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“Elenora—” Oscar began, but I cut him off.
“Get the car.”
“Where are we going?”
“To figure out what the hell is going on up north.” How could Elio, the man who claimed to love my daughter so much, have let her go into the enemy’s house? Did he even know? Well, he was about to.
“Very well.” He left, and I tried to fight off the memory, but it took hold anyway.
I curled into a ball on the window seat and watched the rain pour down onto the grounds of the Coppola house. My head hurt, and my stomach rolled liked the perfect storm. Theo had his way with me for nearly two months, and though it was consensual, and we had what I thought was a good talk before we began to make a child, it was what happened afterward that bothered me the most. His total disdain. He would make me promises and then break them. He told me my brother could visit from time to time, but when I would bring it up and ask when, he would act like he had no idea what I was referring to. I felt used and cheap.
“What’s wrong with you?” Theo stepped into the room with his towel wrapped low around his hips. His hair was still dripping from his shower. He admired himself in the mirror, and I wanted to roll my eyes at how vain he was. He was nasty toward me and often belittled me in front of others, but because I didn’t care about anyone here, I just dismissed it.
“I’m just wondering why you lied to me.”
“Which time?” He snagged a shirt from the hanger, and I wanted to toss a candlestick at his head.
“You promised that if I went along with this whole baby thing that you would let my brother stay for a while. I miss him, and you know what they say about a woman trying to get pregnant.”
“That they are a pain in the ass.”
I loathe you.
“That a happy woman is more apt to get pregnant than an unhappy one.” He shook his head with a laugh. “Well, I don’t know about you, Theo,” I made a disgusted face, “but the idea of more sex with you isn’t very appealing. So, why don’t we make every effort to make this work?”
He slammed the dresser drawer shut and thought for a moment.
“Fine. Tell him to come, but if he steps out of line in this house, I won’t think twice before kicking him to the curb.”
A huge smile broke across my face even as a wave of nausea washed over me. I’d keep that quiet until I was absolutely ready to share. I hated the sweat that broke out along my forehead. It brought back memories I had swallowed back and repressed. I hated my life here.
“Make sure he stays out of my way and keep him the hell away from Noemi.”
“That’s something I just don’t understand.”
“Shocker you don’t get something,” he snapped in his normal jerky behavior.
“Why me when you love her? Is it because she’s dating that guy while still seeing you?” I had overheard Theo on the phone a few days ago freaking out about who she was dating. I figured that her dating someone else would make him less interested, but I was wrong.
“It’s not up to me who has the child. There’s more to it than you know.” He glared at me from the mirror, and I knew I was getting too personal again. He barely ever shared any of the family dynamics with me, so I was always shooting in the dark for information. I simply couldn’t help it; I felt so alone here. “Besides, you’re merely here to pay your family’s debt, and maybe I don’t want my woman all stretched and unattractive like you’ll be…well, are.”
“Because you’re something special.” I dripped with sarcasm, and he whirled around, shoving his pistol in my face. I was way beyond finished with his arrogant ways, so much so that I stood and held my arms open.
“Go ahead. Undo two months of lousy sex and fake orgasms.”
“Listen, you stupid piece of shit,” he grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head back so hard it forced me to cry out and scratch at his arms to pull myself back upright, “you’d be so lucky to carry my child. So, hope to be so lucky that when this is over, I don’t bury a bullet in your head.”
“Pardon me, sir.” Oscar once again was there to stop Theo from going too far. My mouth often got me into trouble, as Theo had a temper and could get abusive with me. Generally, he was just verbally abusive, but today I thought I went a little too far. “Ms. Noemi has returned from her weekend trip and is looking for you. Shall I escort her to the dining room where she’ll join you for breakfast?”
“Yes,” Theo grunted and tossed me to the floor then checked himself again in the mirror. He barged past Oscar as he left. Yes, go to the woman who probably just spent the weekend with another man. That’s not desperate.
“Ms. Elenora,” he came rushing to my side and lifted me to my feet, “are you all right?”
“Yes,” I huffed, wanting nothing more than to get hold of the gardener’s rat poison and dump it all over his toothbrush. My hand went to my stomach without thinking, and his gaze dropped while his mouth opened in shock.
“Are you?”
I looked away and fought the tears, but his hand covered mine, and I looked at him, unsure how to take his affection.
