Of Love and Deception (27 page)

Lori hadn’t said much. She sat and listened, which was so unlike her not to voice an opinion or come up with some disgustingly obscene comment that’d have them laughing too loudly, and disrupting their fellow employees had they been at work. Good thing Parker valued all three of them, or they’d have been banned from Designer’s, Inc. a long time ago.

“What has your tongue, Lori?” Daniella asked.

“Look, sister D, this whole ordeal just doesn’t sit well with me. It all sucks hairy blue-balls, I know, but… well, I say we kill the bitch.” Lori glanced up, her eyes mere slits and a devil of a grin stretched across her lips.

Daniella wondered what her best friends would say when she informed them of her plans. She glanced down at her hands. “I don’t think I’m going to keep it,” she whispered.

Silence might have been deadly, but after a minute or two, Lori asked, “Why?”

“Why.” Daniella pondered her answer. “Why not? How can I be a good mother, and a single one at that? Look at me. I’m a goddam mess. Believe me, I’ve thought about all of my options and I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to have to deal with
him.
If the baby looks like him, how odd is that? Even so, if it were Cruz’s by some chance, I’d live with this constant ache and fear that
they’d
take the kid from me. The thought of Meg being a part of its life, and to have to see her with Cruz and my child would be total hell.”

Jill nodded her understanding. Lori tapped her lips, probably deciphering her thoughts on the matter.

“I only want the best for this baby. I want it to be with a mother and a father who will love it to pieces, to give it a two parent home. And I think I may have found a perfect match—a good Christian couple who cannot have kids. Their story is such a tragic one, but they’re so strong and hopeful.” Daniella glanced at Lori, and then Jill. She had their full attention and continued. “The wife is twenty-nine—two years my senior. Her husband is thirty-four, and middle class citizens. She’s a kindergarten teacher, but plans to stay home when she has a baby to care for. He’s a stock broker or something of that sort. The sad thing is, they had planned to have a family and would have, but when she was twenty-eight weeks along, she’d been hit head on by an oncoming truck and the results were permanent. The trauma to her abdomen not only killed her baby, but tore her uterus. She was hemorrhaging and the only way to stop it was to do a hysterectomy. So sad.”

“Did you go with the first adoption agency and pick the first couple you learned about?” Lori asked.

“No. Not really. I crossed off the first agency I went to.”

“Why?” Jill asked.

“Psh. They’re prejudiced. I was able to determine that when I stepped into the corridor. There was a poor woman crying her eyes out. She was hunched over with her head in the corner, sobbing and babbling on her cell phone about how the agency said they couldn’t help her, or something about her not knowing who the father was but he was probably African. I was tempted to hug her, but left instead.”

Jill reached for Daniella’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze. “I think you’re doing the right thing. Whatever you do, please keep in touch. You know we’re here for you.”

“Well, Sista D, it’s getting late. Give me a hug.” Lori stretched her arms out and pulled Daniella into a hug. “Better keep us posted, or I’m gonna kick your arse.” She chuckled.

