by Sam Crescent
“Not in front of me, you cannot. I will demand respect,” Frank said. His gaze landed on Alfie. “Now.”
Alfie demanded his son apologize.
Silence fell for the longest time before he finally did. Daniel didn’t like it. He didn’t like any of this.
“Alfie, I’d like to talk to you privately,” Daniel said. He wanted Alfie to be aware of what was going on.
Part of him wondered if the whole family had a hit on her.
When Natalie went to leave, he wouldn’t let her. Vincent and Ronnie nodded at him, and they stepped out. They were his eyes and ears. Only his father, Alfie, Natalie, and himself remained.
“Natalie, I’m sorry—”
“I’m not here about that,” Daniel said.
“A hit has been placed on Natalie,” Frank said.
Alfie went pale. Daniel wouldn’t let his woman go. She wasn’t going to go and comfort the older man. As far as he was concerned, Alfie hadn’t done enough to protect her. Alfie should have killed his wife long ago for what she’d been willing to do to a baby.
“What? That’s not possible,” Alfie said. “Natalie has never really been part—”
“It’s one of the four people who has just left,” Daniel said. “Her mother, sister, or brothers.”
Alfie cursed and walked away. “They have no reason to go after her.”
“They don’t? What about our marriage? Louisa has no other prospects for a good husband. Your wife has already tried to kill her. Your sons want to make a name for themselves. They want to start a war, and targeting my wife will get them that.”
Natalie held his arm, and he felt her shaking a little bit. It was one thing to be told this when you were far away from the people who could want you dead. Right now, she was in the sitting room, and a few minutes ago, she’d been near the people who could very well want her dead.
“I won’t protect them,” Alfie said, looking at them. “Whoever ordered it, you do what you need to do. I won’t help them murder my daughter. You have my permission to take blood.”
That was all they needed.
“Why does blood have to be spilled?” Natalie asked.
“It’s our way. If your mother really has done this, I don’t see any other way,” Alfie said.
The pain on his face was clearly visible, which told Daniel one thing: he really believed it was her mother.
Alfie took Natalie’s hands, pulling her closer. He cupped her face, and the love there, it was real for all to see. “Are you really happy?”
“I told you I was. I’m really happy.”
“Good. I know you didn’t want this.”
She chuckled. “Living with Daniel isn’t bad. He’s also got two awesome friends as well. I’m happy, really happy.”
Daniel smiled, and nodded at Alfie.
“Can I talk to Alfie alone for a minute?” Daniel asked.
“Come, Natalie,” Frank said. “I’ll keep you safe from the wicked witch.”
He loved hearing her laughter, and knew he was going to spend the rest of his life just waiting to hear that sound.
“What would you like to talk to me about?” Alfie asked the moment the door closed.
“I’d never hurt Natalie, sir.” Daniel paid him the respect he believed he was due. It was the least he could do after everything.
“You compliment me, but I don’t deserve it.” Alfie moved to pour himself a scotch. Daniel watched him. “You see, any other sane man would have put a bullet in his wife years ago. Especially when he realized she was capable of killing their child.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I’m sentimental. No, that’s bullshit. I couldn’t. My wife comes from a strong family. Killing her would have caused an all-out war, and I didn’t have the resources. It wasn’t safe for anyone for me to kill her. I should have, and consequences be damned, but I couldn’t. My hands were tied.” Alfie shrugged. “We never got on. We forced everything. I couldn’t stand her. She didn’t want me. Our families needed to marry, and I had no choice but to take her. She didn’t want my kids. I didn’t want her touch. After giving birth to two sons and a daughter, that was it. Then in one night of madness, we fucked and ended up with Natalie. I think she resented that. She hated that she proved to be weak.” Alfie shrugged. “Oh, well, not a lot I can do. I just … out of all of my kids, Natalie was always so sweet, so special, so smart, and I wanted the best for her. I still do. She made me smile even when I had to make decisions that I didn’t like.”
“I love her,” Daniel said.
“Does she know?”
“Not yet. I don’t think she’s ready to hear that, but when she is, I’ll tell her.”
Alfie nodded. “That’s good. She deserves someone who will love her unconditionally. That’s all she really wanted. Not to be forced into a marriage like this. You’re a good man, Daniel. You’ll get things right where your father and I failed. Let’s go and eat dinner.”
****
Natalie sat beside Daniel, and it had to be one of the tensest dinners she’d ever had the displeasure of sitting at. Alfie and Frank kept up the conversation. Her brothers didn’t look impressed, and her sister kept making love eyes to a different guard this time.
Underneath the table, Daniel had caught her hand and given it a squeeze, and his attempt to comfort her filled her with warmth.
Pushing her food around the plate, she wondered what life would have been like if Louisa had married him. Just the thought of it sent pain shooting through her heart.
Daniel was hers.
He’d picked her.
Once they got to the dessert, she was ready to go home. Vincent and Ronnie were their usual teasing selves, and she couldn’t help but laugh at them.
“Excuse me,” Frank said, putting his cell phone to his ear and leaving the table. Alfie went a little pale, and Daniel’s frown got firmer.
