Page 37 of Hers to Control

She rolls her eyes. “Pervert.”

I don’t allow my lips to curl into a smile. For now, she’s still working too hard to get away from me to give her even an inch.

Another thirty minutes later and we are on our way back to the cabin. The blood work will take a couple of days, but we can check that online, using the fake name and birth date from the forged health card I used to sign Mia in at the clinic.

The question is, what’s next?

“I’ll check in with Gianna,” I tell Mia, who is just stripping out of her jacket. Her shoulder-length brown hair is static and she pushes it out of her face.

“Fine. I’ll go to the bathroom real quick.”

I nod, pulling out my phone. A moment later, my cousin answers.

“How’s Mia?”

“She’s fine. So is the baby. We were just at the clinic.”

“Good.”

“Any new info?” I ask, hoping for something that will help me decide on the next step. I hate being reactive. I’d much rather getout there and do something, but I’ve also never had a pregnant woman to protect before.

“Actually, yes, something has come up.”

Mia

“I have to go into the city.” Eric looks pissed.

I try to act nonchalant, even as his words make hope rear its ugly head. Maybe this will give me the chance to walk away from him.

“What’s going on?”

He runs a hand through his hair. “Riccardo Angelo has reached out to Gianna.”

“So?” I’m not sure what that means. Angelo is the head of the Angelo syndicate and, as far as I know, there are currently no problems between the two Italian families. Other than Mikhail suggesting that the man may not love the fact that Gianna is engaged to a Russian.

“There is going to be a meeting, and Gianna needs me to go.”

I nod, slowly, trying to keep my reaction mild.

Eric curses under his breath, so I stay quiet, watching him from my usual spot on the couch. He walks to the kitchen and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge, then he checks his gun and pats his pocket for his keys.

He’s actually going to leave.

The second of panic I experience because of that realization is something I press down hard into my subconscious. It’s fucked up to think I’m safer with him here when he is a part of the threat. His leaving is exactly the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Just because we fucked a few times doesn’t mean I should start thinking of him as someone who could be a part of my life. Even if I were willing to take the risk with myself, I would never, ever do that to Peanut.

If there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that having a criminal as a father means having a selfish, irresponsible parent who willalways put themselves first and you second. They will always put you in harm’s way, and I won’t allow that to happen to my baby.

Eric walks into the back room and returns a couple of minutes later. He doesn’t have his bag, but I don’t bother asking him what he did back there. No unnecessary questions that could raise his suspicion. Best to stay as quiet as possible.

Unfortunately, Eric’s attention lands on me, anyway. It was to be expected, but it still squashes a bit of hope in me when he positions himself right in front of me, forcing me to tilt my head up to look him in the face.

This is the cold man I’d seen with Gianna a few times before I had to run. He is the one my friend assigned as my protector. The man I always saw before we slept together. His expression is passive, but there is violence lurking in his eyes. He is dangerous, and anyone looking at him right now could tell.

I didn’t need the reminder, but it’s still a good one.

“Don’t get any stupid ideas. You’re pregnant, for fuck’s sake. Stay here until I come back.”

I try to mimic his expressionless look. “Okay.”

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