“That mother fucker!” Orlando spun around, feeling ready to kill again, but spun right back to face her. “You see what he’s doing here, right? He’s using everything in his power to control you. Cut him off. Cut him and his son off now. I’ll pay for your attorney fees from here on. I don’t want that asshole to have any say or reason to be around you anymore. I’ve been patient enough, Dani. I want him the fuck out of your life.”
“Okay,” she said, reaching out, and just the feel of her hand caressing his face magically relieved some of the tension he’d been feeling from the moment he saw her walk in that courtroom but not entirely. “I’ll do whatever you want. I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t afford an attorney, and I wanted so desperately for this to be over. I’d already accepted that I’d have to wait years possibly to get this taken care of because I’d rather do that than give into anything Ted might want from me in exchange for his continued help with this. But when Blaine informed me about the signed contract he had to see this through the end, I figured I may as well take advantage of it. I just hadn’t anticipated Ted being involved in any way.”
Orlando shook his head. “Fuck Blaine. Fuck Ted. They’re both gone. You understand? I just about lost my shit waiting for you to get out of that courthouse after seeing you walk in there holding his hand. I can’t—”
“Okay,” she said again, shushing him, touching his lips with her fingers before kissing them softly. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. But this is almost over, and I’ll cut him off tonight. I promise.” She kissed him again, staring deeply into his eyes. “I love you.”
Orlando stared down into those beautiful eyes, feeling like a sap because, even as his heart pounded and the blood thrummed through his veins in anger, all he wanted was to have her in his arms again. He wrapped his arms around her with a groan. “I love you, too. But holy shit, Dani.” He closed his eyes as his heart thundered away in his chest. “You drain my life.”
“I had no idea he’d be here today. I swear.”
“Just get rid of him,” Orlando said, burying his face in her neck. “Get rid of him, block his ass so he can’t even text you anymore, and we’re good.” He squeezed her even tighter, relieved that he’d been wrong about the thoughts that’d begun to manifest as he’d waited so impatiently for her to exit the courthouse: that maybe there was more to her interest in this guy’s stupid texts. A guy he’d heard her declaring her love to just last month, and her being here today holding his hand was proof she hadn’t gotten over him that quickly. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear, needing desperately to hear her say it again.
“I love you too, Orlando,” was her instant response. “So much.”
Chapter 26
Danica
They were down to one night a week where Danica didn’t spend the night at Orlando’s. She was basically living with him now as he’d so emphatically told Ted they were. But she still came back to her sister’s one night each week to pick up more clothes and spend time with Dominic, who was always so excited about it. Tonight was that night since Orlando would be working late anyway. She’d come straight home from the shop after her shift, put her dirty laundry in the washer, and helped her sister put dinner together. They’d had a pleasant enough dinner, and Danica decided to walk down to the panaderia afterwards to get some sweet bread for Dominic’s dessert. She’d been in there for a little bit, speaking to the owner’s daughters working the counter. It seemed the petition was really getting some traction because a local news crew was set to come in and do a story about one of the neighborhood’s pioneer businesses.
Walking out smiling because the girls seemed optimistic that they’d be able to save the bakery from being closed, Danica froze when she saw him. Ted was leaning against his car parked just outside the panaderia. It’d been days since the confrontation outside the courthouse, but she hadn’t had a chance to speak to Blaine until today about her getting new representation. Blaine had been understanding given the altercation between Orlando and his father, but he was also optimistic that she may not even need further representation, since everything was already set in motion.
Danica knew she owed Ted for that. Blaine had done an excellent job of presenting her case of being a completely reformed, straight-A student and model citizen. The DA had not only agreed accept the request to reduce the charges from felony to misdemeanor, he also said he was moving forward to expedite the request to have the charges expunged altogether. Blaine had already told her before they even walked out of the courthouse that day that she may not even have to stand before the judge for that.
“Beautiful evening, isn’t it?”
Slowing her walking a bit, Danica nodded but refused to give into anything he might be there for. “Why are you here?”
“Oh, it was just so nice I thought I’d go for a drive.”
“To the end of my block?” she asked, rolling her eyes.
“Your block? I thought you lived with Orlando now?”
Gulping hard, she wondered how much his obsessive ass had looked into Orlando and the shop. Obviously, he knew his name now. She didn’t think he’d remember it from way back. Refusing to give into his baiting, she didn’t respond to his comment and kept walking.
“I had an interesting conversation today in the elevator with Felicia.” This stopped Danica in her tracks, but when she didn’t look at him, he went on. “She asked me about the scene outside the courthouse the day of your hearing. Said she was just curious because she knew you two.”
Now Danica glanced at him as he smiled a bit too satisfied, but still she refused to give him anything. Her heart thudded, wondering why he was really there. What else had Felicia told him that gave him the balls to follow her tonight?
