Page 77 of Redemption

“Stop, I need to go to work.” I kick him away as I pin my hair up.

It doesn’t keep him away for long though. His hands grip my hips so hard and pull me into him, his lips at my neck. “You could call out.”

I spin in his arms. “Unfortunately, I have bills to pay.”

“I—”

“Don’t even say it,” I cut him off with my fingers over his lips. “Until we can figure out how this will work, don’t you even suggest paying for things.”

He gives me a lazy smile. “How did you know I was going to say that? Besides, I know you aren’t poor. You should have a nice chunk of money from your parents.”

I frown. “I don’t touch it. To me, it’s blood money.”

He nods then kisses my cheek before finally letting me go. “We’ll discuss that later.”

“Kilian. There is nothing—”

“Get to work,” he commands as he smacks my ass.

I shake my head at him. “You are impossible.”

He follows me down the stairs and to the front door. “Will you be here when I get back?” I ask.

“We’ll see. I have things to take care of. But I want to spend one more night with you, with Aria, before I need to head to London.”

“You’re good with her,” I say. “She likes you.”

He gives me a short smile. “Get to work.”

I give him a quick kiss and head out the door. It seems so normal for him to be here. Kissing me goodbye as I head to work. But I know our relationship is anything but normal. We still haven’t discussed how or when we are going to tell Aria. I want to wait until all this shit with Giancarlo, Dante, and Ezio blows over. But I also feel the longer we wait to tell her, the more upset she will get with Kilian. And I fear she may resent me for keeping it from her.

When she first started school and found out most families have mothers and fathers, she would ask me who her father was. Ask what happened to him. As she got a little older, she asked why he left her. And I couldn’t tell her the truth. I lied. Told her I didn’t really know her father. But now that Kilian is here, in our lives, it’s going to be hard to tell her the truth. Because I can’t just tell her that he’s her father. I need to tell her everything. I need to be honest with her. She needs to understand the danger that comes with her life. She may only be nine but I wish I had known at nine.

“Good morning, Magda,” she chimes as I walk through the back door of the kitchen.

“Morning.”

“You are glowing today.”

I ignore her comment as I put my coat and bag away and head to the front of the house to prep for the day.

She follows me, of course.

“Rumor has it that you were with a man yesterday at Aria’s game.”

I spin around. “Rumor? Are people really talking about me and my dating life?”

She smiles at me. “Is it that man from the other night?”

I groan. “People need to stop being busybodies and find something else to do with their time.”

“Who is he?”

“How about you go back to baking and I will set tables?”

She scowls at me but turns around and heads back into the kitchen. When I am alone, I let out a deep breath. Worry takes over me. If everyone is talking about Kilian being at that game, word is going to make it to Giancarlo.

As if on cue, my phone rings in my pocket. I pull it out and see his name on the screen. I hit ignore and go back to work. But after the fifth time he calls, I finally pick up.

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