Page 20 of The Bargain

As the shop assistants piled our bags into the car, my stomach growled loudly. Dean closed the trunk and turned toward me.

“Hungry?”

I looked at him silently. What could I say? I was ravenous, but he was not one to care about my needs.

He sighed. “Come on, let’s go. I know a little Italian restaurant we pass on the way back. We'll eat there,” he announced as he climbed in behind the wheel.

Was he high? He’d made me bleed enough for the day. No way was I going to spend more time with him than was strictly necessary.

“No,” I replied as I buckled my seatbelt.

He turned toward me, looking confused. I assumed ‘no’ was not a word he heard often.

My stomach used that moment to betray me again, its growl even more deafening inside the car.

His eyes trailed down to my stomach before returning to my face. His emerald eyes, cold and bright like a piece of broken glass ready to pierce my skin. “Don’t be a child. Or do you not like Italian? Do we need to go to Chuck E. Cheese?” he asked, starting the car.

No, it’s you I don’t like. “No, because I don’t want to. No, because I’ve spent enough time with you. No, because I want to go home to Timmy.” I shrugged. “Take the answer that fits your ego best. Either way, I'm not eating with you.”

He looked at me silently, his nostrils flaring, his lips pinching in a tight line. He was furious at me and I took a little pleasure in that.

“Very well,” he snapped. Revving the car like a madman, he drove out of the parking lot much faster than I would have liked.

He was silent for a few minutes, speeding down the road. I glanced his way, not missing the muscles of his jaw bulging as he ground his teeth.

“One more thing,” he announced so coldly I knew pain was coming. “You’re not going home. This is notyourhome, it’smyhome, Timothy’s home. You’re just a broken piece that doesn’t fit anywhere and who’s here based on my goodwill only. Don't forget that.”

How could I? I’ve never fitted anywhere and I’ve been broken since I was born. “I won't,” I replied as calmly as I could despite the lump of tears building in my throat.

“Are you ready to go?” I asked the infuriating woman who was already waiting for me in the kitchen. The child was nearly dressed too.

She was not at all what I’d expected her to be. She was ready on time, helping around the place, and taking very good care of the child even when she thought nobody was watching.

She was an addict though. She knew how to fake, how to cheat her world. I was a smart man, a cunning man, and yet, Edward had managed to fool me more times than I cared to admit.

So far, she’d yet to fall for my traps. She had not stolen the diamond ring that was ‘lost’ on the floor. No, she'd sought Mrs. James and had given it to her for safekeeping.

She’d not taken the platinum money clip that had fallen out of my pocket. Instead, she’d knocked on my office door and given it back to me.

She’d take the bait eventually though. She was simply smarter, more prepared than I’d given her credit for, but with the right trigger, she would fall. I knew it.

She nodded. “Just let me put Timmy in his suit and we’ll be ready to go.”

I detailed her as she dressed the child, trying my hardest to contain my sigh.

I’d spent nearly $10k in clothes and accessories for her just a few days ago and she was still dressed down in a pair of dark blue jeans, a red henley I didn’t even remember buying for her and a pair of biker boots. With her hair held up in a high ponytail and her face make-up free, except for a little lip gloss, she looked so innocent, so pure. I was almost fooled, I would’ve been if I didn’t know better.

“Okay, I’m good to go,” she said after securing the child in the car seat.

I extended my hand toward it. “Allow me.” It was not so much a request, but an order.

I looked deep into the child’s eyes as I reached for him. His eyes were so similar to mine, to Edward’s, and my heart gave an unfamiliar squeeze. It was a feeling I was not willing to explore - now or ever.

I cleared my throat. “Time to move. We can’t be late.”

She grumbled something behind my back - I was sure it was all but complimentary - as she grabbed the changing bag. As we reached the entrance, she grabbed her coat.

The drive to the hospital was made in silence, but it didn’t seem to bother her. I scowled at the road. That also was something new - women always wanted to talk, just like Helle, who just couldn’t shut up.

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