Page 69 of Entangled

“Because of the cops?”

“Amongst other things,” Gian muttered. “We’re not talking about that tonight. This is all for you. And I thought you liked Gilles?”

“I do, he just …”

“What?”

“Talks a lot,” Cara said.

Gian laughed, his hands tightening on her as he directed her around a corner, or so she assumed. “He is a talker.”

“Chris barely talks at all, except to repeat orders or something.”

“Okay, enough of this, smile, bella.”

Cara didn’t know what he was talking about, but the blindfold was suddenly pulled from her face, allowing her vision to clear. It took Cara a couple of seconds of blinking, and a few shouts of “Surprise!” from the people standing around one of Gian’s restaurants for her to realize what was happening.

Pretty, pale-blue and green decorations littered the restaurant. Each table held different items—a spot for gifts, one for a massive cake decorated in similar colors, and the like. A banner hanging from one chandelier to another read Baby Shower!

Cara took in the people around her. Women she worked with at the shelter and the women from the shelter. Her few friends from university, and the professor she enjoyed spending time with and who had helped her through her difficult moments. And surprisingly, nearing the front of the guests, Cara found Gian’s mother and another woman, who, guessing by her features and how she kept close to Celeste, was probably his sister.

Crystal, Cara thought her name was. Gian didn’t talk about her a lot.

“You’ve been busy,” Gian said. “And working far too hard, mon ange. Ma asked about a shower for you, because she wanted to—at least—send something over. And then a couple of weeks ago, Jenny contacted me about helping with something like this to surprise you. You’re not too angry, right?”

Cara just blinked.

“Why would I be angry, Gian?”

How could she be angry?

“You don’t like surprises,” he said.

She had assumed, given the circumstances of the pregnancy and Gian’s marriage, and how busy her last few weeks before birth would be, that something like a shower was out of the question. She didn’t even think she knew enough people to have a proper shower, not that it was acceptable for her to plan her own, anyway.

She didn’t have to worry about anything, apparently.

Gian took care of things.

Always.

“It’s wonderful. Thank you.”

Gian kissed the back of her head, never hesitating with all of the eyes watching them. “Enjoy your party, Cara. I love you, pretty girl.”

“I can certainly understand why Gian adores you so much,” Crystal said quietly, giving Cara a small smile.

“It’s a shame things are so … complicated,” Celeste added.

Cara cleared the awkwardness from her tone before speaking. “Thank you for coming, and for helping them set up, and everything else. Really, it was too much.”

“Nothing is too much. Not for my grandbaby.” Celeste waved her hand as if to dismiss that statement. “What a silly thought.”

“Cara, are you ready?”

She looked over her shoulder to find Gilles—the enforcer Gian had said was non-negotiable for the unforeseeable future—waiting at the front doors of the restaurant.

“Just a second,” she told the man.