“She sounds strong.” I hate the touch of insecurity that starts to rise inside me. I’m not so sure that I’m strong.
“Being strong isn’t about muscle. Their strength was in how they balanced each other. Where one was weak the other was strong. And I think you and Renato have that.” I think over her words and realize she might be on to something.
She goes on to tell me a few funny stories from over the years. I love that Renato was the one to actually introduce Payton to Antony. It didn’t take long for Antony to have Payton walking down the aisle to him.
“This place is fancy,” I say when we walk in through a side entrance of the shopping center and right into one of the stores. A woman holding a tray of champagne comes over to offer us a glass.
“No thanks,” Payton says, taking off her coat.
“I’ve never had champagne,” I admit.
“Go on,” she encourages me. I snag one of the glasses off the tray and take a small snip. It burns my nose, but it’s not terrible.
“I’m Annabell.” A lady introduces herself. “You must be Payton.” She shakes her hand first. “We talked on the phone.”
“Yes, and this is Maddie.” She introduces me next.
“Oh, you’re going to be so fun to dress,” she says to me. “You have an incredible figure.”
I duck my head, blushing at the compliment. “Thank you.”
“I’ve already pulled some things out for both of you and placed them on the racks here to start with. When I get a better feel of your style as you try these on, then we’ll start to pull more things. Does that sound good?”
“It sounds perfect. You’re the best, Annabell,” Payton tells her.
“I’ll let you ladies have a moment.” She shoos the other girl standing next to her and the girl with the tray of champagne glasses out of the room.
“These are all for me?” I ask, seeing three racks on one side. They are all heavy on the color pink. I take another sip of my champagne.
“Did the pink give it away?” she teases.
“Maybe.” I laugh. “You don’t like champagne?”
“I do. It’s just–”
“Are you pregnant?” I gasp.
“Yes.” A smile lights up her whole face. “We haven't told anyone. It’s so early on.”
“Oh my gosh.” I set the glass down to rush over and give her a hug.
“It’s crazy. We only started trying a few months ago. I was sure it would take longer.”
“This is so exciting.”
“Maybe you’ll end up pregnant with me.” Her words have me freezing in place.
“Me, pregnant?” I can’t wrap my mind around it.
“Well, I mean are you on something to stop it?”
I shake my head.
“Guessing with how Renato is with you, he’s not wrapping it up, is he?”
I shake my head again. Why has that never dawned on me? “Was getting pregnant part of the will too?” I ask.
“I don’t know, honestly, but I don’t think it will matter since it’s only a matter of time.” She laughs as she starts to look through one of the racks.
But it does matter. To me, at least. Getting married because of the will was one thing, but making a baby is a whole other.
19
Renato
One of my workers mops up the mess Oscar’s henchmen left behind. I look around at the destroyed warehouse, coke mixing with blood on the concrete floors.
“We have to strike back.” Antony’s glare is fixed on his face like a mask.
“We will. First, we’re cutting our coke business. No more deals with Oscar whatsoever. We’re done with him. We’ll seek out other avenues later, but for now, we’re going dark. Next, we are going to hit that piece of shit where it hurts.”
Claudio dry heaves as he walks in and joins us. “Jeez.”
“I told you not to come.” I glance at him.
“I know, but I thought maybe I could hel–” He dry heaves again, his face going pale.
“Come on.” I take his arm. Antony takes his other one before he passes out. We lead him outside and let the salty bay air hit him in the face.
He inhales deeply. “Thanks. So, um, what’s the plan?”
“We’re no longer doing business with the Ferrars. All payments and dealings are now at a standstill or cut altogether.”
“He sent flowers to the house with his condolences about the ‘unfortunate attack.’ Black roses. The note even said that he hopes the perpetrators are caught and given swift justice.”
“Motherfucker.” Antony balls his fists.
“That’s what he wants. A violent reaction so he can go to the other families and say I’m a loose cannon, not fit to run things. We aren’t giving him the satisfaction. Business as usual on all other fronts. But I want stepped up security at all our illegal operation centers. No more sneak attacks.”
“Got it.” Antony nods.
“How are we going to hit him where it hurts?” Claudio stands on his own, his color returning.