Page 78 of Primal God

See you soon.

16

Lilith

“Dimitri was very adamant,” Mrs. Carter says as she holds onto Isadora. “All three were to stay over tonight. He said you had a project that you needed to work on.”

I mean, there’s always schoolwork, but I don’t know how Dimitri would know this. I’ve gone out of my way to avoid him ever since…

I smile. “Well, alright then. Please call if you need anything.”

“Of course.”

She’s closing the door on my face a moment later.

I make my way back to the SUV. Why didn’t he tell me that all three kids were staying? I check my phone just to make sure he didn’t text me or something. I haven’t exactly been with it all week, mostly because I’m not sleeping well. Hard to find a good night’s rest when a disaster is looming over your head. The only bright side is that I haven’t heard from Adam or my uncle all week.

When I pull up to the house, I see a red sports car that I don’t recognize parked in the driveway. Suddenly, Dimitri’s words from last week come crashing back to me.

He’s going on a date tonight. Is that why he wanted all three kids gone for the evening?

I literally feel sick to my stomach.

I sit in the car for a while until I find the courage to go inside. An unfamiliar floral scent lingers in the foyer, but not much further than that. A quick check of the first floor reveals they aren’t here. I look up the stairs. Or, if they are, they’re in his room.

Slowly, I make my way up the steps. When I reach the top, I turn toward his room, stopping in front of the door. I can smell his cologne in the air, but not the perfume. After listening for a moment, I sigh. He’s not here. I shouldn’t be so relieved that he’s not here, but I am and for reasons I’d rather not examine too closely.

I go toward my room and stop when I see a note taped on the door.

Lilith,

Consider tonight an extra night off. Please feel free to use the pool.

-Dimitri

I trace over his name like a love struck fool.

Shaking my head, I enter my room, going to my bed where my laptop is.

I’ve been doing some research on arranged marriages. From what I can tell, Uncle Wolfe can’t really force me to go through with this. Not legally, at least, which is why I’m sure he’sthreatened me several times. Also, not legal, but it could ruin my life if my secret got out. I sigh. And it would ruin things.

My head aches. Since I’m not going to solve my problems tonight, I think I’ll listen to Dimitri and go for a swim. It’s hotter than Hades out there tonight, and maybe I’ll have some kind of epiphany while floating under the stars. I send Cecely a text, checking in on Raquel. She assures me that everything is fine and to enjoy my night. There’s a part of me that just wants to go to the apartment and spend time with my little girl, but, again, if the kids decide they want to come home, I’ll be further away.

I change into my purple swimsuit and grab my phone. I was worried about Diego staying the night until I found out that he goes to the same speech therapist as Mrs. Carter’s youngest son. She assured me she knew how to take care of him, and I have to believe Dimitri wouldn’t let them stay if he didn’t trust the Carters.

Outside, I kick off my flip-flops and grab a towel from the pool house, setting it in the chair next to my phone. I might turn my playlist on later, but for now, I just want to swim in silence. The only light comes from the lit pool and from the moon. It’s kind of magical, really.

Using the stairs, I walk into the pool and don’t stop until I’m treading water. God, this is just perfect. I dip my head underwater and then float on my back, looking up at the night sky.

I’m deep in thought when a giggle has me turning, only to find Dimitri walking outside with an older woman. He’s pointing at something, and she nods. Did he…did he really bring his date back here? I shake my head, snapping myself out of my thoughts. Maybe instead of being jealous, I should focus on the real issue at hand. Ya know, the one where I’m in the man’s pool!

The woman says, “It’s beautiful out here, Dimi.”

Dimi? Is this woman for real?

“I have to agree, Jackie. Would you like to sit?”

She giggles again. “Or we could take a dip in the pool.”

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