Page 21 of Toxic

"No?"

"Nope."

She scrunches her face. "Are you sad?"

I force a smile. "Nope. And I'm glad I know now, because I want you to be my Valentine."

Arianna hugs me again and I kiss her forehead.

"Go tell Mamma I'm taking you out, sweetheart. We'll leave in thirty minutes."

"Okay!" She runs out of the room.

I take the Montana sapphire and lock it in my safe. What I'm doing with it, I'm not sure. All it's going to do is torture me.

The only thing I can think is that it's meant to be Bridget's, but that's never happening.

4

Bridget

Five Years Later

Sean Jr.'swail fills the restaurant. I rub his back, trying to calm him and ignoring the rude stares.

Nasty bitches. He's only two.

Why did I convince myself a piece of apple pie was worth taking him out?

I'm in New York, visiting my father. I'm thirty weeks pregnant, and Sean and I decided to take one final trip. He and my father had something to do with clan business, so I braved this little adventure that I'm now regretting. The restaurant I'm in is pretty exclusive, so I usually don't come here, but they have the best pie. Yet, all I've done is exhaust myself coming here.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" I coo.

His face is bright red, and tears stain his cheeks. Drool slides down his chin, and I wipe it.

"Oh, sweetie. Are your molars coming in?" I slide my finger in his cheek, and there's no doubt. His gums are bright red.

He screams, beating his tiny fists on my chest, and one woman states in an intentionally loud voice, "Kids who can't stay quiet should stay home."

"Actually, bitchy women shouldn't leave their house," a deep, familiar voice replies behind me.

The woman gasps.

I spin and freeze.

Dante looms over me in his black suit and tie. His dark eyes fix on mine. Before I know what's happening, he pulls out the chair next to me and sits. "Bridge, good to see you."

Sean Jr. pounds a fist into my cheek, and I wince.

"Whoa! Easy there, killer!" Dante says then grabs Sean.

"What—"

"Hey, you can't hit your mommy like that," he says in a calm voice, holding Sean's face near his.

To my surprise, Sean's cries get softer. He sniffles and tilts his head.

"That's it, buddy. Now, what's wrong?"

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