Page 25 of A Game of Secrets

Watching from the shadows, I peek in to see the boy looking excited, "That's great Mommy! I can't wait but can she get Reese's pieces too?"

"I tell you what buddy, why don't we buy some for you to take with you to share?" she replies, she looks so lovingly at him. How a mother should be with her child. I'm happy for the kid, and in awe of her, my mouse, my muse.

"Yesss!" he shouts.

"OK little man, now it's time to get you to bed,” she tells him, leading the way to his bedroom. Ten minutes later she's returning to the lounge, she sits down and flicks through the channels, finally deciding on a Netflix series, Virgin River. I watch her, fully engrossed in what is happening before her on the screen, until her phone flashes. She looks at the screen and smiles, "Hey Max."

The thought of her finding any joy from that piece of shit angers me, not with her but with him. This angel obviously sees the best in people, her occupation sees to that. I clench my fist and continue to listen in on their conversation, fighting back the anger.

"Yes I'll be there Saturday night, don't worry. Just make sure you don't get so hurt that I can't patch you up," she says jokingly. What the fuck? She's going to be at the fight? This is perfect for me to see her again, but I also don't want her there on their side. I want her on our team, patching our guys up. Maybe I should tell Silas, knowing he'll challenge Max. And it would be interesting to see how she reacts to seeing Silas again now he’s out of prison.

"Yeah Kat will watch Teddy, don't worry he'll be fine. Drop me a message when you’re on your way Saturday. I'll see you soon, love you." She hangs up and continues to watch her idyllic, shitty little program.

I am fuming!Love you!What? This is going to piss Silas off, and I suspect Linc too. I'm pissed off but I have a delicious plan to make her mine and not that scumbag Costello’s. Deep in thought, I don't notice her moving from the sofa to the window. I quickly move to hide around the side of her building. She's looking around as though she can hear my heart beating in my chest. She opens the patio doors and says "Hello?" I feel like I'd freak her out if I stepped out from the shadows but now I'm itching to do it.

"Hello Topolino," I say, taking a step out of the shadows.

''What the hell!?" she screams before I can put my hand over her mouth to stop her.

"You don't want to wake your son or neighbors, do you?" I whisper into her ear. Her breathing is ragged, her heart is beating like mine in her chest at the thrill of this. "Are you going to calm down and not scream if I remove my hand, Topolino?" I ask calmly. She nods, her eyes are wild. She's scared, but not of me. Who is it that she’s scared of in the dark?

"What are you doing here, Tomcat? Have you been stalking me? Are you the one sending me those roses!?" She rushes out. I smirk because she's flustered by me, and my presence is making her giddy.

"Shall we go inside for a chat? Or do you prefer the moonlight? You do look beautiful in it," I say, ignoring her questions. I'm not sure she's ready for the answers.

"What? No! My son is asleep, you can't come in and I'm not talking to you out here if you won't answer my questions" she explains. I look around and spot the curtains twitching on the apartment opposite.

I sigh, "Well your neighbors are nosy and watching us. What would you prefer? Be gossiped about by Mrs Willis and her friends, or let me come in and I'll answer one question for you.”

“Fine but after that you go, okay?" she says.

"Of course, if that's what you want, Topolino." She heads inside and I follow closely behind her.

I close the patio doors behind me, she turns to me and says, "Why are you here? What do you want?" Her hands are on her hips and she looks like she means business. It's very cute.

I smile, "I said one question, Topolino, which do you choose?"

She frowns at me, thinking about what to say, "Make it two and I won't call the cops." I laugh, is she really bargaining with me?

"Okay Topolino, ask away and I'll decide if I'll answer one or two questions."

"Why are you here?" she asks.

I simply reply, "I wanted to make sure you're safe and I can't seem to stop thinking about you." She looks surprised, "So no one sent you? You're the one who's been sending me these roses?"

"No one sent me, do you have enemies Topolino? Is Max Costello a threat to you? As for the roses, yes, I thought you deserved to have something to make you smile," I admit, staring into her emerald eyes. I realize I want to spend the rest of my life getting lost in them l think to myself before watching to see her reaction to me mentioning Max.

"Max? Oh god no, he's no threat." She states choosing her words carefully she continues. "Thank you for the roses, they were thoughtful. Next time maybe leave a note or you know, have a conversation with me, it's a bit creepy." She laughs like she didn't mean to say the last part, her cheeks are flushed.

I nod saying, "OK, well I've got business to get back to now that I know you’re safe. I'll see you around, Topolino"

"Wait, so you don't work for Max right?" she asks.

What a strange question. Moving closer to her I whisper against her lips, "No my love, I do not. You'll see who I work for Saturday night." Her breathing has stilled and I bite her lip before kissing her tenderly before I slip away, back out of the patio doors, leaving her alone and stunned.

As I'm walking back to my bike, I think about how she didn't answer about her enemies but she did say that Max was not a threat to her. He means something to her but I'm not sure what. Linc needs to find out or I will be doing my own investigating on Saturday night. I need to know what kind of relationship she has with that trash. I’m more that willing to erase it from her memory if he's touched her more than platonically. I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Silas's number hoping he's not got his cock stuck in some pussy.

It rings twice before he answers, "Have you calmed down brother?" he asks.

---