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I love the sound of her soft laugh. “It isn’t just that. Not every woman is into money.”
I shrug. “Maybe notall.”
“I just… well, men like you are known for taking mistresses. Of not being faithful. They consider infidelity an acceptable part of their code.”
“Men like me?” I ask, my voice harsh.
“Yeah, Lyam.Mobsters.Men in the mafia. Made men. Do your friends the Rossis cheat on their wives?”
“No.”
“What about the Montavios? I know for a fact that some of them do, the girls talked about it.”
“I don’t know about Sergio or Timeo, and those are the only ones I know.”
“So with all those gorgeous women ready to do whatever you tell them, how do you plan on staying exclusive? When it gets hard. When the baby wakes up at night wanting to be fed or when someone says something to one of our children, or one of our staff disrespects me.”
“You know exactly what I’ll do,” I respond through gritted teeth. “If we need help, I’ll hire them. I’ll buy you what you need.”
“But ourchild,Lyam.”
“Right. Our child is going to be perfectly fine.”
“Why?”
“Because unconventional as we might be, we love each other. No matter what happens, we’re loyal and faithful. And that child will be so, so loved.”
She swipes at her eyes and nods her head.
“Thank you.”
She doesn’t seem convinced, though, and I don’t know why. I spoke the truth to her. I told her what’s on my mind and in my heart and how I feel. And in turn, she seems more distant. Cold, even.
Why?
Is she battling a struggle all her own she hasn’t shared with me?
I imagine she’s battlinglotsof things she hasn’t shared with me.
I watch Cosette’s shoulders rise while she takes in a breath. We’re almost back.
“Lyam.” Cosette’s voice trembles when she looks at me. I don’t know if she’s afraid or concerned or what, but I want to get her back to safety and privacy.
I reach my hand out and place it on her knee. She calms when I touch her, and I want her to know she’s okay. “Yeah?”
We’re in the heart of the city now. Traffic thickens and the city sounds around us tell us we’re not alone.
“I want to talk to you,” she says, resting her hand on top of mine. “There are some things —”
I slam on my brakes when a car in front of us comes to a sudden halt. “Of all the fucking—"
Cosette suddenly gasps and holds her belly, both hands spanning her slender waist. When she gives a cry of pain, my heart leaps into my chest. We’re fully stopped behind a line of traffic.
“What is it?”
“I—oh God, Lyam.” Her face blanches and her eyes are so wide she’s scaring me. “I—there’s some pain.” When she looks down, she panics. “I feel like… I think I’m bleeding. Oh my God, get me to a restroom. Please!”
We’re only a block away from the pastry shop. I lean on the horn to make the cars in front of me move, but they won’t. We’re jammed in between a truck and a motorcycle, and I can’t get them to move.