Most awkward dinner on the planet.
“So, you’re both happily married?” Louisa asked. “No fighting? No cross words?”
“We don’t argue,” Daniel said.
“Please, that’s got to be impossible. Natalie never wanted to marry into this life. She didn’t want to be a killer’s wife.”
Natalie stared at her sister. “I’m happy to be with Daniel.” She offered him a smile. “We’re working through everything.”
“Besides, she gets to hang with us,” Ronnie said, taking a piece of bread and chewing it with his mouth open. She knew he was doing it on purpose to annoy people. She found it rather funny.
“I don’t think it’s right that you’re alone with other men. Your husband needs to know that he can trust you,” her mother said, finally speaking up. The hard edge of her tone wasn’t lost on anyone.
“You have nothing to worry about. I know my wife wouldn’t stray.” Daniel released her hand and stroked her hair.
She turned toward him, turning to kiss his palm. “No, I wouldn’t. I have no need to.” She closed her eyes as his fingers teased her neck. She didn’t want to stray, and there was no one else in her life nor any temptation to do so. Everything her heart had ever wanted was right here, for all to see.
If only he loved her.
She didn’t know if he was even capable of loving her. She hoped he was.
Love was something she’d wanted more than anything of.
Frank came in, clearing his voice and pocketing his cell phone.
Natalie turned toward him and gasped. He had a gun pointed at her mother’s head.
“What is the meaning of this?” Louisa said.
“Leave this room now!” Frank bellowed out the order, and Alfie stood. “I have confirmation that she ordered the rape and murder of my daughter-in-law. You wanted him to hurt her. To take everything away from her, and to make it hurt.”
“I did no such thing,” she said.
Natalie wasn’t surprised.
No one moved as Frank grabbed the back of her head and pressed it against the table. “I’ve spoken
to the man you hired. You see, whore, I have contacts everywhere. The moment you ordered that hit, I was aware of it. I was just trying to find the person who was behind the hit. He was more than willing to use you as a shield. He’s paid to do a job, and now I’m paying him to stand down.”
Daniel pulled Natalie to her feet, and she was suddenly standing behind him.
Her mother began to laugh. “I should have killed that bitch years ago, but everyone stopped me. Every time I look at her, I remember that I gave in. That I fucking caved. She had no right to be here, and you,” her gaze landed on Alfie, “you loved her the most. Just making my life even more miserable. You loved her to spite me.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Yes, I ordered her death. I wanted her gone so I didn’t have to look at her again. She’s a fucking whore. A waste of space and should have never been born.”
“That’s my wife,” Daniel said. “You would have taken her from the Solanos. The debt must be repaid.”
A single shot was fired, and Natalie held onto Daniel, scared. Frank hadn’t fired his gun. She turned to see her father’s weapon drawn.
He’d shot his wife.
Frank released her, and her body slumped to the ground.
Her brothers and Louisa hadn’t had time to react or to leave.
“Mark my words, if any of you step out of line again, you will be like she is,” Alfie said. “I need a fucking drink.” She glanced at her father, and he gave them a nod. “I think dinner is finished for today.”
No one else spoke as he left the room.
Daniel took charge, leading her out of the house and placing her in the back of the car. Vincent was with her, and Ronnie stayed with him.
“Come with me. Don’t stay here.”
“I’ve got to stay here.” He gripped the back of her neck, pulling her close. “I’ll see you tonight.”
She watched him leave, and she ached for him.
“I’m so sorry you had to see that,” Vincent said.
“My mother absolutely hated me.”
“Because you reminded her that she was human, and could have feelings. Don’t let this concern you.”
The drive back to Daniel’s penthouse apartment was a blur. She didn’t see much of what happened.
Her mother had ordered to have her raped and killed.
It was kind of … surreal.
Entering the apartment, she left Vincent alone and took a shower, a really long one that didn’t help to clear her thoughts any.
Dressed in a white robe, she lay down on their bed, hers and Daniel’s, and stared at nothing.
Hearing her mother’s spite once again, it was nothing different from all the years she’d heard it before. The anger, the rage—at least now she understood it. Her mother had prided herself on not responding to Alfie, on hating him, and Natalie’s very presence had showed that at least one night, that wasn’t the case. One night she’d given in to lust, and probably really enjoyed it.
Time passed, and the bed dipped. Daniel appeared. Tears were running across her face, dripping onto the bed.
He was fully clothed. He covered her hands with his. “Hey, baby,” he said.
“Hey.”
“I didn’t want to leave you.”
“I know. You didn’t really have much choice though, did you? Busy life, duty calls and all that.”
He smiled, pressing a kiss to her hands. He reached out, stroking some of her hair back behind her ear.
“She’s gone.”
“Yep, she’s gone. The debt is paid, and no one is ever going to hurt you again.”
“She hated me, Daniel. She hated me so much that she paid someone to come and kill me.”
“I’ll never let anything happen to you. Not now, not ever. I promise you that.”
She nodded and moved toward him. Resting her head on his chest, she closed her eyes. “I’d really like that.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes. You can ask me anything, Daniel.”
