Chapter 31

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

Anya

I 'm shaky when we get home. I try not to show it as Saverio helps me from the car and walks me inside the house.

The reason for my turmoil isn't the driving lesson. Saverio was nothing but patient. He's a great teacher. What's eating at me is the strange key in my handbag. It's what he said about the money and the car key in the safe. He's worried that something may happen to him.

The notion of Saverio's heart no longer beating with a strong and steady rhythm in his chest makes me shudder. I can't imagine his virile body cold and lifeless and the intense light in his blue eyes gone. That in itself should shock me. Isn't that what I should want? To be free from the hold he has on my life? Instead, the implied meaning of his words shook me to my core, not only because, as he declared himself, if he's no longer here, there will be no one to protect me, but also because the idea of anyone killing him threatens to bring me to my knees.

"Hungry?" Saverio asks, hanging his jacket in the entrance closet.

My smile is tremulous. "Yes."

I don't have an appetite. It's just an excuse to send him to the kitchen so that I can get away.

He studies me. "Tomato soup? I had some delivered from the deli."

Fiddling with the strap of my bag where it hangs over my shoulder, I say, "That sounds good."

He homes in on my fidgeting. When he reaches for my bag, it takes every ounce of my self-control not to cling to it. My heart slams between my ribs as I let the strap drop down my arm. I stop breathing when he takes the bag.

Does he suspect something?

I blink rapidly, trying to disguise my anxiety.

Please don't open it.

If he finds the key, he'll demand what it is and where I found it. For the life of me, I can't think up a lie that will sound convincing.

My gaze is glued to his actions, following his movements as he puts the bag on the entrance table. I suppress the urge to jump forward and snatch it up.

He steps behind me. "I'll go warm up the soup."

My heart rate goes into overdrive, but I don't dare to look at him. All I can do is wait and pray he's not onto me. Guilt put visions in my head. For a moment, I imagine him wrapping his hands around my neck.

Instead, he helps me to remove my coat. "Unless you want to shower first?"

"No," I say quickly, not wanting him to follow me upstairs. "We can eat early. I just want to freshen up before dinner."

I give him my most natural smile. My pulse goes through the roof as I walk casually to the table and take my bag. Blood gushes in my ears as I wait for him to stop me with a word or a gesture, but he only busies himself with putting my coat on a hanger.

I escape to the stairs, forcing myself to walk normally and not to run. Halfway up, I glance back. He stands next to the closet, staring after me with narrowed eyes. My heartbeat triples, pounding in my chest.

Every step I take on the landing keeps beat in my temples. Once I'm in the hallway and out of sight, I rush to the bedroom. I haven't had time to think of a good hiding place. For now, I sprint to the dressing room, take the key from my bag, and shove it into the pocket of an A-line coat that's designed for a later stage of pregnancy. I drop my handbag on the bench and hurry to the bathroom. I've barely opened the tap to splash cold water on my face when a knock falls on the door.

"Anya?"

Taking a deep breath, I close the tap. "Yes?"

The door opens. Saverio stands on the threshold, taking me in with a too watchful gaze. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." I force a smile and grab a towel to dry my hands, pretending to be engrossed in the task so that I don't have to meet his eyes. I'm too scared he'll see the truth on my face. "I'll be down in a sec."

A big hand curls around my shoulder, making me jump.

Saverio turns me to him. "Something happened at work. I know you." The look in his pale eyes darkens. "You're going to tell me what it is. We're not leaving this room until you do."

I swallow, thinking fast. "It's Ms. Price. I think she's upset because I lied on my application. She's punishing me by making me do filing."

The line of his jaw turns hard.

I continue quickly. "I get why she doesn't trust me. I'm just worried it's going to hamper my chances of advancing in the firm."

"If she's making your life difficult, you should've told me sooner."

I shrug. "It's only office politics."

"I'll get her fired. Better yet, I'll make her disappear."

"Are you crazy?"

His smile isn't humorous. "It all depends on how you look at it."

"You can't mean that. It's not even a big issue." My brain works overtime. "Normally, it wouldn't bother me. The pregnancy hormones make me more emotional than usual. I'll prove my worth, and it'll blow over."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't off her if she's making your life miserable."

"Another murder in the space of a few months will draw unwanted attention to everyone working there, including me. Is that what you want?"

"Accidents happen."

Oh my God. He's serious. That makes me more angry than scared. "You really think you're God, don't you? You're making it sound as if deciding about someone's fate is the same as choosing what you're going to eat for breakfast." I dump the towel on the vanity. "That makes you a first-class sociopath." I prop a hand on my hip. "If this is how you behave when I tell you about my day at work, I'm never sharing anything with you again."

