It's been a week now that she is working at the restaurant, she smiles thinking about the pay she will get today. She happily serves the customers making some chats, now she is used to the shoes it's easy to run around. Now that her shift is about to end her face brightens up to leave & get Gio.

Gio has been a bit of understanding these few days not causing troubles to Kate or her. She wonders why someone will want to leave a child like him, he seems very intelligent, he understands everything she asks & he knows how to cheer her up. She smiles remembering how he offered his milk to her when she found there wasn't much food for her to eat.

How he talks with her when she feels lonely with his cooing & giggles. He is an angel in her life, she don't know how she could have cope up with everything, if her times wasn't taken looking after him or thinking about him. She is so engrossed in her thoughts that she doesn't see the Antonio's getting in the restaurant.

She smiles as she goes to the table to take their order her last customer of the day. Her smile drops as she sees Sean & walks slowly to them. "Hi I'm Erika, what can I get for you" she states trying hard not to look up.

"Erika!" Marisa calls & gets up before hugging her, Erika smiles slightly at her. "What are you doing here? Oh my god! Why aren't you coming to visit us?" she asks. Erika groans internally before replying "I'm um a bit busy" she whispers.

Gio narrows his eyes at his son's who haven't said a word. "How long have you been working here?" he asks looking straight in her eyes.

"A week" she answers slowly gulping when Gio gets up from his seat "I think that's enough work for you. You should focus on your graduation & prepare for college instead of this" he says sternly before calling the manager.

"Erika here will be quitting the job & she won't be coming her, if she does do not let her work again" Gio orders the manager who looks flustered at them before nodding.

Even after many protests from her Gio don't listen & Marisa pulls her aside "Erika you don't have to work here, if you had some problems you should have come to us." Erika stands silently before nodding. All this while both the twin say nothing & try to avoid looking at her.

"Where's your mother? I thought she was more than capable to look after you tiger. I don't want you to work anymore get ready for your college. If you have any financial problem, I'll help you but you will no longer work here or any place again. A brilliant girl like you should know better than wasting your time in a place like this!" Gio scolds & she listens quietly bowing her head.

"Thank you I appreciate it, if you'll excuse me I'll leave" she says before turning around. "Wait join us we are celebrating the twins graduation & it's yours too" Marisa smiles. "Um, actually I need to be somewhere so I'll just leave" she says hurrying to the locker. She changes fast & leaves after taking her pay.

Erika blinks back her tears as she reaches Kate's house to pick Gio. Kate lets her in the house, she smiles as Gio sees her & calls her to him. "Hey, little guy had your fun?' she asks as she pecks him while he sighs burying his head in her neck.

"I never knew you could be this good with the kids, I mean you literally hate kids" Kate comments as she passes Erika a glass of juice. Erika smiles as she takes the seat with Gio on her lap holing her tightly like he knows she needs it.

"Why are you so early?" Kate asks. "I got an early leave" she lies. Kate nods as she asks once again, "When's the kid leaving? Graduation is in few days you are going to make up right we planned to go for a trip after the party. You are up for it right after all it's our last year as teenagers. Did you get letter from the college you applied?"

"I better get going" she stands ignoring the question, the truth is she forgot to send her application to any college due to all the thing happening in her life. Now that she lost her only job she really has no clue what she will do.

"Oh okay, by the way what's gotten in to the twins? They haven't shown in the school & even if they are they don't mix up well with us, is everything good?" she asks as Erika makes her way to the door.

"Ya everything is perfect, they must be worried about their business & now with mates & stuff you know how it goes" she replies smiling.

Kate holds her arms "Everything is good with you? I mean you aren't in any trouble right?" she asks worriedly.

"Of course it is, I just need to handle this baby few more days & I'll be good we can talk about the trip at graduation, so I'll go bye" she hurries leaving Kate watch her intently.

Erika reaches her home exhausted if this goes up she will be old soon. She puts Gio on the makeshift bed on the floor as she walks to the kitchen. She groans as she sees the bills lying on the table before throwing it on the dustbin.

Gio fusses as he wakes up not seeing Erika & screams at the top of his lungs. Erika rush to him taking him in her arms. Erika tries to making him quiet but can't as he cries more loudly, "What's wrong with you all of a sudden why are you crying?" she asks as she paces with him in her arms trying to calm him.

