by Sam Crescent
She could make this work, and one day soon, she would be able to leave.
****
“I should be out there hunting with you,” Marcus said, staring at his father a couple of days later after hearing the news.
A rat, a traitor had fed their information to their enemies, a local MC, who had used it to take over one of their whorehouses, and broken into one of their drug compounds. If he’d been there, it would never have happened.
“No, you need to increase security here.”
“I’m not a capo. I don’t need the security.”
“You’re next in line to be capo when I’m dead. You and I both know our enemies don’t give a fuck about preserving the family line. I need you to consider what you’re doing for us. You and Laura need to be kept safe. I want double the guards at all exits and entrances.”
“I can hunt these assholes. You know I can.” He was one of the most feared men in all of the family, and would be a deadly capo. Even The Boss had told him so, but his father shook his head.
“No.”
“Then why come to me with all this bullshit?”
“Don’t forget who you are. I’m still your capo, and you will follow my orders. Is she pregnant yet?”
“I don’t know.”
“I will organize some test kits to be sent to you.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little early to be testing her?” Marcus asked.
“If you’re fucking her every single chance you get, she will be pregnant by now. There are means of finding out if she’s pregnant sooner rather than later. We don’t have any time to waste.”
“What is the rush?”
“Our family needs this. The Davis fortune cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. It was bound to our names years ago, and we lost it. We’ve fought all this time to bring it back together, and Laura is the final piece of the puzzle and the sons you will have will flourish. We’ll be The Boss’s right-hand man. I have every faith in you, Marcus. I didn’t come here to draw you away, but to make sure you’re aware of the enemy lurking. You need to take care now more than ever.”
He didn’t agree, but a few moments later he saw his father out.
“A new enemy?” Laura said, startling him.
“Where were you?” Marcus asked.
“Passing by. You really need to learn to close the door. I’m the missing piece of the puzzle?”
He saw how pale she was.
“You shouldn’t be lurking in places you have no right to be in.”
“I wasn’t lurking. I was passing by. I’d been to the library, and now, I’d like a swim. If you’ll excuse me.”
Marcus went to stop her but knew it would be pointless. Whatever she heard, there was no reasoning with her now. Running fingers through his hair, he hated his father. Always stopping by unannounced and now, he had to cause a rift between his wife.
He’d been making progress.
They fucked every single chance they could get, and life had actually been fun. He didn’t think it would be possible to have fun with Laura, but here he was, living a good life. There was no way he could leave the house, and seeing no other point to ignore the pain in her eyes, he followed her down to his pool. There were no guards lingering, and he watched from his place as Laura stepped out of her clothes.
She wore a bikini, and he loved her body.
To some men, she was too curvy, but to him, she was perfect. There was nothing wrong with her abundant curves. They called to be touched, held, and fucked. Her hips were a favorite of his. Holding onto them as he plowed into her was a dream. If he’d known years ago how much he would have enjoyed her, he’d have stopped bullying her and started to guide her to belong to him. As it was, he’d fucked up, and now, he was having to deal with the consequences of his actions with her.
Not that it was a bad thing.
She had yet to push him out of their bed, so he must be doing something right.
“It’s just a power play for you,” she said, turning to face him.
“You knew I was watching you?”
“The wall’s made of glass, and well, your reflection is in most of them. I’m not hyper aware of you.” She stood in the water, staring at him.
“I’m not going to talk to you about the baby we’re going to have.”
She laughed. “You and your father, and I bet even the men in the family are so sure I can get pregnant.”
“You have reason to believe you’re not capable of it?”
“I don’t have any medical proof I can’t have children.”
“Then don’t put any doubt in your abilities.”
“But I never went out of my way to find out the truth or to be tested.”
“And? Just because you’ve not been tested, doesn’t mean you can’t have kids.”
“I’m aware of that, but you’re forgetting some women can’t have them. Some men can’t either. Are you fertile? Did you take a test? I wasn’t tested. Whatever it is you want from my father’s company may still fail.”
He stripped out of his clothing. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“And what you want you always get?”
“Yes.”
“I doubt that.”
“I can see that. Your mouth is going to get you in some serious trouble one day.”
“Did you always want to be married to me?”
“What’s your point?”
“You always get what you want, by your own claims, and yet, you’re married to me. You’ve got to get me pregnant, and for as long as we’ve known each other, you’ve hated my guts.”
“I haven’t hated you.”
“You haven’t liked me either.”
“I don’t see a reason to talk about this anymore.” He stripped naked, and dove into the pool, breaking the surface, and swimming toward her.
“Ah, the great almighty has spoken. I must do as I’m told and not upset him anymore.”
He swam toward her, treading water as he moved around her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her close. “I don’t hate you.”
“Not now, but you have.”
