Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“What?” Lily picks Jack up and rests him against her hip as she follows me into the bedroom. “Where are you going?” For Jack’s sake, she maintains a cheerful voice. “Where’s Mommy going, Jack?”
“We’re going on an adventure, Jack. You like adventures, don’t you?” I jerk the wardrobe doors open and pull out a small, carry-on bag I’ve already packed in case of emergency.
What was I thinking? Why did it take an accidental glance at Matteo’s phone when it glowed with a text message for me to realize I was in danger?
What if I didn’t see it? I would’ve walked straight into his trap, smiling like an idiot the whole time.
He’s a liar. His dad evidently knows about me, and I can safely assume the rest of his family does too.
Lily sets Jack down on the rug. “Ashley, what’s going on? Where are you going? Are you coming back?”
“I don’t know. I can’t—” I rake my hand through my hair. “I can’t think about any of those things right now. All I know is I have to leave.”
“Okay.” She nods. “How can I help you?”
I stare at her.
“Oh, don’t look so surprised,” she says. “You’ve never told me details about your life before moving here. I figured you were running away from something. I’m your friend, and I’m here to help if you need me.”
For a moment, a crazy thought flashes through my mind. I can leave Jack with Lily. She can raise him. He’ll be safe with her. He’ll have a normal life.
Then, it doesn’t matter what happens to me. Matteo can drag me home to present as a gift to his dad, and they can shoot me in the head right in front of my entire family if he wants to.
But I’d be giving up on a simple life with Jack. I’d be giving up on motherhood.
I pull the curtain aside and peek out the window. The cab’s still waiting outside. I can make it.
All I have to do is disappear. There’s no need to overthink it.
I have money in the bag; enough to last me and Jack a couple of years.
I don’t have fake IDs but that’s okay; I can survive without them. Millions of undocumented immigrants in this country thrive without any form of identification.
I can get a job that pays under the table. I can rent a tiny basement room to stretch my money. I’ll be like a cockroach—tough and indestructible.
“Thanks, Lily. I appreciate the offer. But I’ve put you through enough trouble. Any more, and you’d be in danger.” I take Jack from her and carry him on my hip. Jesus, he’s getting heavy.
“Call me any time, okay?” Lily asks over the sound of little wheels rolling over my laminate floor. Her footsteps follow behind me.
I stop at the door and smile at her as she engulfs me in a big, warm hug. “Thank you. You’re a real friend.”
Lily pulls the door open, and I rush outside, glancing one last time at a friend I probably won’t ever see again.
Almost there.
I hurry down the stone walkway. The taxi is right there, smoke puffing out its exhaust.
Almost there.
I walk past the gate. I don’t remember pulling it closed when I walked in.
But whatever. I’m almost there. I can almost taste my freedom.
The cab drives away just as my feet almost hit the sidewalk.
What the hell?
Why?
A chill rips through my body.
There, behind where the cab was parked, is the reason why it drove away.
Matteo.
But he’s not smirking with satisfaction like I imagined he would.
No.
Those dark, dangerous eyes aren’t even focused on me.
Instead, his sharp stare is directed at a small figure attached to my hip. Jack.
This is literally the stuff my nightmares are made of.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Matteo asks in his deep baritone.
“We’re going on an adventure!” Jack exclaims, giggling, oblivious to the danger stalking closer.
“That’s right.” I bend down to let Jack stand on his own feet. Glancing behind us, I notice Lily’s still standing at the door, staring at us with eyes big as saucers. “Why don’t you go back inside for a while, Jack? I’ll get you in a minute, okay?”
“Hi, Jack.” Matteo crouches down, letting the fabric of his designer suit pants scrape against the sidewalk. Smiling, he says, “I’m Matteo. That adventure sounds fun. Are you excited?”
“Yeah.” Jack grins as he nods his little head up and down.
Matteo glances up at me. “Do you like going on adventures with Mommy?”
The blood in my veins runs cold. I was about to pass him off as a nephew or a friend’s son, but Matteo will learn the truth as soon as Jack answers.
“Yeah.”
I tighten my grip around Jack’s little hand. But to my horror, he takes a step forward, closer to Matteo, and reaches out to touch his cufflink.
Damn it. The kid’s like a magpie lately, always grabbing shiny things.