Never Give You Up

by Shady Grace

  Terry couldn’t believe the old man’s boys still worked. “Congrats.”

  Once again his thoughts drifted to Mary, particularly her believing she was barren without having it confirmed by a doctor. Terry would bet his left nut her husband was to blame but felt the need to blame her anyway. That must be hard for her to bear when she was still so young and Antonio should be kicking up dirt.

  He accepted a glass of brandy, Antonio’s favorite, and tried to focus on the Spanish kingpin—not Mary’s sweet face and aching heart.

  Antonio Montesano was pushing eighty and you’d never know it. Only a few streaks of white highlighted his jet-black hair, framing a tawny face with few wrinkles around his calculating eyes. To a stranger he could be fifty.

  Terry looked away from Antonio and glanced around the room, nearly blinded by the endless glint of gold on every surface. Gold statues and figurines. Gold-leafed ceilings and walls. Old paintings framed in gold. This family was ten times richer than he could ever hope to be. Even the rim of his glass was tipped in gold.

  “You took my son away from me, Terry. Consider yourself lucky you’re not already dead.”

  Terry took a sip, needing the alcohol. He knew he would be safe in this room despite his nerves and the armed guards all over the property. One thing his father taught him that he’d never forget—a true businessman would never harm another while making a good deal. “He tried to kill me.” Terry rolled his shoulder, feeling the usual nasty ache as he said the words. “Three inches lower and you would’ve had a war on your hands.”

  Antonio nodded. “Yes. Your man, Hayes, said as much.”

  Terry frowned. Sammy? “You’ve spoken to Hayes recently?”

  “Oh, yes. Your father sent him here to make a new deal.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “But I was confused why he would ask about my children.”

  Children. “I thought you had one son.”

  Antonio smiled. “I’m a Spaniard, and I’ve had three wives, Terry.”

  His eyes held a gleam that made Terry nervous. He cleared his throat, determined to stay focused. Whatever his father had sent Sam here for, could be the key to something big. “I would like to propose a deal I’m sure you don’t want to refuse. I’ll make you even richer than you already are.”

  Antonio’s dark eyebrow shot up. “Oh?” He sat forward, elbows on knees, curiosity in his eyes. “This deal will make me feel better about Adolfo?”

  Terry cleared his throat. “Your son disrupted business and tried to steal from me. Now my father is dead as well, and my woman was attacked.”

  Antonio shrugged, and lounged back in his chair. The conversation obviously bored him. “Business is business. What do you propose?”

  Terry took back the rest of his drink and set the glass down on the mahogany side table. He stared at Adolfo’s ring on Antonio’s baby finger. “A recent scuffle landed some information that you are behind these threats. I want you to call off this crazy mission and put a stop to this rivalry. Nobody else needs to die.”

  Antonio frowned. “As much as I would take the credit, I didn’t make that call. As much as I loved my son, his greed is what killed him. I am a man of business, and I would never risk that for anything.”

  Terry’s heart lurched as Antonio looked away, his expression immobile. To Terry, it felt as though the kingpin was ready to end the conversation. “If you didn’t make the order, then someone did under your name. Nobody blurts out a lie when they’re about to die.”

  Antonio’s eyes narrowed as he returned his attention to Terry. “I see. Yes, you’re right.” He lounged back and clasped his hands over his knee. “Then I must tell you, all I have left is one young son in grade school by my current wife, and an older daughter from my first wife. She’s very beautiful, and highly intelligent. If it is she using my family name, then she will pay the hardest price. In her dishonor from the past, I have washed my hands of her.”

  An older daughter from his first wife. Fuck.

  “Now tell me of this wonderful proposal before I lose my patience.”

  It took every ounce of his control to keep his expression blank while he fought to come up with a decent plan. He didn’t expect another child, especially not an older daughter. All along he thought a man killed his father. But a woman could sneak around easily. The housekeepers, his stepmother’s friends, even his own female staff at the hotel could’ve walked right into the house and never be questioned.