Pressing his lips against her neck, he bit down, and she let out a moan. He drew her back against his cock so she had no choice but to feel the evidence of his arousal. “You think if I hated you, I’d be able to want you as much as I do.”
“It’s just sex.”
“It’s more than sex. I’m exactly where I want to be.”
“One day, Marcus, you will see you can’t have everything you want.”
He spun her around, removing her bikini bottoms, and finding her entrance. He slid his dick inside her, feeling her tight heat wrap around him.
“Not today though.”
Chapter Nine
Three years ago
Marcus had far more interesting places to be than at a teenage girl’s party. Checking the time on his watch, he saw his family was no closer to leaving. There was an abundance of food and wine, so there would be no reason to cut the party short.
He was getting even more pissed as the day wore on.
The birthday girl wasn’t even enjoying the party.
Glancing around the Davises’ backyard, he didn’t catch sight of her. Some of her friends were in the pool. He doubted they were her friends as not one had even showed her an ounce of kindness.
He would bet this was organized by a party planner who had to find people to attend the party. Knowing the main Davis man as he did, he would put money on him bribing people to come.
As he headed into the house, several waitresses stopped to try to offer him a beverage and their services.
Marcus knew he was a good-looking man and could have any woman he wanted, and often did. He was never short of a fuck buddy or two. He didn’t do relationships, and none of the women he was with were ever allowed to contact him.
He always approached them, not the other way around.
Bored with the party, he made his way upstairs, a
nd heard some soft singing as he got to the end of the long corridor near the bathroom.
One of the bedroom doors was ajar, and he glanced inside to see Laura, the birthday girl. She stood at her window, brushing her long brown hair, staring down at the garden.
“You know it’s rude to just watch. They’re all waiting for you,” he said.
She hadn’t spoken a word to anyone of the time she was attacked. He knew from experience she had suffered with nightmares afterward, but he hadn’t stopped by. He hadn’t seen her since the time he took her to his place in order to help her.
The moment she looked at him, her eyes went wide.
She’d grown in the past year, still too young to appreciate, but she was pretty.
“No one is waiting for me. This party is not for me, and there’s no reason to pretend otherwise.”
“Didn’t you ask for this?” He stepped into her room.
He expected something girly with actors’ and musicians’ posters on the walls, but it was all a plain cream color. No photographs lingered anywhere. There were several cushions spread around the window seats, but not a single teenage crush photo.
She laughed. “I asked for this? No. I didn’t want a party. I don’t even know half of the people downstairs. No one is missing me, and I just wanted to be alone.”
“Why?”
“Don’t you have other important things to do rather than be with me?” she asked.
“I do. I’m a busy guy. I’ve been forced to attend this party against my will.”
She laughed. “We’re both in the same boat. I hate it. It’s too pink. I mean, who really believes a young woman wants a girly party? They even brought giant floats for the pool. It’s lame.”
He looked past her shoulder to see a bunch of girls giggling in the pool. Some of the men were enjoying the view, and he wondered if any of them were of age. Again, he had no interest in girls’ parties.
“What would you have found enjoyable?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did you ask for?” he asked.
“I didn’t ask for anything.”
“Seriously? Your parents could have given you anything, and you didn’t get what you wanted.”
“I like to be alone. I’m not a party animal. I don’t need lots of people to be around me. You wouldn’t understand.”
“You’re right, I don’t. People are down there for your party. Rather than being a spoiled little brat moping, why don’t you go and appreciate what someone has done for you? Let’s face it, without a little bribing, no one would have turned up for your party. Now stop being a bitch.” He turned on his heel and walked away.
****
Laura stared down at the boxes waiting for her in the bathroom, each one taunting her with what she was supposed to do.
Flicking the box over, she read the instructions along with the guidance for a positive test.
She didn’t want to be pregnant.
“Happy birthday to me,” she said.
Putting the box down, she lifted her head up and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Today was her birthday, and she was all alone. She’d woken up to find Marcus gone, breakfast waiting for her, and the tests in the bathroom with a note from Marcus telling her to take one.
She had yet to do as she was told.
Marcus hadn’t returned.
Running fingers through her hair, she glanced around the bathroom, hating the sterile environment.
She hated her birthday so much, and this one was proving to be just as bad as many others before. Her parents always found a reason or an excuse to throw a birthday party, even when she didn’t want to celebrate. All the times before, they had invited people she barely knew. A party organizer always took care of who was to come, regardless of if she liked them or not.
At least this time she didn’t have a party.
No, what was waiting for her was a nice little box with a pregnancy test stick. Just what the doctor, or her husband, ordered.
She didn’t want to find out all alone if she was pregnant or not. Marcus had left her alone while he went to deal with his own family problem, not that she knew what it was. Probably a hunting party where he went and killed people.
