Page 175 of Bad Bishop

“Listen carefully now,piccola fiamma.” He snatched her jaw, making her meet his eyes. “You’re making one fatal mistake after another. Don’t push my limits. That self-destruction button of yours will get you killed one day, sweetheart. And I just might do the honor.”

Unable to stomach any more of this, I stepped out of the bathroom and cleared my throat, making myself known. Both their gazes fluttered to me. Achilles stepped back, sneering at Tierney like she was garbage.

“Your little friend saved the day.” He rearranged the choker around her neck gently, without touching her skin. “I’m watching you, Tierney.”

“Keep looking, asshole.” She smiled serenely. “Because that’s all you’ll do when it comes to me.”

“You okay?” I asked verbally, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She nodded, putting on a brave smile, but the light in her eyes was gone.

“Me? Oh, grand. Don’t worry about me at all. What about you? Having fun?”

I nodded.

“Great. That’s all I needed to know.”

_______

When we got to the gift portion of the event, worry began nibbling at the corners of my gut.

Imma gifted me the most beautiful changing table, powder blue and carved lavishly, but it was ginormous and wouldnever fit into our bedroom, unless we removed a few pieces of furniture.

Mama bought the baby a SNOO.

Luca and Sofia gifted us a bougie designer stroller, a baby tub, and a car seat.

Achilles and Enzo contributed a bunch of toys and the rocker I’d put on my registry.

Tierney, an entire wardrobe of designer onesies and extravagant Burberry and Gucci baby blankets.

While I appreciated everything, we simply didn’t have space for all these things. I already knew I’d have to send Imma back to live with my parents, since there weren’t enough bedrooms in the apartment.

I suppose I didn’t really need my vanity…or my walk-in closet. My clothes could fit into some drawers, and I could convert the closet into a space for the baby’s changing table and clothes.

An hour later, Tiernan and I got into the car and made our way to the apartment. I continued trying to shift things around in my head to accommodate our growing family. Maybe we could keep the stroller in the communal hallway? I was sure Tierney wouldn’t mind.

But the truth was, squeezing things into our apartment was the least of my worries. We lived above a crowded pub. Surely, the constant hustle and bustle would wake the baby. And how was I to take him for strolls when we needed fresh air? We lived in an unsafe neighborhood.

“I’m sorry I didn’t give you anything for your baby shower.” Tiernan snatched me out of my own thoughts.

“Please don’t be.” I shook my head. “We’ve both had so much on our minds lately.”

“I did get you something small.” He reached across the central console, took my hand, and pressed my knuckles to his lips. “I hope you like it,” he murmured into my skin.

“I’m sure I will.”

“Mind if we make a pit stop to see it? It’s just around the corner.”

“Not at all. I’m all yours.”

In every single way possible.

We drove from Massapequa to Huntington in silence. I drummed my fingers on my thigh, feeling the baby readjusting inside my tummy. It had become unbearably uncomfortable for both of us lately.

Tiernan killed the engine in front of a stunning gray-stoned colonial with black shutters and floor-to-ceiling doors and windows. It was a jaw-dropping mansion with two white columns on either way of the entrance, a grand balcony above it, four chimneys, and two wings spurting from each side of it. There must be at least nine bedrooms in this place, I thought, as I took in the manicured bright green bushes bracketing the serpentine pathway to the house.

Tiernan stared at the manor. Grimly, he turned to me, rummaging in his pocket and depositing a small set of keys in my hand. “Here’s the something small I got you.”