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"I think you should leave," I mutter.
Avery’s lower lip trembles just before she begins to cry.
"Hush, baby." I turn away and begin to pace, rocking her in my arms. "Don’t cry, sweetie pie. See? Mama’s still here, isn’t she? Do you want to play with Scooty?" I walk over to the play area, grab the ragged toy and hold it to her. She shoves it aside and continues to cry. I snatch up her rattle, hold it to her; she takes it, puts it in her mouth, and her cry stops just as suddenly as it started. My breath rushes out of me. I rock her a while longer, then turn to find him still staring at us.
"I really think you need to go."
"Nonna’s funeral is tomorrow," he says in a low voice. "I need you to accompany me."
"Oh," I blink rapidly, "I have to work tomorrow."
"The flower shop is closed tomorrow for the funeral," he points out.
Of course, it is. Theresa sent me a text last night, but it slipped my mind.
"Do I have to?" Not that I don’t want to. I mean, the few times I met Nonna, she was amazing to me. And considering I’m probably indirectly responsible for her death, it’s the least I can do. But to go with him?
"It’s best the family start seeing us together, so I can tell them about our upcoming nuptials."
"Is it wise we marry so soon after Nonna’s funeral?"
"She wanted me married within the month." He folds his arms across his chest. "Also, you need to move in with me."
"What? No."
"You’re not safe here. The man who chased you the other day... We still haven’t tracked him down. If he’s still out there, chances are, he’s going to come after you again."
"I… I’ll be safe here, surely?"
He leans forward on the balls of his feet. "If you stay here, I’ll have to post guards outside your door."
"That would draw too much attention," I protest.
"It’s your choice. Either I post guards outside your door, or you move in with me."
I begin to pace again. "This is crazy. You can’t just walk in and turn my life upside down."
"You’re the one who banged on our door, barged in, and turned our lives upside down," he points out.
I turn to him. "That’s not fair." I swallow. "You know it’s not my fault that the bullet hit Nonna."
"That’s not what my family thinks."
"So do they… Do they blame me for what happened?"
He tilts his head.
"So, theydoblame me." I chew on my lower lip. "And you? What do you think?"
"I think you should move in with me so we can start getting used to each other’s company."
"So that’s it. I just move?" I glance around the nursery. "I’ll have to pack Avery’s things. And my things. And I need to swing by my ex’s place and drop her off in an hour."
"I’ll get people to help you, and I’ll have a nursery set up for her by next weekend."
I hold Avery closer. “What if this entire situation only upsets my ex further? What if he uses the situation to prove that I’m an unfit mother—living with a man before we’re married? Not to mention, marrying into the mob. What if he wins the case against me? What if I lose her?" I squeeze her so tightly to me that she protests.
Seb closes the distance to us, then bends his knees and peers into my eyes. "Do I look like someone who’s going to lose?"