His arms surrounded her, and the chill she’d been feeling since her mother’s hatred was once again spilled, was finally receding. “Are you really happy with me?”
She tilted her head back to look at him and smiled. “Yes, I am. Is that hard to believe?”
“I know you didn’t want this life.”
“I didn’t, but I think I got really lucky because you’re one in a billion, Daniel.” She cupped his cheek. “Yes, I’m happy. Are you happy with me?”
“I couldn’t wish or want another wife.”
His hand splayed across her back, and she rested her head against his shoulder. Love would come, she had to believe that. She would never give up trying.
Chapter Ten
A couple months later
“Have you told her yet?” Vincent asked.
Daniel stared at his friends. They were in one of the Solano nightclubs. It had been a busy time for them at work. His father was slowly passing more and more work to him, which he didn’t mind. He was a Solano, and he knew there was no way out for him.
“Told who what?” Vincent’s date asked. She was a perky little blonde. Not much going on upstairs, but totally Vincent’s type.
At Natalie’s request, she asked Ronnie and Vincent to have dates so that it didn’t feel like they were all on assignment watching them. She didn’t like having bodyguards. Not that he’d consider his two best friends just bodyguards. They were the only two men in the world he’d ever trust with her safety. No doubt about it.
“Our boy here is in love and has been for some time.”
“That’s really nice.” The girl pressed her hands together. “Love is so romantic.”
Ronnie came back with his own girl hanging around his neck.
“Natalie went to the bathroom.”
Finishing off his drink, Daniel made his way toward the private bathrooms. She’d been on the dance floor with Ronnie’s girlfriend as he had to take a call at the time.
Entering the bathroom, he heard someone vomiting. Going past three stalls, he came to the fourth and saw Natalie throwing up.
Moving into the toilet, he wrapped her hair around his fist, keeping it back. The long locks felt soft against his hand, and his dick protested. If she was vomiting like this, he wasn’t going to get any fun tonight.
Running his hand down her back, he waited patiently as she kept throwing everything up.
“My body hates me.”
“Was it something you ate?” he asked. They had all eaten the same thing.
“No, I don’t think this is something I ate.”
She stood up, flushing the toilet.
Releasing her hair, he watched as she leaned over the sink, and began to press water against her face and neck.
“What do you think it is?”
Natalie stared at his reflection, and reached into her bag, pulling out a packet of something. “I bought this today,” she said. “I was looking into morning sickness, and did you know it doesn’t always have to stay during the morning? It could happen any time.”
She held a pregnancy test kit.
He didn’t wear a rubber when he was with her, and he didn’t want one now. “Do you know if you are or not?”
“I’ve not … I didn’t want to take it without you. I was going to tell you tonight after we had some fun. I wanted you to be with me when this happened. Is that crazy?”
He stepped up close. “Not crazy at all.”
“Please don’t kiss me. I have vomit breath.” She even put her hand up to cover her mouth when she did it.
“Do you want to wait until we get home? Have some fun?” He’d wait if she wanted it.
“It would be kind of hard. If I’m pregnant I don’t want to risk having anything bad to drink.” She stared at the box. “Would it really hurt finding out in a nightclub?”
“I don’t think it would hurt at all. I don’t mind how we find out so long as we know the truth.”
“That’s what I was thi
nking.”
She opened up the box and handed him the instructions. He read through them. His stomach was fucking flipping.
They could be pregnant. Staring at her stomach, he thought about her swollen with his kid, and all he wanted to do was fuck her, to take her hard and fuck her until she couldn’t think of anyone else.
“I’ll … go and pee.”
She entered the cubicle, and when someone entered the bathroom, he ordered them to fuck off.
He didn’t hear any sound of her peeing. “You okay in there?”
“Right now, I don’t think I can do this.”
“We can go home? I can tickle you.”
This brought a chuckle from her. “You’re crazy, you know that, right?”
“Yep.” It’s why you love me.
She hadn’t said the words, and he didn’t expect her to.
He heard her finally releasing, and when it was done, she came out. Her cheeks were bright red. “I don’t even want to talk about what just happened.”
This only made him laugh harder.
She washed her hands and placed the stick on the counter. He was already checking his watch to see how long they had to wait.
They both leaned against the sink, waiting.
“Do you want kids?”
“Yeah, I want kids. I can see you, pregnant, and I wonder if I’ll get to feel our son or daughter kick.” He took her hand. “Do you want this?”
“I’d love to be a mom. Just … yes, I want to be a mom. I hope I’m better than my own.”
“You don’t want to hurt our baby, so I’d say you’re already better than her.”
She smiled. “I hope so. God, what if I’m not pregnant?”
“Then you ate something and we take you to a doctor to get you fixed.”
“You always think of everything.”
“And you always panic about everything. You don’t need to panic about any of this. I’ve got you. I will always have you, Natalie.” He glanced down at his watch, and the time was up. “It’s ready.”
“Wow, I’m so nervous.” She breathed out a sigh. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
They both turned and Natalie picked up the stick, and together they saw that it had the two lines.