother very much, and just like I told you, I'm not avoiding her, I'm busy with work."

"You like her?" Her eyes widen, and a smile stretches across her face. Shit! Did I fall into a trap?

"Erm... Of course I like her." What else can I tell a ten-year-old?

"Yes, I knew it! Mamma likes you too, you know. I think she was sad because she thought you didn't like her." She jumps from her seat. "I have to tell her."

"Wa..." Wait. I'm a second too late, as she's already run out.

Damn!

This is exactly what I needed. I shake my head ruefully at the thought.

I do like her, and thatisthe issue. And I like her too much to get close to her. Our arrangement needs to stay as it is. With me as far away from her as possible.

Seeing the direction my thoughts are taking, I distract myself by going over the documents again. The shipment that had been stopped had cost us over two million in lost merchandise. Since the attack, I've postponed other deliveries to figure out an alternative route.

It's even worse because we still don't know for sure if the Irish were behind the attack, or other organizations. The more I look at the figures, the more frustrated I become. I pull out myphone and dial Vlad, hoping he has some additional information regarding the attack.

It rings twice before I hear him.

"I see that wedded bliss is not all they say it is, is it?" he asks ironically, and I have the urge to roll my eyes.

"Have you heard anything about the attack?"

"No. I must give it to them, whoever they are. They've erased their traces. From the outside, it looks like an Irish attack..."

"But?"

"But it doesn't fit. Quinn's been sighted all over New York since then. You'd think after a declaration of war he'd be more careful about where he shows his face."

"I think you forget the guy is a machine. Maybe he's just overconfident?"

"No." Vlad pauses. "He grew up in this lifestyle. He knows exactly what it entails. He knows, especially when to retreat."

"So what are you saying?" I ask, curious to see what Vlad's getting at.

"I have two working hypotheses. Either his father is working by himself, seeing how he's been in hiding since the attack on Agosti, or..."

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