“Don’t talk about your death. I couldn’t bear it.” She placed her hands on my cheeks and kissed me. “I love you, Dorian.”
“Sweetest words ever.” My worries faded, having her regard for me confirmed. “Will you tell me why you were crying? Whatever it is, it will be okay.”
“Your assurance means the world to me.” A tear streaked down her cheek, and she lowered her gaze as if ashamed. “I’m pregnant.”
All my hopes and dreams were decimated by two words: I’m pregnant. I knew precisely whose seed was inside her. Rage and disgust burst into my chest.
“What?”
“I don’t love him.” She shook her head frantically. “I never felt for him what I do for you. Let’s get married. We can run away together and leave Chicago forever.”
“Why? Why would you sleep with him?” I shoved her off me and stood, shaking her revolting germs away. I didn’t want her touching me after she’d had sex with Bruno.
“I didn’t want to.”
I stilled.
“I didn’t want to, but he pushed and pushed.” She buried her face in her hands. “I didn’t want to.”
“He forced himself on you?”
“Yes. He doesn’t know I’m pregnant. We can pass the baby off as yours.” Her hopeful eyes met mine, and my heart died. “Bruno is awful. You know he is. I want you, Dorian. I want you to be my baby’s daddy.”
“I can’t,” I blurted, holy appalled. “Why would I want Bruno’s spawn?”
Tina broke down sobbing. I hadn’t meant to sound so cruel. But had she honestly thought I would marry her after Bruno tainted her?
We couldn’t marry in the Catholic church, before God and my family, if she wasn’t a virgin, let alone pregnant with another man’s baby. That fucking Bruno. He raped her just to win. He knew I’d never want her if she wasn’t pure.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do now. My parents will make me marry him, and I don’t want to.”
“I’ll be around. You won’t be alone.” I sat beside her and put my arm around her. The least I could do was comfort the only woman I had ever loved.
“Do you promise?”
“Yes, love. I promise to watch over you and your baby.” I’d make sure she never loved Bruno. He didn’t win and will never win against me. “I’ll be Uncle Dorian.”
19
Brynne
We waited in the convenience store parking lot for Gina. She was late. Joseph and his friend Espada kept checking the time on their phones. I felt awful about all this. I’d never involve them in my family’s drama, but I had no one to turn to, and Joseph had been there when I received the letter. I couldn’t lie to him. Our newly developing relationship was fragile, the foundation delicate that even a small lie could shatter it to pieces.
“She’s coming, I promise.” I turned my gaze up to the clouds.Please, God. Gina’s coming, right?
“Five minutes, then we’re leaving,” Joseph grumbled. He didn’t appear at all afraid, his friend either. The more I watched them, they reminded me of my dad’s security team: serious and no-nonsense. Physically fit and trained in dealing with dangerous situations.
For the first time, I saw rough edges and a side of grit I hadn’t noticed about Joseph. He was different around his friend. What didn’t I know about him? My questions would have to wait until we were alone, but I could find out more about his buddy.
“What do you do for a living, Espada?”
He cleared his throat. “I have a corporate job.”
“Fucker.” Joseph shoved him in the arm. “Don’t be a dick to her.”
“I’m a mechanic,” Espada hissed, shooting daggers at Joseph. Perhaps now wasn’t the time for icebreaker questions.
“You guys just seem so cool and unfazed by this dangerous situation. How are you so calm?”