“You bastard. I told you to stay away from her,” he growls..
“You did, and I didn’t listen.”
He bares his teeth at me. “So, you had to make my little girl one of your women. Is that it? You took advantage of her and couldn’t keep your fucking dick in your pants when it came to my child.”
“Peter… the only thing I’m going to apologize for is that I kept it from you. nothing more. I’m not sorry I was with her. I’m not and whatever you think about me and how I might have treated her… your wrong.”
“You self-righteous prick. You think I’m wrong? How long have I known you? Too long. I’ve seen you with one slut after another. Charming women out of their dignity, going to sex clubs and only God fucking knows. Marie was the only decent person you’ve been with, and you couldn’t leave well enough alone when it came to Rachel.”
I just allow him to talk. He’s angry and there’s nothing more I can say to convince him I’m serious about Rachel. It’s clear I’ll be moving on over the weekend. This couldn’t have gone any worse.
“Peter… I love her.” That’s all I’m going to tell him. it makes him more mad though. he looks like he’s gearing up to strike me again but he balls his fists at his sides.
“You aren’t seeing her. I mean that. fight me and I’ll call the police.” He marches away and as I watch him go I watch our friendship fade away.
It’s never good when my doorbell rings so early in the morning.
Definitely not good when it rings so early on a Saturday morning. It’s just gone eight, not even the mail comes this early.
I opened the door and I can’t even bother to frown.
Marie stands on the porch with that same tentative expression I left her with last night.
“I’m sorry. This is bordering stalking now but I’m leaving town and I just wanted to stop and say goodbye.” She offers me a small smile.
If I wanted to be a prick I’d say goodbye right here at the door because I really don’t feel like talking to her, but I think better of it and invite her in.
She walks inside and it reminds me of the first time she saw the place. she liked it because of the way its decorated. She liked the garden and pool and wanted to get a dog.
As I look at her I wonder what my life would have been like if we’d stayed together. I think I would have tried to be happy but I don’t think I would have been. No one would have known any different though.
“I heard about Rachel, is she okay?” she asks searching my eyes. I know she can see the bruises on my face. They’re hard to miss.
“I don’t know. I’m still trying to find out.”
“She’s a strong person. I’m sure she’ll be okay.”
“Yeah.”
“I won’t stay long. I just needed to know… maybe I just needed to hear you tell me I was right. I was right about the two of you wasn’t I?” she asks.
“Yes. You were right.”
“So it’s her? You’re in a relationship with her?”
“Yeah.”
Marie blows out a ragged breath and brings her hands together. “Were you ever with her when you were with me?”
The question throws me. I’m crazy stupid if I didn’t know that’s what she thought the whole time I met up with Rachel.
“No.”
“Is that the truth? I know you don’t owe me anything. We aren’t together anymore and you don’t even have to answer my questions.”
“I would never cheat on you, Marie. I never did and I never thought of doing so. I was with you and in my head we were together.”
“You loved her though.”
“Marie, please… there is no point asking this. Yes I did. However, I’m not an asshole who would have cheated on you.”
“Thank you. I guess… I just needed to know if we got married if it would have ended because of her.”
“No. It wouldn’t have.”
She reaches out and touches my cheek. “Thank you. Take care of yourself Dante. I don’t think I’ll be seeing you again for a long while.”
“You take care too.”
She leaves and even though she puts on a brave face as she walks out I can see the tension in her shoulders.
When the door closes I know it means goodbye forever. I won’t see her ever again.
I know too that things worked out exactly the way they were supposed to in regards to us as a couple.
I reach for my phone and dial the hospital ward Rachel is staying on. Earlier the phone rang out. this time someone answers.
“Northwestern Memorial how can I help you?” says the nurse.
“Hi, I’m calling about Rachel Bradley. She was admitted last night into the Rose ward. Can you tell me if she’s okay? I’m… I’m her boyfriend.” It feels so strange to call myself that. There’s something freeing about it though that offers some alleviation to the secret I carried for so long.
“Let me just check.”
“Thank you.”
The phone goes silent for less than a minute then I hear a shuffle from her end.
“I’m so sorry, I can’t give out any information about that patient. If you contact her family I’m sure they’ll be able to speak to you more,” she says. I can hear the careful tone in her voice.
Fucking Peter. This is how far he took his threat, and he’s the one calling me a bastard.
It’s him who’s a bastard, not me.
“Okay… thank you.”
Chapter Nineteen
Rachel
My blood pressure is low, like seriously low.
That’s what did it.
The doctors have taken blood from me to test and urine samples. I know they’re going to know from that that I’m pregnant then all these people will know and Dante won’t.
I know he’s been here. Earlier I heard Dad talking to Mom just as I was waking up. I didn’t hear much but they were arguing. Dad was saying he sent Dante away and Mom was telling him off for doing that.
They haven’t spoken to me about him yet but I can tell they want to.
