Page 73 of Primal God

“I’ll take it.”

She pauses. “Are you sure there’s not someone we can call? The police?”

I shake my head. “I’d like to check out, please.”

“Of course.”

She rings up my purchase and hands it to me in a small black bag with pink tissue paper.

“Thank you,” I say as I take the bag. And I really mean it. She helped me more than she knows.

My cheek still hurts, but at least I don’t feel like people are staring when I leave the store.

As I walk, Uncle Wolfe’s words dance through my mind. He’s going to force me to get married, even if it means ruining my life. The big question is why. Why does he want me to marry Adam so badly? I don’t buy the whole ‘wanting to take care of me’ bull crap. No, there has to be something that he’s gaining. Money? Power? Tears fill my eyes. The bigger question is, how do I get myself out of this?

Something Uncle Wolfe said stuck out to me. He said he wanted me to finish working for Dimitri, so it doesn’t raise suspicions. Again, it makes me wonder if Uncle Wolfe doesn’t know Dimitri.

I come to a stop in front of a toy store. Something inside catches my eye and I walk in, picking up the small package.

“I’ll take this, please.”

After I leave the mall, I take another Uber to my apartment. Cecely is at work, so Harvey is watching Raquel.

“How’s my girl doing?” I ask as I scoop her up.

“She’s the best baby in the world,” he says with a grin.

“She really is.”

But I can’t help but think about Isadora. She, too, is a good baby. I wonder how she would like Raquel. My eyes are watering as I nuzzle the top of Raquel’s head.

“How was the date?”

I groan. “Terrible.”

“So, no date number three?”

“TBD.”

Harvey is silent for a moment before saying, “You need more contour on your cheek. To hide the bruising better.”

I meet his gaze, and he gives me a small smile.

“I had an ex that liked to talk with his fists.” He takes my hand in his. “You’re a strong woman, Lilith Wolfe. You don’t take shit from no one.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It never is. Now come to my room so I can show you how to hide that shiner.”

It’s late when the Uber drops me off at Dimitri’s house. I feel like a jerk for coming in at nearly midnight, but it had to be done. I’m really hoping he’s asleep and doesn’t even notice that I’m here. I enter the code for the front door. When I’m inside, I close the door softly behind me. All the lights are off, and I let out a small sigh of relief. That sigh turns into a yelp as I stumble over a pair of shoes near the door. Dang it. These belong to Clara, and I make a mental note to remind her of the shoe rack in the morning.

I’m almost to the stair landing when a light turns on. Spinning, I find Dimitri sitting on the couch.

“You’re late.”

“Sorry. Time must have gotten away from me.”

He stands, moving toward me.

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