“Aren’t coincidences the darndest things?” He crossed his arms in front of him, smiling smugly. “You ending up with the same guy who came on to you just a week before you moved out of my place is just crazy, right?”
Danica glared at him, her insides going hollow as she inwardly prayed he didn’t know everything. But he went on, obviously not done with whatever it was that had him there to begin with. “What do you say, after everything I’ve done for you, you give me the only thing I’ve been asking from you for weeks?” He motioned to his car. “Have coffee with me. I just want to talk to you for a few minutes.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you, Ted.”
“Why? Because it would upset your new boyfriend?”
“That, and the fact that I have nothing to discuss with you anymore.” She lifted her chin, determined to end this once and for all. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but things between you and me—”
“Does Orlando know everything about your dark past, Danica?” Pushing away from the car, he pulled his keys out of his pocket, the satisfied smirk just a little too smug. “I think having that cup of coffee with me is in your best interest now, sweetheart.”
“He does know. I’ve told him everything, and I told you I’m not going anywhere with you.” She stood her ground firmly, despite the growing unease of what else he might try to threaten her with, so she went first. “Whatever you have to say to me, you can say it to me now because, after tonight, if you continue to follow me or even call me, I’ll get that restraining order and then go to the press about it.”
“Tell me something. Does he really believe you’re there for him?”
Peering at him, Danica shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe like when you used me to pay your bills, foot your attorney’s fees, and put a roof over your head, you might have ulterior motives for moving in with the successful business owner.”
“I never asked you to pay any of my bills. I didn’t pay anything when I lived with you because you refused to let me, and you paid for Blaine on your own, remember?” She clutched the bag of pan dulce, angry that he’d be implying she used him but worse that she might be using Orlando. “I didn’t even know you’d retained Blaine until he
called me to set up our first meeting.”
“Blaine said you’d be seeking new representation. You expect me to believe you’ll be paying for that?”
“It’s none of your business who’s paying for—”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “I knew it. Just admit it, Danica. There’s no way I’m buying that you’d get over me and move on this fast. You’re with this guy out of convenience.” She shook her head adamantly, but he went on before she could retort. “Danica,”—he took a step toward her again—“you have no idea what being away from you has done to me. I just wanna chance to prove to you that I can be the man you need.”
“That’s your problem, Ted. I don’t need a man.” In hindsight, Danica knew now that she’d put up with Ted longer than she should’ve because she had needed him at the time. But it’s not why she’d originally started seeing him. “I don’t need Orlando either. I’m with him because I want to be.”
“Really? No other reason?”
Danica shook her head, searching his eyes because she didn’t know what to make of the cryptic way he was staring at her.” Alright,” he said to her surprise. “Have it your way.” Without warning, he leaned in and hugged her hard. Danica didn’t hug him back, just stood there stiffly until he pulled away. “But I think you know right here”—he pointed at her chest—“why you’re really there. Because there’s no way I’m feeling everything I’m still feeling for you and you’ve moved on. No way. That boyfriend of yours will figure it out sooner rather than later. Just remember, when he does, I’ll be waiting.” Just as he had in the courthouse parking lot the day he’d made a spectacle of himself falling to his knees, he turned and walked away. Danica watched as he got in his car without another word and drove away.
She walked slowly back to the house, clutching the bag with the sweet bread, thinking about everything Ted’s delusional ass had just said. Did he really believe she wasn’t over him? Her feelings for Ted were never even remotely close to everything she felt for Orlando now.
Her sister was in the dining room, placing the cups of coffee down. Dominic was already there sitting down in front of his glass of milk. “What’s wrong?” she asked as soon as she looked up at Danica. Danica started to shake her head but then thought better of it. She’d already told Delia about Ted’s knee-dropping antics and then about the stunt he pulled the day of her hearing and how pissed Orlando had been about it. They sat down at the table with Dominic. “Ted was parked outside the panaderia when I walked out.”
“Oh my God, that man is not gonna give up, is he? That scares me, Dani. What did he want?”
Danica explained his theory of why he thinks she moved on so quickly and that she was just using Orlando. How he refused to believe she didn’t have feelings for him anymore.
“Thing is . . .” She hesitated to tell Delia the whole truth about how things really started between her and Orlando, but it was eating her up to not be able to tell anyone, so she took a deep breath and started, “Orlando’s baby is Angie’s baby.” Instantly, she felt choked up. “Angie died of an overdose. Only Orlando didn’t even know about the baby until I left him at his doorstep with a note. He still doesn’t know it was me who left him.”
Delia’s jaw had dropped with the first revelation and as expected was speechless the entire time Danica explained every sordid detail. “So, while I may have had ulterior motives for getting the jobs Orlando and Nine offered, it has nothing to do with why I’m with him now.”
“Does Ted know Orlando is the father of Angie’s baby?”
