Page 25 of Ruthless Secrets
So, why track me down now? Does he know about Zoe, is that it?
The thought has me breaking out in a cold sweat as I look into my daughter’s brown eyes.Hisbrown eyes.
Marco admitted himself that hiring me was no coincidence. That when he learned who I really was, it made him want me even more.
Whatever game Marco De Luca is playing, I need to watch my back because it’s not just my heart on the line now. It’s Zoe’s too.
“Five more minutes, baby girl, and then we have to go to Auntie Sam’s.”
Zoe attempts to pull herself up onto her knees. She’s so close to crawling, and I dread the day that I pick her up from Sam’s or daycare and learn that I’ve missed another first.
Anxiety floods my stomach as I think of spending the day with Marco.
He’s incredibly intimidating with his broad frame and piercing dark eyes.
I don’t remember him being so intimidating but then again, I was drunk the last and only other time we met.
If we’re going to be spending a lot of time together, he’s going to find out the truth about Zoe eventually, and I’m terrified of his reaction.
He’ll be so angry that I made no effort to find him. I realize that it’s selfish on my part for keeping him out of Zoe’s life but in my defense, I had no idea who he was and no way to contact him. Where would I even start looking for a man who I had met at a bar and brought to my honeymoon suite for a night? No names were said, no numbers exchanged.
And it’s not like I could afford a PI to look for a ghost.
Besides, what if he bailed on her like he did on me that night?
I know all too well what it’s like to have a father walk out on your family, and I should be enough for Zoe. Right?
Before I get ready to leave, I make sure to change the wallpaper on my phone from a picture of Zoe to one of the preset pictures in case Marco happens to catch sight of it. There’s no denying that if he saw Zoe, he would know she was his, and I need to protect my daughter.
I’m not exactly sure what the De Lucas are involved in, but one thing I do know is that it’s not always legal.
Marco is the last guy I should be getting caught up with, but I guess I don’t have much of a choice when my daughter shares half of his DNA.
Thankfully,Zoe falls asleep in the stroller on the walk over to Sam’s apartment.
After Sam comes down to help carry her inside, I quickly unpack Zoe’s things and set some bottles of milk in the fridge for her to have when she wakes up.
“How are you feeling?” Sam appears in the doorway to the kitchen.
I shut the fridge. “Nervous.”
“I still can’t believe Marco is your boss. And after what you told me last night about what happened between the two of you and the fact that he is Zoe’s dad… I mean, this can’t be a coincidence.”
“Do you think he knows about Zoe?” The question has been playing on repeat in my mind all night, and I can’t decide if I’m better off not knowing the answer.
Sam shrugs.
“Maybe… But even if he doesn’t, I think there’s more to this situation than Marco is letting on. You need to be careful, Clara.”
“I know.” I sigh.
Sam’s warning echoes in my mind as I arrive at Nox.
Once again, the place looks closed and there’s no lights on, but Marco assured me that he would be there to let me in, so I knock on the door and try to fight the urge to throw up.
When the door eventually opens and he appears, my entire body breaks out in goosebumps.
“You’re early,” he says in that rich voice of his.