  He nearly jumped out of his chair as a crazy thought entered his mind. With his heart about to burst through his chest, Terry looked him square in the eyes and didn’t bat a lash. “In exchange for your compliance and your partnership, I’ll give you my Bolivia connection.”

  That got Antonio’s attention.

  The old man sat forward again, his expression full of surprise. Terry knew his mind was going a mile a minute. His Bolivian manufacturer had the best product. Nobody could beat it, and Antonio knew that, as Adolfo did. Only Terry and his father knew the location of his maker, and that secret would never get out—not while Terry lived.

  He didn’t give two shits to keep Bolivia or not. After all, he never wanted this life. He was forced into it. Now he had other plans. Nobody could tell him what to do anymore.

  “Tell me the name of your daughter and I will send her home without harm. You have my word.” He held his breath as Antonio considered the request.

  They sat in silence for a long while. Terry sat with as much patience as a dog with a bone sitting atop his snout. He just wanted to go home and be with Mary. He wanted to offer her the world. But he needed answers more than anything.

  Antonio stood up, retrieved Terry’s empty glass and proceeded to pour them another drink.

  “Daniella disgraced me when she got with child out of wedlock, and then she aborted my grandchild. I haven’t spoken to her in many years. I will never speak her name in this house again. She didn’t know her place.” His smile seemed forced. “But, you have a deal, Terry. I will find her and bring her home on my own terms. No other harm will come to your family. You have my word as a gentleman.”

  As they shook hands and clinked glasses—a promise between men—Terry knew he’d be calling upon Antonio very soon.

  * * * *

  With a big stretch, Mary sat up in Terry’s enormous bed and stared at her surroundings. The sun shone high in the east, blaring bright through the floor to ceiling windows in Terry’s bedroom.

  One week had passed since those men tried to abduct her. She touched the scab on her throat, thankful the cut hadn’t been deep enough to need stitches. What a terrifying night. But what a rush to watch Terry beat the hell out of those guys. If he wouldn’t have suspected something was up and wondered why she’d taken so long in the washroom, who knows what could’ve happened. They would’ve kidnapped her, and then what? Rape or murder, or both?

  She didn’t want to think about it. She only wanted to imagine how she could help Terry achieve what he really wanted. The kind of life that didn’t require looking over his shoulder every minute, or having to kill people when she knew he didn’t want to do that.

  When Terry burst through the club door, he’d changed everything. He’d taken away her doubts about those women and what he truly wanted. The fact that he worried about where she was spoke more than any words. She had seen the terrified look in his eyes as those men pulled her further into the alley. And she’d seen the fury as well as Terry came after them like a feral beast, without a thought to his own safety.

  He was her savior. Her criminal angel.

  She sighed deeply and sunk back against the pillows, a content smile crossing her face.

  I’m in love with a crime boss.

  Chuckling at herself, she whipped her legs over the side of the bed, grabbed her new silk robe, and headed to the window.

  She had become the lover of a criminal. Not long ago she lived a simple life in the wilderness. Every day consisted of feeding the animals, routine runs to keep up their exerc
ise, household chores, and taking care of nuisance beaver. Mucking out Blue’s stall and hauling hay every day had been a chore in itself, sometimes more consuming than taking care of hundreds of pelts.

  Now she was being cared for like a princess while Mima took care of her homestead. She felt guilty, but at the same time she didn’t want to go back. Not yet.

  It almost felt as though she was a traitor to herself for enjoying this pampering. Was it such a bad thing to enjoy being wined and dined and having Terry open doors for her, or slip her coat over her shoulders before he kissed her cheek? Did this change in her physical life mean she’d changed as a person too?

  Her steps faltered as a sudden wave of nausea filled her stomach. Her cheeks heated as she rubbed her upset stomach. Before she could get back to the bed and rest a moment, get her wits about her, her eyes widened as she realized she needed the toilet not the bed.

  In a panic, she burst into the en suite just in time to be sick.

