Page 51 of Shark Bait

Alessio gives me a look that pretty much says,I can’t believe you asked me that.Valerina smiles politely at my dumbass question.

“It was a rhetorical question,” I lie. I’m adjusting to the fact that my new friends are millionaires. “They’re beautiful. Can I wear them now?” I look to Alessio for approval, then realize I can do whatever I want because I’m a free woman and these earrings are mine, like the baby is mine, like the money we found on the yacht is mine.

Shark’s already pulling them from the box and putting them through the holes in my ears.

“Caaaaake,” Leo cries, real tears rolling down his cheeks.

I grab the knife, flip it over for good luck, and cut my pretty birthday cake.

EIGHTEEN

RIP THE DRESS

TROY

The rule in the Angelini household states that kids get to stay up extra late during birthdays. Kids also get to have all the cake they can eat without throwing up. Needless to say, Leo walked away at ten o’clock, rubbing his tummy.

I had a great time as well, and I make sure Valerina knows what it means to me to have been welcomed in such a way. She’s a nice person and an easy conversationalist, while her brother is an alpha male you can depend on to handle any type of situation, especially the critical ones. I can see why Shark trusts him.

In the bedroom, I slip off my flip-flops and wiggle my swollen toes. I don’t know why I’m swelling so much today. I worry my lip between my teeth.

Shark immediately picks up on my mood. “What’s the matter?”

“I’m wondering why I’m swelling. I think this is supposed to happen later in the pregnancy, not now.”

“You can ask Tatiana when you see her.”

“Will you come with me?”

He seems surprised by my question. “I can tell you that I will, but that is a promise I can’t make because my attendancedepends on my work schedule and how events unfold tomorrow.”

I feel a pang in my chest. Disappointment stings, but I shrug as if it doesn’t matter. “That’s fine.”

Shark narrows his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re fine when you’re hurt.”

“I’m not hurt.” I turn away from him and search the drawers for pajamas. I find a stack of large cotton T-shirts and take one, flinging it toward the bed. It lands on the mattress.

As I start to undo the zipper on the dress, Shark picks up the T-shirt and puts it back into the drawer.

“I’ll get you another shirt to sleep in,” he says.

“Is there something wrong with this one?”

“It’s not mine.”

Shark watches me, his gaze intense. I refocus on the zipper of my dress, which I’m having trouble with. “You’re not allowed to say things like that after you refuse to accompany me to the first checkup with the baby. The baby and I are a whole package. You can’t have one without the other.”

Agile fingers take over the zipper.

Agitated, I move away.

Shark tucks his hands into his pockets. “I would rather say no than make a promise I can’t keep.”

I fuss with the stupid zipper. “I don’t know why you have to be so reasonable either.”

“It comes with age,” he says.

I suppress a smile even though I’m still struggling with the dress.

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