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Lillith.
Ihear the front door open while I look around to make something for Niro to eat while he is in the small metal tub playing with his blocks. It must be Ciro. He's the only one who comes up here, and I left the door unlocked so he could come in. He is probably bringing more food since I didn't win the money.
Looking into the basket of fruits, I feel him standing there and sigh. "I'll figure something out. I know you're going to offer me to go live with you, but you know my answer. I can't."
Silence.
I know it hurt his feelings the first time he asked, and I turned him down, but it feels wrong. Especially now that Killian is back in the city and he's racing.
I smile, pulling out the last of the organic potatoes to make mashed potatoes from scratch. "Did you bring Niro and me something again and are afraid to tell me?"
When he doesn't answer, I look up and freeze. The potatoes drop to the floor with a thud. My hands begin to shake when my eyes meet the man who turned my world upside down.
His head is cocked, watching me with his matte black mask with the word PRETTY sketched on the top. His hands are folded across his muscled chest, and it feels like time has stopped.
Splashing water mixes with Niro's little voice. "Mommy, I'm ready."
I'm stunned. Frozen in place.
He found me.
Of course he would, Lillith.It was only a matter of time before he did.Beating him on the track sparked his curiosity. Maybe he recognized me, but that couldn't be it because he said he was taken. He moved on with someone else like I figured he would.
I wasn't anything special to him. I would be delusional if I thought I was. It was one of the reasons I did what I did.
I faked my own death.
Who would miss me?
No one.
It would be like I never existed.
My father sold me, and my husband planned to kill me. I was out of options.
"Mom," Niro calls out.
"Your son needs you, Lillith," Killian says in a lethal voice.
My eyes sting with unshed tears. "Please, don't hurt us," I plead. Raising my hands, I back away toward the little room with the tiny tin tub.
Does Ciro know he’s here? Did he hurt him for keeping Niro and me a secret?
After getting Niro dressed, I walk out to the main area and hope that he left, but my life is not that simple.
Killian sits on one of the two old mismatched chairs against the wall with his head tilted upward like he is looking at the ceiling.
"Mom, is that…?"
Niro recognizes Kill from the race and was excited to see him on his cool bike. He doesn't understand that Kill being here is not a friendly visit. He thinks Kill is some type of superhero.
I can tell by how he is beaming at Kill, not caring that he can't see Kill’s face because he’s wearing a mask. It probably adds to the excitement and mystery of it all.
"You thought I was someone else. Who were you expecting, Lillith? Who did you leave me for?" He raises his hand. "You know what? Don't answer that. I want to talk about the elephant in the room. Is he mine?"
He means Niro, and I never would have imagined that this was the way he would find out. I stayed up countless nights replaying this scenario for the past five years, not knowing if I wanted him to know. The logical part of me wanted Niro to know his father, and his father to know he had a beautiful son, but the other part told me that the risk was too high. He wanted to kill me after I gave him Niro.
If he is here to kill me, I can't stop him. He is too strong and well-connected. Silent tears slide down my cheeks, and I let out a slow breath between my parted lips to keep from breaking down and scaring Niro.