  A short while later, after washing up and drinking a glass of water, Mary managed to drag herself to the kitchen, her stomach empty and rumbling for food. But somehow this morning everything smelled disgusting. She decided on toast and managed to keep a few bites down even though it tasted like cardboard.

  That’s when it hit her.

  She was late.

  Oh, God.

  Happiness and dread filled her all at once. Could this really be possible? She’d been too preoccupied with Terry lately that she didn’t even notice the change in her body. Sore, fuller breasts, queasy stomach, lack of or massive appetite. The urge to puke whenever she smelled chicken. Those were big warning signs for a pregnancy.

  A triumphant smile curved her mouth. After years trying to make Tom happy, she still couldn’t conceive and she’d truly believed Tom had been right when he said she must be barren. She believed him enough not to see a doctor about it.

  A few weeks with Terry and she was royally screwed.

  She wandered to the living room window and looked out, blinking away the sting of oncoming tears. They hadn’t used a condom the first night, or any other night since then. How could she be so stupid? She closed her eyes and banged her forehead against the window.

  What have I done? What if he thinks I’m setting him up?

  Would he kick her out and never speak to her again? One thing was certain. She needed to get a test—right now.

  In a torn state, she whipped on jogging pants and a sweater. Her entire body trembled in fear and excitement as the elevator jerked to a stop on the main floor. The doors opened. Guests looked her way, appalled as they took in her rumpled state of dress. She squared her shoulders, held her chin high, and proceeded past the front desk to the huge double doors.

  “Excuse me! Miss Lector? Miss Lector!”

  Mary froze and turned toward the voice. A pretty redhead stood behind the front desk, staring at her with huge green eyes, behind the thickest black-rimmed glasses she’d ever seen. But she looked cute as hell in them.

  “Uh, yes?”

  The girl smiled and it made Mary breathe a little easier.

  “Mr. McCoy doesn’t want you to leave without an escort. Shall I have Ezra go jogging with you?”

  Mary blinked, wondering why—oh, right—the jogging suit. She cleared her throat and approached the front desk. “I’m not going jogging. I—ah—it’s a female thing,” she whispered. “I didn’t have time to dress properly.”

  “Oh!” She blushed and whispered back, “You could’ve phoned down. I can help you.” She reached for her purse. “I’m Sal by the way. I’m the dayshift girl and a good friend of Mr. McCoy’s. You can ask me anything.”

  The girl would’ve went on and on, but Mary put her hand up. “No, no. Thank you, Sal—I—ah—appreciate your help, but I prefer to purchase my own. I—have a special brand I like to use.” Tampons were of no use to her now, but Sal didn’t know that.

  Sal smiled and Mary liked her right away. “Okay, hon. Ezra will walk with you in any case.”

  Mary sighed, her shoulders sagging. “All right then.”

  This was the second most embarrassing point in her life. First, leaving a hotel in Silver Creek after banging Terry the night before, and now walking in sweats next to a man in a business suit to get a pregnancy test.

  Thankfully, she found a pharmacy only a block over. And wonderful Ezra didn’t say a word, or even ask what she needed to buy so desperately.

  Once she was safely back in Terry’s apartment, away from prying minds and busy eyes, she locked herself in the bathroom.

  When she walked back out three minutes later, with a positive reading in her shaky hand, she went back to the window and bawled her eyes out. Life couldn’t get much more complicated than this.

  Can I do this?

  But she smiled through her tears, almost as though no matter how scared she felt in this moment, the news was a good thing. Tom couldn’t give her a child but Terry did. It wasn’t her fault. She wasn’t barren. After all this time, now it finally happened.

  Something came over her in those terrifying moments. She’d finally gotten what she’d always wanted—a baby to love. Someone to love her back unconditionally.

  Could she switch to this new life with a baby in her arms, too? It was one thing to be wined and dined every night, and have a housekeeper to clean the place, but did she really deserve all of this? Maybe it would be better to walk away from this insane world and raise the baby on her own, in the safety of her boring mountain town.

