Page 68 of Redemption

“I’m not staring at anyone. Just checking the bar to make sure everyone’s drinks are fine. Do you need a drink? I can get you a beer.”

He holds his hand up. “I’m fine. I just came to talk. But I do want to know if you know him.”

I shake my head. “He’s someone who comes into the pub now and then. I don’t know him except for that.”

“Do you talk to him?”

I raise a brow at him. “I’m a bartender, Dante. Of course, I talk to him.”

My cousin gives me a pointed look. “You know what I mean.”

“Why do you care?”

He looks down the bar again at Kilian and I watch his face as he does. He barely gives anything away but I know he knows something I don’t.

“Can you talk outside?”

I throw my hands up. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of busy right now.”

He scowls at me. “Fine. I’ll make this quick. Dad wants you home.”

“He’s your father, not mine,” I snap.

“Mirabella, you know he is your guardian.”

“My name is Bella. Andwasis the word you are looking for. He was my guardian. I’m twenty-two. I’m an adult. He still feels like he has power over me, he doesn’t.”

“You know well enough he does.”

“No,” I say once more as I scan my eyes around the bar, noticing some people are in need of refills.

“He was kind enough to let you come here for school. Clear your head. But you graduated five months ago.”

“And I have a visa here that is still valid. I love it here, I’m not leaving.”

“You’re needed at home.” His voice is low and authoritative.

“No, I’m not.” I walk away to refill a handful of drinks, I half expect Dante to be gone but he’s still here when I get back to the end of the bar.

“Don’t fight me on this. Please. I need you to listen for once,” he says when I get back to standing in front of him.

“You can’t control me just like your father can’t. Leave. I have to work and I don’t want you causing a scene.”

He doesn’t argue with me and walks away. I breathe in a sigh of relief and get back to work.

* * *

I was so tired after work last night, I told Kilian I couldn’t come over. I couldn’t deal with him after seeing my cousin. He would know something was wrong.

There is something wrong. And it has nothing to do with my cousin.

I have been feeling off the last week, overly tired, nauseous. I thought I was getting the flu. But as I walked through the drugstore earlier and saw pregnancy tests, I remembered my period was late. We never use condoms but it’s not like I’m not on birth control. And I take it every day at the exact same time.

I grabbed a couple, just in case. But I knew it was all in my head.

Until it wasn’t.

Kilian insisted last night that I come over tonight for dinner and I reluctantly agreed. I need to tell him. I need to figure out what we should do. But as I try to get ready and stare at those stupid bluelines, I get more and more worried.

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