“No.” Danica shook her head. “That’s huge. He would’ve said something.”
“Would he?” Delia raised her brows. “You know what a calculating bastard he is. I’m sure he grilled Felicia for every detail she could offer about your relationship with Orlando. If she mentioned the baby, don’t you think the first thing he’d question would be about the mother?”
Feeling her gut drop, Danica shook her head, thinking back to her conversation with Ted. Really? No other reason? “Why wouldn’t he mention it?”
“I don’t know, Danica.” Delia shook her head before taking a sip of her coffee. “But I don’t trust the guy for shit. I think you need to tell Orlando the truth before Ted gets to him first.” Bringing her hands to her mouth, Danica gasped. “He said Orlando would figure it out sooner rather than later and that, when he did, he’d be there waiting.”
Her sister pointed at her phone. “Call Orlando.”
“I can’t do this over the phone.” Danica stood up, feeling completely panicked, but she did pick up her phone. “I was going to stay here tonight. But depending on how this goes, I may stay there tonight. Oh my God.” She gasped, feeling completely choked up again, and clutched her chest as she hit speed dial.
Orlando
They were getting ready to wrap it up. But since tonight was Dani’s night at her sister’s, Orlando had been in no hurry to get home. His mother had told him to take his time picking up the baby, so he’d worked a little later than normal. It’d been just him and Nine, but he figured Nine had to be anxious to get home to his pregnant wife, so Orlando told him he’d get everything closed down on his own and Nine left. Just as he was making his rounds shutting things down, his phone rang. He smiled when he saw the photo of Dani on the screen and hit the answer button.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” she said, sounding a little off. “I know I said I’d be spending the night at my sister’s, but is it okay if I come over to your place instead?”
“Are you kidding me?” he said, smiling and speeding up what he was doing. “Of course, it’s okay. I’m still at the shop though. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just . . .” She was quiet for a moment and it slowed him down. “I just need to talk to you about a few things.”
“What things?” He stopped altogether. He heard her exhale.
“Ted was here. Well, not here,” she added quickly as Orlando felt his insides instantly ignite. “I went to the corner store to get sweet bread, and he was outside standing by his car waiting when I got out.”
“You’re getting a restraining order on his ass.” Orlando worked to turn off everything faster, slamming a few things in the process. “The fuck did he want?”
“Same thing as last time, Orlando. It’s no big deal—”
“Yes, it is. It’s a very big deal and it’s gonna stop.”
“It is. I told him I’d get a restraining order if he showed up or called me again.”
“No, you’re getting one regardless. This is bullshit.”
“Okay, we can talk about it all when I get to your place. Should I make you something to eat when I get there?”
“Uh,” Orlando slowed, scrunching his nose at the thought of what he might come home to. Last thing he wanted was to delay their talk if there were any fires to put out, and he was hungry for something good. “I’ll just pick us up something.”
“Don’t get anything for me. I’ve already had dinner.”
He got off the phone with her and finished shutting everything down. Locking the door outside, he turned around and came to a screeching halt when he saw him. Ted leaned against a car in the parking lot, palms up in front of his chest. “I come in peace.”
“You’re not just stalking Dani anymore? You’re stalking me now too?” Orlando started toward him. “You know she’s getting a restraining order against you. I’d get one too, but I’d rather leave the opportunity open to kick your ass myself.”
“Relax.” Ted smirked. “No need for violence. I’m just here to talk to you, man to man.”
“Dude. What’s there to talk about? She wants nothing to do with you, and she’s with me now. What’s so hard to understand about that?”
“You probably won’t believe this, but I’m here because I wish someone had given me a heads-up when I was with her. She’s a master manipulator.”
Orlando rolled his eyes. “Because she doesn’t wanna be with a control freak that put his hand
s on her?”
Ted shook his head. “That was one time, and it was only because I was pissed that, once she’d gotten what she wanted from me, she walked out. She’s doing the same to you.”
Waving his hand at him and shaking his head, Orlando started to his truck, chuckling humorlessly. “Get the fuck out. If you think coming down here to talk shit about her is gonna convince me to drop her, you’re pathetic. What you need to do is get your ass off my property before you get a beat down and then arrested.”
“Who’s paying for her attorney fees now that I’m not?”
“That’s none of your concern anymore.” Orlando stopped to look at him. “She’s not your concern anymore. Hasn’t been for months.”
“She needed a place to stay, she couldn’t afford to pay any utilities or an attorney, so she moved in with me. Sound familiar?”
Swallowing hard, Orlando glared at him. “She has a place to stay. Her sister’s. But she chooses to be with me.” Orlando started up again, pissed he was giving this fucker the time of day.
“You really think she got over me that fast? What was it a month after we broke up before she was in your bed? We were in love, you know.”
Orlando: Boyle Heights #4 Page 28