I clear my throat. She sees right through me. “She’s for you, actually. I thought since you love the boys so much, you could have your own. The condo is too small for four grown dogs, obviously, but one, perhaps… I thought…” She isn’t going to make this easy. “Paolo will train her, don’t worry. She’ll stay with me until she’s fully housebroken. But I thought Pestilence could stay with you in the meantime.”

Her eyes narrow. “So she’s for me?”

I nod. “If you want her.”

“Like a gift?”

I notice she’s not wearing the necklace, but I bite back my comment. “Yes.”

“What’s her name?”

“She’s not yet named. You can choose.”

“Oh.” She looks at the small puppy as she sets her down. “Okay. I think I’ll call her Kali.”

“Kali?”

She grins at me. “Like the goddess who devours her enemies.”

“Oh. Alrighty then. Kali it is.” I am confused. But okay.

“And you want Pestilence to stay with me?”

“Can I come into the house?” I ask. She hesitates. “Just for a few minutes. I’m not going to do anything, Mercedes. I am just here for the dogs.”

“Mm-hmm, sure.” She folds her arms across her chest and gestures to the living room with a nod of her head. I see a candle burning on the mantel, and the scent of cinnamon wafts through the air. The sun is fading in the early evening hours, and there’s an overall warmth in the space. A coziness.

Steam rises from a mug of tea on the coffee table, and on the floor is a laundry basket full of baby clothes that she’s been folding. The sight of it hits me hard.

This is happening.

We are having babies.

We.

No, not we.

She.

“Mercedes, I—”

“You want something to drink?”

I drag my gaze from that stack to her. I shake my head. “Let me go get Pestilence’s things.” I need to get out of here for a minute.

“You haven’t asked me if he can stay. You just assume like you always do.”

I push my hand through my hair, my eyes falling on those clothes again. I drag a breath in. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I thought you’d want that. I thought—”

“I’m not scared of Vincent Douglas, Judge. He can’t touch us. I won’t let him.”

“He’s a man, Mercedes. If he gets to you, he will do what he wants.”

“Like most men.”

“He means you harm,” I say, cataloging the blow but not allowing myself to waver right now. Her safety is why I’m here. “And a man will always be able to overpower a woman. If he gets in here—”

“Have you seen the guards my brother has posted outside?”