My heart filled 167

Chapter 167

+25. Bonus

“I mean it, Raina,” he said, his voice firm but full of warmth. “Stay Inside. Keep t

1 nodded again, biting my lip. “Okay.

kids safe. No unnecessary risks, okay?”

The smell of pancakes filled the kitchen as 1 Tipped another one onto the plate. In the meantime, Ava was sitting at the table, her little legs moving back and forth while she hummed softly to herself. Liam was scribbling on a piece of paper, his small hands clamping tightly onto a crayon. I couldn’t help but smile ever at them, their Innerner so vivid against the sterns that raged around us.

“Here you go,” I said, setting the plate In front of them. “Ig in before it gets cold”

“Thanks, Mon,” Awa chirped, reaching for the syrup and dousing her pile with entirely too much of it

1 mussed her hair before heading toward Grandma’s ream. She was still in bed, her tiny frame nearly swallowed by the heavy quilt. “Morning Grandma,

I said softly, sitting on the edge of her bed.

Her eyes fluttered epen, and she gave me a weak smile. “Moming, dear. You’re up early.”

“Had to make sure the kids were fed,” I replied, helping her sit up and arranging the pillows behind her. “How are y

are you feeling today?”

“A little better,” she said, her voice thin but steady. “But I wouldn’t mind some of those pancakes I smell.”

I chuckled, kissing her cheek. “Coming right up.”

As soon as Grandma was set with her breakfast, I went out into the ball with the phone. As soon as I had dialed Faith’s number, this feeling of dread settled in over me

“Rama,” Faith’s voice came through thick with emotion.

“Hey,” I said, leaning back against the wall. “I just wanted to check in with you. I’m really sorry I couldn’t make it, but Alex is on his w way.‘

There was a pause on the other end before Faith’s voice cracked. “Dom let her in, Raina

1 fruze, holding the phone closer to my ear. “What?”

“Eliza,” she said, her voice trembling. “She’s in the house. He let her in. She’s sitting in the living room, acting like she owns the place. And she won’t shut up about how she’s pregnant

My gut twisted. “He..he what? Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know,” Faith walled. “He said he didn’t touch her, but then why let her in? Why now, when she’s claiming this?”

I put a hand to my forehead, pushing against it in an effort to make sense of it ah. Either Dom lied about not sleeping with Eliza, or he was working an

angle I wasn’t seeing,

“Faith, listen to me,” I said, trying to sound firm in my voice. “You have to stay strong. I know this is hard, but Alex will be here soon, and he’ll sort this out. If it gets to be too much, you can come here, okay?”

“No,” she snapped, her voice rough despite the tears. “I’m not leaving my home. I’ve been with Dam since before anyone knew who he was. I won’t let her waltz in here and take what’s mine.”

Her words broke my heart. “Faith, I-

The line went dead before I could fish. I stared at the phone, her last words echoing in my

y mind.

Just as I hung up the phone, having just talked to Faith, Ava tore into the room, ber little face pale and upset. “Mom, something’s wrong with Liam,” she – said, tugging on my arm.

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. “What do you mean, baby? What’s wrong?”

“He says he feels sick,” she told me, shaking. “He’s really hot, Mommy.”

My heart clenched as I followed her down the hall to their room. Pushing open the door, I found Elam lying in a ball on his bed, his face flushed and beads of sweat on his forehead. His little body seemed to radiate heat