She lifts the carrier so we can see the cat inside.“This is Pixie,” she announces proudly.
“And what’s the cat’s name?”Luc sends her one of his patented winks.
She blushes and starts giggling loudly.Fuck, kill me now!
“Silly!Thisis Pixie.I’m Glenda.”
“Well, Glenda, it is a pleasure meeting you and Pixie.This here”—he motions to me—“is my friend Dan, and I am Luke.”
“Nice to meet you, Luke and Dan.You are such dashing young men, and so well-behaved.And who is this friend of yours that you came to meet?”
“Her name is Lily.She is a vet here.”
“Oh, Lily!We are here to see her too, aren’t we, sweetie?”she asks her fucking cat.
My ears are perking up at the mention of Lily’s name.
“Such a nice young lady,” Glenda continues, her voice filled with affection.“She loves animals.I mean, they all do, of course.But Lily… She’s so caring and patient with them.Pixie absolutely adores her.She can’t help but jump all over her every time she’s near.”
Same, Pixie.Same.
Suddenly there are footsteps in the hallway leading to the examination area and Lily emerges.She is wearing a scrub top over her jeans, her long auburn hair up in a ponytail.Her face is free of makeup and she is stunning.
Did my dead heart just kick in my chest?
She is talking to a lady, leading her and her dog, a doe-eyed spaniel, to the receptionist.Then she crouches and scratches the dog behind its ears.Her smile is relaxed, her soft voice drifts to the waiting room and I realize that we are all staring her way, drawn to her.
Lily straightens, her smile serene, and the receptionist tells her something that has her eyes flying to the glass-walled waiting room, seeing us at last.
Her shocked expression morphs into a confused frown.Then something I wasn’t expecting happens—she stares at me with unconcealed fury.
Chapter Eight
Lily
I step out of the exam room with Mrs.Sutter and her spaniel Brooklyn in tow.At reception, I briefly explain the care plan to Laura, the receptionist, then bend down to pet Brooklyn, praising her for being a brave girl.She is such a sweet little thing, with soft, trusting eyes and an endearing nature.
When I straighten up, Laura casually informs me, “Oh, Lily, your next appointment is here, and two friends of yours are waiting to talk to you for a minute.”
I frown, puzzled, and turn toward the waiting room.
And my jaw almost hits the floor.
As if they had absolutely nothing better to do, Damiano and the man who chased and dragged me back to the office that fateful night are draped over waiting room chairs like they own the place.Now, in the light of day, I recognize the second man from the few times I’ve seen him from afar.He is the Santaluccia second-in-command and Damiano’s ever-present shadow, Lucas.They’re both looking straight at me.And Damiano,Il Demoniohimself, has the audacity to smile.
Like it is his damn business to be here, in my life, in my clinic.As if barging into my world, my normal, safe life, is simply part of his daily schedule.This is nothisworld—this ismine.
How dare he intrude into my life like he owns it?Like he has every right to be here?
Shock crashes into fury, and I have to clench my fists to keep from shouting in front of poor Glenda and her cat Pixie.I square my shoulders, plaster on the coldest, most professional expression I can manage, and walk toward the waiting room.I give Glenda a tight nod and mumble something vague like, “Just a moment, I’ll be right back,” then turn my full attention to the intruders.
“This way, please,” I say, voice cool and clipped as I tilt my head toward the hallway.Then I turn and walk off, fully expecting them to follow, because honestly, at this point?Yelling feels less dangerous than giving them any more power over my space.
They file into my examination room without a word, and I move to the far side of the room, deliberately putting the table between us like it’s some kind of shield.Damiano strides in first, unapologetically taking up space, planting himself right in front of the exam table.Lucas lingers behind, closing the door with a soft click before casually leaning against it, wearing a bored expression like this is merely another day of murder and mayhem.
A wave of déjà vu crashes over me.
Has this room always been this small?Suddenly it feels like the walls are inching closer, the air getting thinner with every second.I inhale deeply, forcing my lungs to cooperate, forcing myself to stay grounded.
