“You seem like a person who could use a break.”
She studies me again and says, “You seem more desperate than me. How can I help you?”
I look back at the driver who brought me to ask if he has the correct address, but I notice he’s gone.
“Are you okay, sir?” she asks.
I check my watch and wonder if I should call Lang or… “I probably have the wrong address. I’m looking for an employee, Siobhan Walters.”
She frowns and bites her lip. Her thin shoulders tense, and her features harden.
“Siobhan isn’t in trouble if that’s what you think,” I assure her.
“Then why are you looking for her?” Her voice is sharp.
Why am I looking for her? In theory, I’m here because my family wants to rehire her, but that’s not the truth. Honestly, I don’t care if she doesn’t want to go back to Luna Harbor. All I want is for her to be with me—if she’ll have me.
I’ll move here or wherever she wants to live because apparently, while I was too concerned about my family’s affairs, she stole my heart and my soul.
That beautiful, evil thief.
But I can’t tell this stranger any of that. So, I say, “If you don’t mind, I just need to speak with her.”
She narrows her gaze, and her light brown eyes sparkle. “You’re Iskander, aren’t you?”
I swallow hard. I guess by the judging voice that Siobhan didn’t have anything good to say about me. Feigning ignorance, I extend my hand, “Iskander Cantú, nice to meet you.”
She glares at it and instead of shaking it, she says, “Listen, it’s best if you leave. She’s back home where she belongs and doesn’t need you people.”
I glance at the old building and then back at her. So, this is home, huh? “Are you two related?”
She scoffs. “I think you’re worse than Roland. At least he didn’t pretend to be a good guy.”
“Who the fuck is Roland?” I blink several times, trying to remember if I ever heard that name. “Listen, I just need a few seconds of her time. She disconnected her phone. Though she might find a good job here in Chicago, we are willing to offer—”
“Out,” she insists, shutting the door in my face.
What did I do?
I’m just pissing off every woman that I come in contact with.
When I turn around, I spot Siobhan walking toward me as she pushes a stroller. My chest tightens, and yet, my back relaxes, seeing that she’s okay and safe.
Siobhan says something to the baby in the stroller, and when she lifts her gaze and spots me, she frowns.
I wait for her, twiddling with my fingers. There are so many things I want to tell her but I don’t know where to start.
As she reaches the house, the first thing she says is, “Tell your grandfather that as much as I appreciate his generosity, I’m not going back.”
“Why did you quit?” Smooth, idiot, that’ll get her to see how much she means to you.
“I have a family emergency. Plus, Wicked Luna isfamily owned. I don’t see anywhere I can grow professionally if only a Cantú can be in charge.”
Whoa, where did she get that? “Can we talk?”
Her nostrils flare, and the grip on the stroller’s handle tightens. “There’s nothing left to say. That part of my life is over. As I told Mr. Cantú, I really appreciate everything he did for me, but it’s time for me to find something new. Plus, as I just said,my familyneeds me.”
I’m at a loss, but if there’s something I know how to do it’s solve problems. “Siobhan, I understand you’re angry with me, but can you stop for one moment and let me speak?”