Page 29 of Wrecked By You

He didn’t move.

I fisted my hands on my hips and stood taller, my back as straight as a pencil. Thank goodness he’d taken a seat. Otherwise, my attempt to make myself more intimidating would have failed miserably.

“If he’s a deadbeat dad, then you should involve the authorities.”

Okay, that’s enough.

I pointed to the door. “I asked you nicely. Now I’m telling you. Out.”

Another few seconds scraped by before he eased himself out of the chair, taking his goddamn time about it. He dusted off his sweater, even though it was pristine, as always.

“Keep me informed on your expected return date. I have a business to run.”

He sauntered down the hallway, a confident swagger to his walk, the kind of swagger all powerful men had. It took everything within me not to throw my coffee cup at him, but since that would make a mess and Ihatedmesses, I refrained.

The front door clicked shut. My legs wobbled. Gripping the edge of the table to brace myself, I cursed the stupid bug that Chloe had caught, cursed the lack of money in my purse, cursed Mateo and his illegal business.

And I cursed Johannes Kingcaid, too. For coming here uninvited and forcing me to reveal a part of my personal life I’d kept private until now. The more people knew about me, the greater the chances of Mateo finding me, and I could not allow that to happen.

I checked on Chloe. Still fast asleep, thank goodness. I pressed my hand to her forehead. Hmm, warm, but not as warm as this morning. Maybe it was blind optimism rather than reality, but her cheeks weren’t quite as rosy as before. Maybe her fever was on the way out, and her hacking cough would soon follow.

Kissing her forehead, I closed the door and returned to the kitchen. The spurt of anger brought about by Johannes’s probing had withered, leaving me with an emptiness inside. This life I’d been thrust into, thanks to my husband, was far from the gullible dreams of an eighteen-year-old, all starry-eyed at the fact that she’d turned the head of a wealthy man much older than she. Ahead lay a long path filled with fear and loneliness. But as long as I kept Chloe safe and out of Mateo’s reach, that was all that mattered.

I made a fresh pot of coffee and stuck two slices of bread in the toaster, staring through Ginny’s sunny yellow blinds at nothing in particular while I waited for them to pop. I spread a thin layer of butter across the top, then loaded them up with grape jelly and retook my seat at the table. Two bites and I’d had enough. My stomach churned with worry and anxiety both for Chloe and for how exposed I felt under the sharp blue gaze of Johannes Kingcaid.

By throwing him out, all I’d done was pique his curiosity. I should have lied. I could have made up anything. Hell, I could have told him her father was dead. That would have cut off his questioning at the knees. Besides, to me, Mateo was dead. He’d died the day I’d uncovered how he made a living and the dangers he’d introduced into our daughter’s life. Intomylife, and without giving either of us a choice in the matter.

Ugh. I could kick myself in the ass. If I’d stuck to yoga, I might’ve been able to. As it was, all I could do was mentally berate myself for being an idiot.

I sipped my coffee, my mind focusing in on Johannes. I’d overreacted before when it had crossed my mind that Johannes and Mateo might know each other. Of course they didn’t. I hadn’t seen any drug dealing at Level Nine because there was none. My mind was playing tricks. That was all. Stress and worry causing a whirlwind of implausible thoughts to run riot.

But my, what an intriguing, surly, intense man he was. So beautiful, yet empty.

No, not empty.

Broken.

For all his riches in the monetary sense, that man was deeply unhappy. It was right there in his eyes. I could see the struggle within him. He’d either witnessed or suffered trauma. His eyes had the same flat hollowness as mine did, although mine were also tinged with fear, whereas Johannes’s were filled with recrimination.

Whatever he’d gone through, it proved the old saying right—that money didn’t bring happiness. It only enhanced your life if you were already happy. And it didn’t save anyone from the ravages that the hand of fate doled out at will.

Pushing thoughts of my intriguing boss aside, I discarded the half-eaten toast in the trash and went to check on Chloe.

Chapter12

Ella

Turns out that good deeds do exist,

but at what price?

I ranthe almost dry cloth under the faucet, squeezing out excess water. A couple of hours after Johannes had left, Chloe’s fever had spiked again, and her cough had considerably worsened, the hacking sound drawing a wince from me every time she had a coughing fit. I’d talked to Ginny, and we’d both decided that if her fever didn’t break in the next hour, I’d take her to the emergency room at County. There’d be at least a four-hour wait to be seen, but what other choice did I have?

My biggest worry was having to give personal details—albeit fake ones—and that it would, somehow, lead Mateo to us. For all I knew, he had a team monitoring hospitals for a woman with a five-year-old child matching Chloe’s description. I wouldn’t put anything past him. If he could keep his position as the head of an international drug organization from me for all those years, then who knew how far and how deep his reach was? He could have eyes on me right this second.

I glanced over my shoulder, almost as if I expected to find him standing directly behind me, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair, a villainous smile on his too-handsome face.

A shudder ran through me. I dreaded to think what he’d do to me if he ever found out where I was. But I couldn’t allow my fear to damage Chloe’s health. She came first. Always had, always would.