Someone knocks at her door as she soothes a crying Gio, she opens the door to see a woman, "Yes?" she asks.

"You need to make that baby quiet if you don't want me to call the cops" she warns before leaving the door. Erika curses the lady before closing the door & trying once again to make Gio stop.

"Gio please stop, are you hungry?" she asks which makes him cry more. She wipes his tears hushing him but he just won't stop.

"Gio please stop, please" she pleads. She looks at the boy & without knowing what to do she starts crying herself. She wants her mother too she sobs clutching Gio in her arms as she wants her mother with her more than ever.

Erika cries as she is scared how she will buy any food for them or how she will pay the bills that are stocking up everyday & now some old lady has threatened her to call cops on them if she didn't make the baby quiet.

Finally after crying for full hour exhaustion takes him over & he falls asleep giving Erika breathe of relief. Erika wipes his tears away as well her before carrying him to the bed. She closes the door before pulling her jacket & locking the doors properly as she makes her way to the nearby shop to buy some food for both of them.

Erika pays the money & walks back to her home only to stop in her tracks as the front door of her house is unlocked when she knows she had locked it before going out. Cold chill runs through her spine as she rushes in to check on Gio.

She opens the door only to hit the ground, she watches wide eyed as two guys are in her living room with Gio in one of their arms. "Shut the kid!" someone shouts above her. Erika groans as she clutches her head, the jerk hit her hard on her head.

"Man we need to get out soon, someone may come hearing the baby cry" one of the guy yells & he gets a hit on the head, "Shut up dick head, first let us finish the work we came for & give some chloroform to the kid" he orders.

"No, don't! He is just a baby!" she cries as she clutches her head. "Shut up bitch, don't order us around, hey check her she may have some money" one of the guy order.

"Hey man, hurry up we need to move" the same guy shouts as another guy comes out of her room with a bag in his hand.

"There's nothing in the house, damn I thought they will at least have some money in here" the new guy grumbles as he looks at her. He walks to her & jerks her up pulling her hair, "Bitch, where's the money?" he asks.

Erika groans as he head hurts, "I don't have please leave" she begs. He smirks before pushing her on the floor, "well then you will have to give us something else" he laughs.

Erika narrows her eyes but soon her eyes widens as he tears her shirt, "Oh shit!" the guy grins as he sees her body. Erika tries to scream only to shut as he puts something her her mouth, she struggles as he holds her leg & pulls her to him.

"Hold her up!' he shouts at the first guy who catches her both hands & ties it with a belt. Erika bites the guys hand only to be slapped hard. "Feisty huh, oh we are going to enjoy this!" the guy holding her leg chuckles as he undone her pants buttons.

Erika tries to screams as the guy pulls her pants down & struggles to get away from them but stops when he pulls her by her hair. "Stop it, if you want to see the kid alive"

The guy holding the baby pulls out a knife & puts near unconscious Gio's neck. Fear crept in her as she looks at Gio, he isn't moving at all how much chloroform did they gave him?

The guy above her snickers, "Do it already man, I want my turn too" as he grabs her breasts & the next guy smiles as he opens his pants button & Erika closes her eyes as she awaits the worst.

"Hey, open up!" someone bangs the door halting the guy's movement. Erika's eyes open up as she hears the voice Josh! She thrashes around feeling a new hope burning in as Josh shouts for her, the guys in the room curses as they all jerk up in attention.

"Run!" the guy cries as he buttons his pant taking his shirt from the floor through the back door. Erika watches in horror not the guys running but the guy holding Gio drops him without a care.

Erika screams as she tries to run for Gio but once again lands on the ground as her leg is tangled up in her jeans. Josh bursts through the door as he looks around to find Erika lying half naked.

"What happened?" he asks as he pulls the clothes out of her mouth & tries to untie the rope, "Gio" she cries & Josh looks up to find the kid on the ground.

"Shit!" Josh curses as he runs to Gio to find him unconscious. Erika pulls her pants up before rushing to Gio. She gasps as she sees the blood trial down his forehead.

"We need to get him to the hospital" Josh shouts as pulls his jacket & pass it to Erika who looks terrified.

"Kid, look at me. Hold Gio while I drive get up, we need to move" Josh orders as her trance is broken & she nods putting the jacket & taking Gio who is not moving at all. Tears runs down her face as she is terrified for the worst if anything happened to him she don't know what she will do.

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