He’s the father of my unborn child, I want to scream but force myself to swallow the secret. This can’t be happening. This feels like a nightmare. Did uncle find out about me and Rammstein’s romp? Is that why he’s doing this to him?
I feel the blood drain from my face and I let out a groan, holding onto the island for balance as I rise. “I need to see it with my own eyes,” I murmur but Mayra clasps my arm.
“Sit back down. You’re going to help me bake instead of interfering with men’s business.”
“You don’t understand,” I whisper, taking my arm back. “Nobody does.”
“Silly girl,” Mayra hisses after me. “You’re going to get yourself into trouble.”
It feels like I’m caught up in a haze as I make my way to the basement. I stay as silent as possible, creeping because I don’t want to get caught. If they catch me, I’ll be interrogated. What was I doing there, what did I hear, what did I see...?
Trembling, I go to my knees, placing my face in front of the keyhole and the room’s fully lit up, allowing me to see everything clearly. My uncle’s in there together with the enforcer and they’re both standing before a wooden chair.
And sitting in that chair is...Rammstein.
A tear slides down my cheek and I put my hand over my mouth. What have they done to him? His head is hanging, his chest shirtless and he’s not wearing any shoes. Exhaustion’s written all over him and I try not to look at the blood trickling from his ear.
Anger bubbles up in me and I protectively cradle my tiny bump. I don’t care that Rammstein didn’t want me, I don’t care that he rejected and hurt me. None of that matters. What matters is that I have his child in my womb and I can’t let this happen to him. I have to help him.
But how?
And oh...this is all my fault. I should have warned him how bad it could get if my uncle found out that he’d taken liberties. Especially since he’d taken liberties with the boss’s niece. Pressure settles over my chest and I lick my lips to stay focused.
I need to be strong, calculative if I’m going to make this work but all I want to do is cradle Rammstein’s face in my hands and tell him everything’s going to be okay. Not that I know it will but at least I’ll do anything in my power to make it happen.
Gasping, I squeeze my eyes when the enforcer smacks Rammstein across his jaw and I’m shocked. I’ve never witnessed any violence growing up. I’m used to these men, they’re all family to me and watching them do this to Rammstein makes bile rise in my throat.
“Fucker,” my uncle grits between his teeth. “I trusted you. Brought you into my lair, accepted you as a brother and this is how you repay me.”
“They...know...less than you think,” Rammstein slurs and I raise my brows. What is he talking about? I thought this was about him sleeping with me but maybe it isn’t...maybe something else is going on.
“That’s what I too would say if I was about to have my intestines ripped out and wrapped around my neck,” the enforcer replies in a chilling voice and I wonder if his wife knows this side of him. Probably not. If she did, she’d never dare sleep in the same bed as him.
“Tomorrow,” uncle adds, before throwing a disgusted look at Rammstein. “At least now you have something to look forward to. Toodles,” he whistles, as both him and the enforcer go for the door and I panic. Rising, I hurry to hide in a dark corner and they walk out.
My breath hitches in my throat when my uncle stops. Damn, he’s got that spidey sense that tends to freak everyone out. And now it’s freaking the hell out of me because if he turns around, he’ll see me cowering.
I dig my nails into the brick wall, my whole body about to explode from anxiety.Don’t turn around. Please, don’t, don’t, don’t...
To my relief he doesn’t and they walk up the staircase and it gives me a moment to breathe out. Turning the doorknob, I walk inside and Rammstein doesn’t even notice me. He’s so out of it that my heart aches. Usually he’s strength personified. Usually he’s all power but now he looks so vulnerable that I want to burst into tears.
The baby cowers in my womb, just as upset by the condition of its father as I am. Wringing my hands, I whisper his name but he doesn’t hear me. I walk closer, not knowing how he’ll react and my palms are clammy.
My poor Ram...
I flinch. That’s right, he’s not mine. He didn’t want me.
Then a flash of hope strikes in my chest. Was there a reason for his rejection? Did he know this would happen? The hurt I’ve been feeling fades and I just want to make things better between us. Especially when he’s in this horrible situation and I flood with nurturing care.
“Rammstein,” I whisper but he doesn’t react, making me worried and I reach out, touching his cheek. He flinches like I slapped him, jerking in his chair until it almost topples and I gasp. His strange eyes bore into mine and despite everything that’s going on, I still go hot for him.
I belong to this man so much that I have no choice but to accept everything and anything that comes with it.
“Dream,” he rasps, looking at me with so much tenderness that I feel like weeping. “This is a dream...too good to be real.”
Cheeks flushing, I look down at him. He’s talking like he has feelings for me and my body goes into turmoil again. Why would he think I’m a dream if he doesn’t like me? Wetting my lips, I whisper, “It’s not a dream. I’m really here.”
A tired smile crosses his face, a slow laugh leaving his throat as if he doesn’t believe me and I put my hand on his shoulder, squeezing it.