  Her thoughts drifted back to when she’d first arrived here.

  The Sea Scape was a grand, beautiful hotel, and the city of Victoria a wondrous place as well. No wonder many people lived and vacationed here. It wasn’t just the gorgeous views of the ocean, the laid back atmosphere, or the happy faces on the locals. Above all, to Mary, the Victorian architecture simply stunned her at every turn. Summertime on the island was an exciting affair as well. Music in the streets. Every style of art imaginable, fresh fish and produce. This place had it all.

  But those things were simple perks to having Terry in her life.

  She stared down at the harbor. Hundreds of boats lined the docks, shining as brilliant as the sparkling water under the bright morning sun. She wondered which of the fancy yachts belonged to Terry. She’d never been on anything bigger than a fourteen-foot aluminum fishing boat.

  Again, she laughed. Her life had changed so quickly and drastically it seemed surreal. Maybe this was all a dream. How long would she stay before she had to return home, back to her regular life?

  I don’t want to go back.

  She glanced around the room at Terry’s things. Few pictures covered the utilitarian walls. The only pops of color in the room were a few throw covers and pillows on the low back leather couches. A couple abstract paintings. A red-handled set of knives on the kitchen counter. Everything else was a bland grey, white and black.

  What she really wanted was to be right here with him. She wanted to put color in his life. There was more to this existence than handing somebody a briefcase and having to look over your shoulder.

  But what if he didn’t want the same thing? Maybe this was only an exciting fling for him and soon he’d send her on her way. What would he say about a baby?

  He needs you as you need him. She rubbed her flat stomach and glanced at the note Terry left for her every morning on the coffee table. Today he would pick her up at noon for a special lunch. Until then, she could do whatever her heart desired, and if she had any questions, she could trust Sal to help her with anything.

  Terry had been the first man to make her feel comfortable, and wanted. More and more she was beginning to like it. Was it possible a bad guy could be this wonderful? Tom did nothing but accuse her of not being good enough. Not looking good enough, and not doing anything right. Terry seemed happy to just have her around. He touched her with gentleness while he possessed her body with rough possession. He made love to her as if the world didn’t matter, as if nobody el
se mattered. She loved him for that. But was it real love, or fascination by the way he treated her so different than Tom had?

  Thinking about all these confusing things that had suddenly changed in her life, she took her time getting dressed, and being thankful for what she had.

  Since her arrival, Wanda had taken her shopping on several occasions and she actually enjoyed herself. Every time Mary reached for her wallet to pay, Wanda insisted on buying for her. Hush money perhaps? Despite her initial embarrassment, Mary finally caved and allowed Wanda to pay the bill. After all, nobody had ever done that for her before. It was a whole new world and she liked it.

  Wanda didn’t treat Mary as though she was beneath her, and she chided herself of her immediate reaction that Terry’s stepmother was a snooty bitch. Still, she’d never forget what she saw in the parkway that day with Sammy Hayes.

  Whatever the case, the amount of clothes and accessories piling up in Terry’s apartment was getting a little ridiculous. None of this stuff would be suitable at home in Silver Creek. Not when she lived in the bush.

  But she shoved the thought aside. Silver Creek held no importance here, even though she knew she’d have to return one day. Now they would have endless gossip knowing the widow Billings came home from an unknown vacation, fat with child.

  With a heavy heart, she chose a snug but stretchy burgundy pencil skirt and loose-fitting beige top that hung a little off the shoulder. Cute with a hint of sexiness. She teased her hair into a loose wave and applied some makeup.

  The view in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors along one hallway wall was impressive, she thought to herself, and adjusted her pose. With a critical eye she gazed at her reflection. No more faded jeans and oversized shirt, no rumpled Stetson or wool toque. No mucky work boats or hip waders here. Staring back at her was a smart looking woman who may be small, but she had a big heart and only the best intentions. And maybe she had a cute face. Maybe. She winked at herself.

  I hope you see me for me, Terry McCoy. Because I see you.