Page 23 of Stolen Seconds

Yeah, I was keeping an eye on this fucker, alright.

I spread my arms wide, gesturing around us as I let a grin creep on my face. “Welcome to Italy.” I patted his shoulder on my way out. “Don’t get comfortable,” I added sternly.

When I reached my bike, I texted Ric to send me a file on Viktor Morozov.

Chapter 6

Irina

Rain pattered softly against the window, easing me in a state of comfort.

“When are you going to open up the office in New York again?”

My eyes drifted away from the glass and toward Aurora. She was seated in her office chair, a stack of paperwork in front of her.

A smile touched my lips at the way her brows furrowed as she focused on her task.

I stood from the window seat and made my way toward her.

She turned her chair and my eyes fell to her baby bump, which was evident now that she stopped trying to hide it in loose clothes.

“When areyougoing to stopworking?” I asked, spreading my palm over her stomach.

“Don’t avoid the question,” she scolded. “You love working.”

After Aurora moved back to Italy, I was the one who decided to end our partnership firm back in New York.

I transferred our clients to a trusted firm for the time being, but many of them stuck with Aurora due to her previous successes.

She was right though. I did love working but with the passing of my mother and the discovery of my brother shortly after, that dreaded feeling inside my chest became overwhelming and I needed a pause.

Aurora gasped—nearly giving me a heart attack—as she put her hand over mine and laughed. “Do you feel it? The baby is kicking.”

There was a slight movement beneath my fingertips, and it made my heart soar. I already loved the little one, and I hadn’t even met them yet.

“I feel it,” I croaked out. “Am I the first to feel it move?”

Aurora shook her head, her green eyes sparking with humor.

“Roman?” Of course, he felt it first. If he hadn’t, I’m sure the bastard would’ve found a way to go back in time.

She winced, her nose scrunching slightly. “Nope. He may or may not have gone on a rampage.”

“Then who?”

“Luca.”

One name. Two syllables. That was all it took for my pulse to rise steadily.

My skin became hot, the faint sensation of lightheadedness nearing as I recalled the way our bodies had molded together only days ago.

The brute talked, touched and invaded my space as if he had the right to. As if he was so sure he’d have me.

I didn’t care what sort of adrenaline spiked through my veins with his mere presence. The hollowness inside my chest could rot for all I cared.

Stay in this position and I might adhere to your request.

Shallow breaths escaped me, sensing the weight of him on me as if he were still there.

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