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Including the lamb.
“Whoa.” She tried to stop me. “I can’t afford all that.”
“You’re not buying. I’m treating.” I headed to the checkout, laughing from hearing her exclamations behind me.
“That’s not fair. I can buy things for my son. You’re not his father.” She’d moved to my side, immediately placing her hand over her mouth.
“It would seem we’re both in a cranky mood today. I know what will cure that.”
“You do, huh?” she asked playfully as she grabbed Dillon’s hand.
“I do.” As the clerk began to ring up our purchases, I couldn’t help myself, brushing the tips of my fingers down the side of her face. I was surprised when she didn’t bristle, but I could tell she was still wary of me.
“What’s that?”
“Ice cream,” I whispered before placing the fingers across my mouth. The scent of whatever shower gel my staff had placed in the bathroom was intoxicating, enough so my balls tightened. The moment was far too similar to one I’d experienced in my past. I curled my hand, almost immediately shutting down.
She sensed it, placing her hand on my chest. “What is it? Please tell me what’s going on.”
I took that moment to glance out the window at the busy street. While Andres and Connor were on duty constantly scanning the entire area, red flags had been raised, and while I couldn’t see a reason why, that didn’t mean my psyche didn’t place me on high alert.
Maybe it was nothing more than being here in the same spot after the tragedy from years before. Whatever the case, I was ready to leave.
“Nothing.”
“Ice cweem?” Dillon repeated. “Mommy, can we?”
“Sure, baby. This is a special day.” She glanced at me once again, biting down on her lower lip.
As I pulled out a credit card, I stared out the window once again.
The moment was more than just unnerving. It was chilling.
As if the past was coming back to haunt me.
Only this time, the outcome would be different. How did I know? Because I’d burn down the world, paint the streets red with blood if necessary.
And why?
To protect my woman and her son.
CHAPTER 24
Georgia
Withdrawn.
Sabatino had suddenly become withdrawn, which seemed odd given his bold personality. I’d seen the moment the twinkling light that had allowed me to feel something so entirely different about him had faded. Maybe I was crazy, but I felt certain it had something to do with the lamb I’d picked up from one of the shelves. It was almost as if he’d seen a ghost.
He was constantly glancing across the street where the SUV that had brought us here was parked, also scanning one side of the sidewalk in front of the toy store and ice cream parlor more than the other. It was as if he was waiting for something terrible to happen, a predator always watching. I needed to take his mind off whatever turmoil eating him alive.
“Why don’t you have any pictures in your house?” I asked as I licked more of my ice cream cone.
“What do you mean?” he asked in return and in truth I wasn’t entirely certain he was paying attention, instead keeping his gaze firmly locked on the world around us.
“I thought that was a fairly clear question. You have no pictures of your family, including of your nephew. There are no yachting photographs or times spent with college buddies. Nothing. Not one. I find that curious.”
“No more so than the fact you don’t have any in your house in Smith Mountain.”