Giselle and Jia are both here with me. They’ve been swapping time with my parents to see me. It’s their turn now and they’ve brought me lots of chocolates and magazines.
They both look so worried and I want to tell them what’s going on with me but I’m trying to hold on for just a little longer. I’m hoping I get to see Dante. I hope he’ll come back and I’ll tell him then.
I can’t believe Dad sent him away. I keep looking at the door, hoping he’ll come back.
“Hey, try not to worry,” Giselle says covering my hand with hers. She and Jia are sitting next to each other on my left.
“I’m sorry. I just wish he was here. He doesn’t know what’s happening with me.” I can’t even call him. Dad has my purse with my phone.
Truthfully though I’m so weak I can’t fight or argue with anyone. I just have to lie here and hope that whatever medication the doctors are giving me to stabilize my pressure will kick in soon.
“I’ll call him later and let him know you’re okay,” Jia offers.
Hope sparks my heart. “thank you so much. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys. Dad’s been… overbearing.”
“We can see that,” Giselle agrees tilting her head to the side.
My brother came to visit but my parents have both been here pretty much the whole time, or at least what I can remember. I was kind of out of it last night when I came to.
“How do you feel now?” Jia asks.
“Sick…” I asked for something to stop the nausea earlier and I was given these peppermint tablets that took the edge off. What would have helped better was Jia’s tea, but now I know I’m pregnant I’m aware I need to be careful with everything I put in my body.
God… listen to me. I’m already thinking like a mom. I’m having a baby and I’m happy about it. I couldn’t be more happy, but right now all I want is my guy.
The doctors are supposed to be coming back in a little while
with some test results and I don’t want everyone here when they do.
Just as the thought flitters through my mind the door opens and Dr. Dalton comes in with Mom and Dad in tow.
Even Dr. Dalton noticed my annoyance toward my parents earlier and she tried to ask for some privacy but Dad insisted on staying.
“We’ll see you later,” Giselle says and she and Jia leave.
“Actually, I was hoping to speak with Rachel by herself if that’s okay,” Dr. Dalton says to Dad in particular.
“Of course that’s fine,” Mom says but Dad pulls her back.
“We would prefer to stay. Our daughter isn’t in any condition to make decisions on her own,” Dad answers in his boardroom voice.
I stifle a groan and even that hurts my body. I just sink back into the pillows giving up. I can’t do it. They’re going to have to know.
Maybe it’s best they do. It will air out more secrets.
“Rachel is it okay if your parents stay? I would really prefer to talk to you by yourself,” Dr. Dalton says and I sigh.
“It’s okay. They’re worried and I get it.” I’m sure they’re about to get a rude awakening so let them stay.
“Okay… well all the tests have come back and it’s as we suspect. Your blood pressure is low and you’re very anemic. I’m keeping you in for another day and we’ll send you home with some medication I’ll need you to take every day. Now, um… in our tests we were able to confirm that you are a little over three weeks pregnant and this problem seems to have stemmed from that.”
I would have been able to take more joy in the confirmation from an actual doctor rather than my home test, it Dad didn’t look like he just had the wind knocked out of him. Mom on the other hand tries to bite back a little smile.
“I’m pregnant?” I ask doing my best award winning performance in my sick bed.
“Yes, we got a call from your boyfriend earlier but we weren’t able to speak to him. I thought I’d tell you.”
My boyfriend…. Dante called. A tear runs down my cheek and I wipe it away quickly.
“Thank you so much,” I say and Dr. Dalton smiles.
“You’re welcome. If you need me for anything at all just call.” She gives us all a smile then leaves.
As the door closes tension hangs heavy in the room.
It’s mom who looks to me first and her face breaks out into a bright smile.
She rushes over to me and gives me a hug. “Oh sweet girl,” she bubbles and I rest my head on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“I am.”
“Good, this is good news no matter who likes it or not.” She nods with determination. I give her a weak smile. “You will be okay. I promise.”
It’s words I want to hear. “Thank you.”
“Rachel… why didn’t you tell me you were seeing Dante?”
I shake my head and look to Dad who still hasn’t said anything. Mom looks to him too.
“Dad… you either look like you’re either going to breathe fire or explode, which is it?” I ask, mustering strength from somewhere to talk to him.
“Do you expect me to look any different?” he retorts.
“No, you told him to stay away from me , so I guess I shouldn’t expect you to look any different than the way you do.”
While he narrows his eyes at me, probably surprised that I know the details, Mom straightens up and glowers at him.
“Peter, how could you?” she snaps.
“Zara please…”
“No… let’s be real here… this is no real surprise. You must have known that.”
It surprises me when Dad doesn’t protest.
“Dante is Rachel’s choice,” Mom continues. “Thank God she’s with someone you know is a great guy. I was seventeen when I was pregnant with Matt. Rachel is twenty-six. Peter, stop acting this way. It’s completely unacceptable.”
When Dad’s face softens I feel a little better. “Is he your choice Rachel? Is he who you want to be with?”
