Page 20 of A Seed Of Peril

I need you NOW. Don’t scare Katrina. Man here w/ a weapon alert!!!

Staring at my belly, I regretted not waiting for Katrina to finish what she wanted before coming over here without Sonny. If it had come to it, I would’ve thrown hands with this guy to protect me and my son, even if it meant getting hurt. I wasn’t sure what agenda the stranger had.Was he a creeper? A socially awkward man?Some kind of criminal?I snuck a peek to my right, and there was Sonny, holding Katrina, his strides great and brisk on his way across the shop. He waved for me to come to him. Feigning frustration at the clothes, I sighed and flicked a random shirt on my way out of that section.

“Are you ready to go?” Sonny asked.

“Hell yes.”

He set Katrina down next to me and stepped closer, talking in my ear. “In there?” I nodded. He took a step back and reached inside the front of his suit jacket, handing me the keys to his Escalade before opening his wallet. “Lock the doors.” He passed me his credit card.

“Understood.” I patted the crown of Katrina’s head, smiling at her for reassurance. “Let’s go pay for our stuff. Sound good?”

“Okay, Lulu.” I took firm hold of her hand and walked us back toward the checkout desk. Sonny was already in the men’s clothing section before I could make my first step past him. “They had Barbies, Lulu!”

“How many did you get?” Seeing her collection in her arms, I’d say she raided the doll selection fairly well.

“A lot.”

Amused, I shook my head, reaching the checkout.

After the cashier thanked us for shopping there, I told her to have a good day and walked me and Katrina out of the shop. Even though the air was cold, it was a relief. I breathed in deep, exhaling as I pressed the button to unlock the SUV’s doors. I helped Katrina into the backseat and buckled her in, shutting her door. Sonny fell into view through the shop windows after I rounded the back of the Escalade.

Hand on the handle of the passenger door, I gave Sonny a thumb’s up. He nodded once.

We got in the SUV and buckled up. Sonny started the engine. After we backed out of the parking lot, I helped Katrina retrieve her leftovers from her Happy Meal®, and then, I leaned against my seat, my head against the headrest, taking another deep breath to collect myself. Katrina was safe. Sonny was safe, and so were me and my son. I put my hands on my belly, calming down further with each kick and movement.

Though I wasthankful nothing happened with that stranger, everything could’ve gone in the opposite direction so fucking fast. From now on, I planned to take my purse with me wherever I went, bringing my .22 with me. Maybe a knife or pepper spray, too.

Who was he? Was he a local? Was it just coincidental timing, or was that planned? Was he going to hurt me? Would Dominic let me leave the fucking house again or keep me on a ball and chain for the rest of my life? Fuck.

I stared at the ceiling, tired. Tired physically and tired of being on guard. “Who was that, Sonny?”

“Still figuring that out.”

“Did he say anything?”

“Lulu? Can we still go to the playground? It’s not dark yet, and I want to sit on the swings! I want to try to jump farther. My stupid shoe messed me up last time—stupid laces. I want Velcro! Those won’t make me mess up.”

The playground. Damn it! I covered my face, groaning. I forgot. Fucking pregnancy fog! Fucking asshole who had to ruin this fucking day! Tears sprung to my eyes. I should’ve stuck with Sonny and Katrina. He was right on being hesitant to let me wander the shop alone, and I fucking hated it. Being in this life, dating a mafia don brought with it its own set of risks, and having his child cemented me in this life. I loved it most of the time and having that second chance away from poverty and insecurity, but this business also carried with it its own insecurity.What if that stranger hurt me? What if he tried to kill me? My son?

A shaky breath escaped me. When I broke down, bursting into tears, Sonny placed his hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort me.

“The playground will have to be another day,” Sonny informed Katrina. “We’ll talk about it when we get home.”

“Is that why Lulu’s crying?”

There was a pause like Sonny searched for the words.

“We feel bad, but we need to get home. There’s always another day.”

I cried harder at that, the guilt massive. Her afternoon was ruined, and it was my fault. If I had listened…

“Please don’t be sad, Lulu. Like Uncle Sonny said, we can go another day. We don’t have to go to the playground today, as long as I can spend time with you.”

Wiping my eyes, I looked at her, reaching behind me, holding out my hand for her to hold. Reaching forward, she grabbed it. Katrina was an amazing kid. She was right; we’d spend more time together once we got home. I smiled, thinking about us playing with her new dolls, maybe putting on one of her favorite movies and snuggling, munching on popcorn.

“I love you,” I told her.

“I love you, too, Lulu.”

---