“I know you love him, Lola. I can see it in everything you’ve done.” She relaxed slightly, until he added, “Which is the reason you’ll marry me.”
She scowled. “I’m not marrying someone I don’t love.”
Rodrigo drew closer, looking down at her in the small apartment. “You used to love me. Once.”
“I learne
d my lesson, didn’t I?”
“Fine. You don’t need to love me.” His lips curled. “In fact, I’d prefer it if you don’t. It keeps things simpler. But you will marry me, Lola. Soon.” Straightening the cuffs of his tuxedo jacket, he said, “Sleep on it. Once you’ve calmed down, you’ll see I’m right.”
“I won’t!”
Rodrigo looked down at her in the soft glow of the lamplight. His voice was low. “This is a dangerous world. Much can happen. Accidents. Illness. People can die.”
“Are you threatening me?” She gasped.
“What? No!” Jolted, he clawed his hand roughly through his dark hair. “I’m saying a child needs as much protection, as much security and love, as he can get. My parents died, Lola. One, then the other. What happened to yours?”
The blood drained from her face. She’d always refused to speak of her past, but now he knew his suspicions were right.
“You’re an orphan,” he guessed. Biting her lip, she looked away. “So our child already has a mark against him, with no grandparents to love him.” He set his jaw. “I’m an only child. So no uncles or aunts.”
Looking away, she muttered, “I have two sisters.”
His eyebrows raised in surprise. “You do?”
Lola stared at the floor. “I haven’t seen them for a long time.”
Rodrigo sensed some pain there, but he didn’t want to ask. He just pressed his advantage. “So already, our baby is more vulnerable, with no extended family. Don’t you want him to have a father? Think of what I can give him. What I can give both of you.”
She stiffened. “I don’t need more money—”
“Not just money. My name. My time. My protection. My love.”
She froze. “Your love.”
“Yes. A father’s love.” He set his jaw. “Jett needs me as much as he needs you, Lola. I want to be there for him, to help raise him, to teach him how to be a man. Together, you and I can give him a better childhood than we had. Either of us.”
He saw by her expression that his shot hit home. She suddenly looked uncertain, her eyes luminous in the shadowy light.
Turning away, Rodrigo stopped at the door.
“My son will have my name, Lola. And so will you. This marriage will happen. Accept it.” He gave her a hard smile. “Sleep well tonight. Because tomorrow, you’re both coming home with me.”
* * *
Rodrigo arrived the next day, as promised, bright and early. But his men came much sooner than that.
Lola peeked out the window again. Eight stories below, she still saw the black SUV parked across the street. It had arrived last night, thirty minutes after Rodrigo had left.
For all his fine words about marriage and family and love, she thought bitterly, he didn’t trust her. He’d sent his henchmen to watch her apartment building to make sure she didn’t try to flee with the baby.
They weren’t even married yet, but he was already treating her like a prisoner.
But could she totally blame him? a small voice said inside her. She’d left California and kept their baby a secret for a year.
Shut up, she told that voice angrily.