Page 20 of Punishing His Runaway Bride
"Who is he?"
"A real asshole," I said. "Left a note and disappeared. Didn't even leave a name."
Not completely true—I had no idea who he was, just knew he had money. Didn't want to dig deeper. What difference would it make anyway?
Ella was laughing and crying at the same time. She poked me. "What're you gonna tell the kid when he asks about his dad?"
"We'll figure it out when we get there," I said. "His brain isn't even fully formed yet."
Ella made this groaning sound. "Olivia—"
"What?"
"Nothing," she sighed, but she was smiling. "Just... this kid lucked out, getting you as a mom."
I thought about that. Didn't make sense, but it felt good to hear.
After Ella left, the store was just me again.
I sat behind the register, staring at nothing.
A car passed. Headlights swept across the window, then were gone. Some stray cat was poking around the dumpsters, jumped the fence, and disappeared.
I finished the hot chocolate and pulled out my phone. New note.
"Get folic acid."
I thought for a second, added another line.
"Raspberry growth log."
I walkedout of the restaurant into the blinding sun.
Standing on the sidewalk with that envelope in my hand, my head was scrambled.
Someone didn't want me working.
Someone had been pulling strings behind the scenes.
Who?
Vito Castro?
But why would he do that? If he wanted money, he'd push me to pay the debt, not cost me my job.
Or...
Someone else?
I suddenly remembered—the past few days, this feeling of being watched. On the street. During my night shifts. Even at home sometimes. Like eyes on me from the dark.
I figured I was just tired. Paranoia.
But now...
My phone buzzed.
Sophie.