A smile plucks at his lips. "You really like this job."

"I happen to like it a lot."

Cupping my cheek, he says, "Don't work yourself up. I was only trying to help."

I slap his hand away. "By killing my HR manager?"

"By killing anyone who doesn't treat you like you deserve."

"Stop." I slam my palms over my ears. "I don't want to hear this kind of talk any longer."

He takes my wrists and pulls my hands away. "I don't want to upset you. It's not good for the baby." Leaning in, he says in a low voice. "Just know this. I won't hesitate to eliminate any person who harms you physically or in any other way." He seals that promise with a kiss on my lips. "Now, come downstairs for dinner. The soup should be warm."

I lean on the counter for balance. The stress of the whole situation leaves me wobbly and lightheaded. There are so many things about Saverio's behavior I don't understand.

He turns for the door.

"Why?" I ask to his back.

He stops and looks over his shoulder, waiting for me to continue.

"Why would you go to such lengths for me, Saverio?"

It's not the first time I ask him this question, but he never gives me a straight answer. I don't understand why he acts as if my happiness is vital to him when I'm just a temporary responsibility.

A second passes while I hold my breath. I'm not sure why. What do I want him to say? That he cares?

"You know why," he says after another beat.

Why that answer disappoints me, I'd rather not know.

Not giving me a chance to say more, he leaves.

I drag in a long breath and let it out slowly. The minute he disappears down the hallway, I rush to get my phone from my bag. I do a quick search for different types of keys on my search engine, but it doesn't bring up the key I found in the vault. I'll do a thorough search when I have more time. I quickly delete my browser history and darken the screen.

Taking another minute to get my nerves under control, I change into leggings and a loose T-shirt before going to the kitchen.

Two bowls of steaming soup and a basket of rye bread stand on the island counter. Saverio pulls the cork of a wine bottle when I enter.

He puts the bottle aside and walks over to pull out a chair for me. Once he's seated me, he pours two glasses.

"Non-alcoholic wine," he says, handing me a glass.

I look up with surprise. "I didn't know it existed."

"I found a supplier in California who shipped me a crate. The producer only uses organic grapes."

And there it is again, these oddly attentive acts that thoroughly confuse me.

"You didn't have to go to so much trouble."

He sits down opposite me. "Do you think I'd sip my wine in front of you when you're not allowed a glass?"

"That's…" I frown, "…very considerate."

Leaning over, he clinks his glass against mine. "Here's to your second trimester. How's the all-day sickness?"

"Getting better."

He watches me from over the rim of his glass as he takes a sip. "Are you still feeling faint?"

"I haven't been dizzy in a while."

"Good." He smiles. "We can drink to that."

"Saverio."

He cocks a brow. "Anya?"

"What you said earlier about the car key and the money?—"

He cups my hand. "Don't worry about it." He adds with humor, "That's my job."

"Did something happen?" I probe carefully.

"I'm just cautious." His smile is stilted. "Eat your soup. It's getting cold."

I dip my spoon into the creamy velouté and lift it to my mouth, tasting nothing as I swallow.

"We have to attend a wedding," Saverio says.

I look up. The strain on his face gives me pause.

"It's a family wedding," he continues. "Luigi and Giorgio will be there."

I tense. "Do I have to go?"

"It'll send the wrong message if you don't."

"That you're not serious about me."

"Exactly."

I put down my spoon. "Don't you think people have gotten the idea by now?"

He observes me with a dark expression. "The man we saw outside your office today is a detective."

A lump lodges in my throat. "Is he working on the murder investigation?"

"Yes." He sits back. "He's asking questions about us. There will be a photographer at the wedding. The photos will no doubt end up on social media."

"Fine." I swallow. "I get it. Who's getting married?"

"Luigi's niece, Elena."

"The Elena I met at the club?"

"The one and only," he says in a dry tone.

Great. She made it obvious how much she liked me.

"It's going to be the wedding of the year," he says. "We'll have to go dress shopping this weekend."

"There must be fifty dresses with designer labels in your closet."

"Those aren't the dresses I'm talking about. You'll need something a little fancier. I was thinking red. The color suits you."

Is he going to suggest the style too? "Any other requirements?" I ask with sarcasm.

"Leave your hair down," he says without missing a beat. "And no panties."

I gape at him. "Why would I do that?"

He pins me with a heated look. "Because I'm going to fuck you in that dress before I take you to the wedding."