Page 36 of The Obsession
Lucia must follow my line of sight because she says, “She’s having so much fun with the other kids. Have you thought about putting her into daycare?”
My gaze snaps back to her. “I’m not leaving her with strangers, I thought we went over this already.”
She rolls her eyes before turning back to the sink. “It’s cute how much you love that little girl?—”
“I didn’t come in here to get insulted.”
Lucia lets out a small laugh. “Saying you’re cute isn’t an insult.”
“I beg to differ.”
“She needs to be around other kids sometimes. I’m sure you’ve noticed how much fun she’s been having this weekend. She’s usually plastered to your side?—”
“Point taken,” I grumble, cutting her off. “But you have a kid now, she can play with him.”
“He’s a baby, Dom. By the time he’s old enough to play with Peach, she’ll be ready to start school.”
I release a low growl because the thought of my girl growing up so fast gives me a goddamn ache in my chest. It only seems like yesterday that I held her in the hospital for the first time. “Can we not go there?”
That frustrating grin on her face grows. “You’ll be forced to leave her with strangers then.”
“Not if I home school her.”
Lucia gasps. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
She shakes her head. “You Italian men are so stubborn and headstrong.”
“And you’re not?” She rolls her eyes again, but she knows I’m right. “I know you’ve had a house full of people the past two days, but could I trouble you to watch Peach for an hour while I go check on Emily?”
Her eyes widen. “You’re going to her house?”
“No, I’m going to La Riviera. The chef said she has a shift there today.”
“Can I come?”
“No!”
“Ugh,” she groans. “What are you going to say to her?”
“I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
“You’re being cute again,” she says, smirking.
“I swear to God if you call me that again?—”
“You’ll do what?” a voice barks from behind me.
I narrow my eyes at Lucia when she rolls her lips to hide her smile, before I turn to face her husband.
“She called me cute … twice,” I grumble.
Romeo barks out a laugh before placing his hand on my shoulder. “If the shoe fits, big guy. And just to be clear, threaten my wife like that again and we’re going to have a problem.”
My head’s all over the place by the time I arrive at La Riviera. I shouldn’t even be here. I know that. We’re not friends, not really. But those bruises—the first one I noticed on her wrist the day we met, the cut lip that reminded me of the day I found my mother, and the fresh mark shadowing her cheek yesterday—won’t leave me alone. They’re gnawing in the back of my mind, and getting so loud it feels like they are screaming for me to do something. To stop this before it’s too late.
My stupid heart is hammering like I’m about to commit a crime when I exit the car. What if she thinks I’m a creep for not leaving her alone? Or worse, that I’m pitying her? I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. I don’t want to cross a line. I just want her to be safe.