“Yes. Dad, I love him and I know he’ll take care of me. You know that too. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys I was seeing him but I hope you can accept my choice. I hope you love me enough to do so.” My tone is firm and gets the message I want to get out.
“I do,” Mom says with a smile and we both look to Dad.
He’s hesitant as he is stubborn but he nods. “Yes.”
My whole body sighs with relief. It feels like the first time in forever that I’ve gotten my father to agree to anything.
I’m so relieved it’s the one thing I wanted most.
Chapter Twenty
Dante
It’s Sunday.
I never made it into the office yesterday. I just couldn’t leave the house.
It was Jia that called me in the evening to let me know Rachel was okay.
It was only then I relaxed a little.
I planned for today, deciding I’d go into the office and get my departure over and done with. It would be worse tomorrow if I was to wait.
There’d be too many people and I don’t want the attention.
The office is open on Saturdays for business as usual but on Sundays some of the staff come in to catch up on work. There were a few here and there when I got here.
I have my stuff packed in four big boxes. I’ll take four trips out to the car and that will be it.
It will be goodbye to an office I’ve used on and off for the last twenty years. whether I was in Chicago or away when I was here visiting I’d use it. The place feels like a home I’m saying goodbye to, very much like when I left my actual home to go to college.
When I’m done here I’m heading to the hospital and I will make Peter allow me access to Rachel even if I have to fight my way through to see her.
There’s a slight tap on my door. It’s already open.
I turn and see Peter standing there looking over the boxes then his gaze lands on me.
“What’s going on here?” he asks.
“I’m leaving. How comes you’re at work?” It’s odd. There’s no way he’d come to work on Sunday.
“I called to check in because they needed a security code earlier. Brenda told me you were here. I figured there could only be one thing you’d be doing.”
I stare at him. “can you blame me?”
“No… I can’t.”
“How is Rachel?” I ask. I don’t want to talk about anything else that’s not her. Everything else is set in motion and I’m leaving whether he likes it or not. She’s the only thing I need to talk to him about.
“She’s okay. It’s her blood pressure and she’s anemic. She’ll be out tomorrow.”
“You can’t stop me from seeing her, you know that right?” I square off with him.
“I’m …not going to.”
I press my lips together and try to figure out if I heard him right. “Aren’t you?”
“No. I’m not.”
“How comes? You forget I’m the self-righteous prick who took advantage of your daughter?”
“No, you aren’t that.” He releases a sharp breath. “Dante I won’t lie to you. It’s going to take me a long time to wrap my head around it. She’s a grown woman to you, but she’ll always be my little girl. I always remember giving her to you to hold when she was just a day old. That’s what I remember. So it’s hard for me. I guess that’s my bad though because I keep forgetting she’s not that anymore, and realistically, you’re just a guy who fell for her.”
It looks like he’s changed his tune. “I am.”
“You said you love her. In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never said that about anybody. Not even Marie. So I believe you and I’m sorry I was… I’m just sorry. I didn’t mean to be a prick. I shouldn’t have told you to stay away from her. I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t listen to me.”
“Well… I just wanted you to know I’m serious about her. I am. I do love her.”
He nods. “Then that’s all I can ask for, for my daughter. This t
hough… Dante you don’t have to go. I won’t allow us to throw away years of friendship over this.”
I offer him a polite smile. “I’m glad to hear that. I wouldn’t want us to stop being friends either. That’s the last thing I intended. Leaving is still something I have to do though.”
“Why Dante?”
“Because I keep turning away big opportunities. I need to branch out. I have a new job that’s starting in a month. I figure I’d take some time off and get my head around stuff.”
“Oh… I see. Well that’s great. I’m happy for you. I can’t lie or pretend I won’t miss you though. I will.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
He looks back at me and the silence that’s entered the space between us is awkward. I would have at least been here for another month if this shit hadn’t happened.
It happened though and I’m glad it’s over. I don’t want our friendship to end but I don’t really think it will be like it was before either. Things are different now.
I can however, make a start by trying to get rid of the awkwardness.
“It’s been great working with you Peter, but I have to go. Maybe it will be good for both of us.”
“Maybe. I guess it will push me to pay attention.” He puts out his hand to shake mine and I take it. “I’m sorry again Dante, good luck with your job. I hope you’ll tell me about it. You should go see Rachel. There’s a lot you need to talk about.”
There’s a look in his eyes that catches my attention. “Thank you. I’ll take care of her Peter.”
He nods. “I know.”
He leaves me and I finish up packing and load up my car. It was a struggle of shit to get to this point but I’m glad I got here. Now for the next step.
Whatever it is, I have her and I’m never letting her go. I have a few plans up my sleeve for us.
For our future. I think it’s time we make our fantasies and dreams a reality.
Chapter Twenty-One
Rachel
Tempt: A Dark Billionaire Romance (Dark Odyssey Club Fantasies Book 2) Page 12