Page 54 of Vengeful Secret

“It’s the safest school district in town, Gray, I promise.” I smile a little at his overprotective streak.

“It's just with everything going on…” He pauses before speaking again. “I think I’ll station someone here to watch out for her, just in case.”

“Whatever makes you feel better.” And honestly, it makes me feel better too, even if I know she is safe here.

Gray and I get back into the car, and he looks at me from the corner of his eye.

“Thank you for letting me speak with the teacher.”

“Of course, Gray. I know you want to get to know Ciara better.”

“I have a million questions.”

“I’ll do my best to answer them.”

“Now that you say that, it’s like I can’t even think of one.” He chuckles, letting out a breath. “What was she like as a baby?”

I chuckle. “Just as she is now, but angrier. She breastfed constantly, and even when I put her on formula it was hard to wean her. She just loved to eat. She still does.”

“Does she? What are her favorite foods?”

“Chicken nuggets. Pizza, the normal kid stuff. Everything bad for her. Oh, and spicy chips.”

“Spicy chips?”

“Reallyspicy chips.” I laugh. “Like so spicy I can’t even eat them.”

“I love spicy foods,” he murmurs, and I nod, smiling.

“Yeah, I always wondered if that was where she got it from.”

“You could have asked me.”

“Gray, please?—”

“I can’t help it!”

The tension in the air seems to cut deeper than it did before.

“I can’t help thinking about what might have happened if you’d just told me, if you hadn’t just dumped me."

“It wasn't like that, Gray. I just didn’t want to?—”

“Didn’t want to what?”

“Didn’t want to get wrapped up in your lifestyle. It was you I liked, but nothing about the lifestyle appealed to me. On the contrary, it scared me. Even before I was pregnant with Ciara.”

“You never said that to me.”

“What was I supposed to say? I know you’re an Irish mobster, but I don’t want to be a target?”

He stares at me. “Yes. That’s exactly what you should have said. Then I could have told you that I’ll always protect you. I could have convinced you.”

“Gray, you couldn’t have?—”

Gray’s phone starts to buzz incessantly in his pocket.

He picks it up quickly, turning into the estate. “Gray.”

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