“I’ve got to do this.”
Even as her hands shook, she knew there was no point in putting off the inevitable.
Opening up a single box, she promised herself she’d only take one test.
One test and then she was done.
Peeing on the stick was so not comfortable, but after she had done it, she placed it by the sink and washed her hands.
They were shaking.
Would they really be doing anything else at a time like this?
The last thing she wanted to do right now was to sit and think about what a baby could mean.
“You still want to leave. To have a life far away from Marcus and his family.” She wasn’t blind to the truth. Once he’d done his job, she had no doubt he’d leave her.
His house had become a prison to her, and while she waited, her heart raced, thinking of what a child would mean. There would be no escape.
When her watch beeped to let her know enough time had passed, she stared at the stick, and tears filled her eyes. Without taking another test, as there was no point, she walked downstairs and went straight to the library. Taking a seat by the window, overlooking the garden, she stared out across the view, feeling sick to her stomach.
What was she going to do now?
There was no way she could bring a baby into this world.
In the distance she heard the door opening.
Marcus didn’t come to her though.
She sat in her chair waiting, but still no sign of him.
By the time he arrived at the library, she didn’t want to see him.
“This is positive,” he said.
“I know.”
“Laura, look at me.”
“I really don’t want to.”
“Rosa said you didn’t eat anything.”
“Rosa has a big mouth and needs to learn to butt out of my business.” She held the pillow protectively against her stomach, feeling so emotional. She hated being angry at anyone, but the only person she hated right now was herself. She was too weak, and now there was no way she was ever getting out of this life. She’d ruined her own life.
She wiped at her nose and sniffled.
“Please, don’t be upset.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re clearly not fine.” He sat down beside her feet.
She didn’t move.
He didn’t touch her either.
“Look at me, Laura.”
“I don’t want to look at you.” She felt the first tears fill her eyes, and she swiped her hand across her face.
“You’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.” Unable to not look at the father of her baby anymore, she glared at him. He put a hand on her knee, but it offered her little to no comfort. “You got what you wanted. Why are you still here?”
“Why wouldn’t I be here?”
“Come on, Marcus. I’m not stupid. I know all you had to do was knock me up. Well congratulations, you accomplished what your family wanted you to do. You can give yourself a giant pat on the back. Job well done. You don’t have to stay anymore. I know you’ve hated my guts for a long time. I bet you hated having to be with me.”
“I haven’t hated a second of it,” he said, finally speaking up a couple of seconds later. “I know our marriage wasn’t what either of us wanted, but I’m willing to make this work.”
“Work?” She didn’t want to get her hopes up. What was the point?
This wasn’t how she planned this conversation to go.
“I don’t want to be an absentee father. I intend to be here every single step of the way.” He reached out, putting his hand on her stomach. “We promised each other we’d make this work, and well, I’ve got no problem with us taking a chance on each other and diving into this he
adfirst. Our child will be loved, and I won’t turn my back on you.”
“What about other women?” she asked, putting her hand on top his. “Are you going to give other women a wide berth?”
“I’m going to be everything you need me to be, Laura. You and me, we can do this together.”
He cupped her cheek and wiped away more tears that fell. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I promise you. I will take care of you and our baby.” He leaned forward, brushing his lips across hers. “Always.”
“It was more than I could have hoped for.” Wrapping her arms around his body, she crawled into his lap, holding him. She had never felt so weak or so hopeless in her life. This was all new to her. “I thought you were going to leave me alone. Abandon me.”
“Not a chance.” He stroked up and down her back. “I’ll always be here for you. You have no doubt of that.”
She closed her eyes, smiling, enjoying his closeness, which was strange to her because she never thought she’d seek closeness from a man she had once hated more than anything. It just went to show her she didn’t truly hate him, and never would.
****
Marcus kissed Laura on the forehead gently.
She was already out of it and completely exhausted from the test and their conversation. He’d been able to put her to bed with some food inside her, much to Rosa’s relief. A pregnant woman needed her sustenance, and he’d been able to get her to eat something.
Entering the bathroom, all of the other boxes he’d been given were untouched. Just a single test.
Positive.
His wife was pregnant.
His job complete.
Only, this wasn’t even the end of it.
He’d spoken the truth to Laura. He wasn’t going to leave her alone to raise their child. He wouldn’t allow a nanny into his world.
Sitting down on the edge of the toilet seat, he stared at his cell phone, knowing he had to call his father.
If he didn’t, there would be questions later on as to why he didn’t inform him of Laura’s pregnant state.
Pulling up his father’s number, he clicked dial and waited.
He didn’t after to wait long.
In the background he heard the moaning of a woman, and knew his father was with his mistress.