Page 124 of Secrets, Lies and Love

“About what?” I pretend I don’t know what he means.

“About wanting me here. I came because you called me. I won’t leave.”

“I don’t want you to leave . . . now. But I’m not ready for it to be permanent yet.”

He takes a step inside. “Where is Joseph?”

“Sleeping. I called you because I have an appointment with the obstetrician tomorrow. I think we will be able to find out the sex of our child. Wanna come?”

He closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them again, I see the rawest emotion in them. “Thank you for that.”

“For letting you participate?”

“For not stopping me.”

“I thought nothing could stop you.”

“From being with my child, no, but he hasn’t been born yet and I wouldn’t force my presence on you. I don’t want you to be tormented but rather to have a peaceful pregnancy.”

I feel a shudder of fear.

Is he getting over me? His words demonstrate that. As if all that matters is the baby’s wellbeing.

“I have no intention of stopping you,” I say, trying to save my pride. “I’ll send you the appointment time via text message. I have to check because I don’t remember.”

He nods, moving away from me. “I’m going to get Joseph,” he says, and I give him space to enter. “As for the appointment, I’ll come and pick you up. We’ll go together.”

The little boy is asleep on the couch, and when I see Dionysus take his son in his arms, I panic.

I don’t want them to leave yet.

“Do you . . . huh . . . want something to eat?”

“Are you on the menu?”

For a moment, I think I didn’t hear him right. He seemed so controlled, so self-possessed, but now he looks at me with a primal hunger.

I can’t form a single sentence, and he starts walking towards the door.

“Don’t ask something you’re not ready to hear the answer to, Cecily.”

After that, he leaves, leaving me shaking.

Dionysus

CHAPTER SIXTY

“Should I wait here, Mr. Kostanidis?”Anderson asks when he parks in the penthouse garage. In the rearview mirror, I can see that he is smiling.

“Yes, I’ll go up and get her.”

“If I may be so bold, it is your destiny to be together.”

In another time, perhaps the comment would have bothered me, as I don’t like my private life being discussed, but after Cecily’s kidnapping, we have been the subject of headlines and honestly, I don’t care about public opinion. All I care about is her.

Cecily needs to know that I’m not ashamed of our story. Of any details about her.

“Yes, she was meant for me,” I finally reply, getting out of the car.

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