The evening couldn’t have been better for Daniella’s spirit. She went to bed without shedding any tears, which was a first since she’d moved into the apartment. Sleep came easy and she slept peacefully.

~~~

The following day, Daniella’s previous moments of peace didn’t stick. Misery found its way back into her heart.

When the buzzer went off at her front door, Daniella thought it might be Lori and Jill again, but realized they’d be at work.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

It wouldn’t stop. Daniella was angry. She marched right on over to the front door and hit the pad on the intercom.

“Go away!” She walked back into the kitchen and slumped down against the wall. She was just about to bury her head into her hands when someone started pounding on her door. “Please... let me in. Daniella, please.” The caller was raspy, hoarse, and sweet.

“Falcon?” Daniella jumped to her feet. Dragging herself back to the front room, she opened the door. Her heart leapt into her throat and she tried to shut the door, but he pushed it hard, knocking her back as he stepped in and slammed it behind him.

“Falcon, huh? By the way you said his name, I’d think you might fancy him.” Blake grabbed her wrists and dragged her up against him.

“Let go, and get the hell out of my apartment!”

He flipped her around so her back was against his front, one arm snug around her chest and the other he pressed against her neck, his palm under her chin forcing her head up. Against her ear, he threatened, “Shut the hell up or I’ll break your fucking neck.”

She trembled. “W-what do you want, Blake?”

Releasing his grip around her chest, he slid his hand over her pregnant belly. “This. I want this. Do you think we’ll have a boy or a girl, Daniella?” His breath was hot against her ear, but she shivered with fear and disgust.

“Why? Why would you do this to me, Blake? Destroy my marriage and… what? How did you… did Meg—”

“Shut the fuck up! I warned you when you left me that you’d regret it. You didn’t mark my words, did you?” When she didn’t respond, he shook her head for her. “No. You were a stubborn little bitch. All that we had planned for our future… the wedding, a family… you threw it all fucking away! Now I’m here to collect. And if I have to kill you in the process, Daniella, I will.”

“C-collect?” she whispered.

“Damn straight. The kid is mine, and I’m going to collect when the time comes. You pose any interference or peep a fucking word—” He shoved her forward causing her to fall onto her knees. Before she could react, he had crawled up against her and held a gun to her belly. “—I won’t hesitate to kill both of you, but the baby gets the bullet first.”

This was real. His words were raw, disturbed and insane. Her whole body trembled in fear, knowing he’d make good on his threats.

“Do I make myself clear?” He shouted and squeezed her jaw, forcing her to look at him.

Tears rimmed her eyes and she hated feeling weak, that she couldn’t defend herself or the baby.

Digging his fingers deeper into her jaw, he shook her head violently. “What was that? I can’t hear you.” He put his ear against her lips. “Again, do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.” She barely got the word out before he dragged her up before him.

“Now. For the record, you will speak to no one. I mean NO ONE. If I find out you’ve leaked a peep from that pretty little mouth, mark my words that you won’t live to speak again. And you know I always get what I want, Daniella. No cop or judge is going to touch me. I have more power than you and your soon-to-be ex.”

Daniella’s emotions started to kick in full force. “What happened that day? How did... I don’t deserve any of this,” she cried. “Why? Can’t you tell me? Why, oh why!” She slumped against the wall.

“Sh Sh Sh. Now is that any way to act? Have I physically hurt you yet?” Blake pressed his fingers against her back and massaged little circles across her shoulders. “Meg. Well, she’s quite the character. She’s really rooting for us… me and you.” He laughed and it was full of deceit.

“How did you cross paths with her?” Daniella lifted her head out of her palms and brushed the stray hairs off her face.

“That’s not important. She’s a vindictive little wench isn’t she?” Blake raked his fingers through his hair and sighed.

“This… this is so unfair! I’ve been burned, double crossed. Cruz… the baby thing—you, Meg. Can you please go now?” She shot up from the floor and darted toward her room. She didn’t shut the door, only dropped on the bed and buried her head into a pillow.

The sensation of Blake’s fingers scaling her head stunned her. She panicked and turned to face him. Fear flooded her chest and took a chokehold to her emotions. His eyes were full of cold lust.

Sitting up, she eased herself off the bed, made her way to the dresser and pressed her hands against the surface. “What do you really want, Blake?” Her voice trembled.

Stepping behind her, he placed his hands on her bare shoulders, squeezed lightly and flipped her around to face him. He looked into her eyes and held her attention. “You, of course. I came in to the clinic that day…” He dropped his gaze to her protruding belly. Skimming his hand over it, he continued. “To donate… my specimen. Well, technically it would appear to be Cruz’s because there is no record of me… at the clinic that is. But… I wanted to see you so badly, knowing you were just down the hall waiting to be injected with… a bit of me. Oh the love I felt at the knowledge.” His lips curved into a devious grin.

“Meg helped me out in that little jackoff room. Hmm. She’s pretty good with her hands. And in bed. But damn. Seeing you strip in the hotel, I nearly blew my cover.”

Daniella was certain all of the color drained from her face. “You… you were in there when… when I changed into my swimsuit?” Mortification dripped from her voice.

Sick. That smell at the hotel… the musty mixed with cologne… his cologne!

“Don’t act so surprised, Daniella. It’s not the first time I’ve seen you naked. We were together for two years. I’ve known your body, memorized it in every way possible. Don’t worry, Meg’s not as sexy as you, but she can fuck.” He gave her a wink and she thought she would puke.

The smell on Meg when she finally met me in the hot tub. Bloody whore! That smell… she was up there screwing him all the while plotting away at the destruction of my marriage while I sat in a hot tub!

Blake stared at her. He must have caught the deception playing out in her eyes. “Yes, Daniella. It was all so fucking easy. Imagine my surprise when Meg called me and informed me about her scheme. I thought she was a bit crazy at first, but the more she talked about you, the more I wanted to… oh, shall we say… have you back.” He smiled smugly, and she wanted to smack it off his face.

“My name, my hotel room, you having your own hotel key, the video. Oh, the video. Meg did a good job of setting that all up didn’t she? Damn. I was almost convinced I was fucking you,” he sneered. “And then the clinic, the donation.

“So the sperm was yours?” A tear trickled down her cheek.

Blake squeezed his eyes shut for a few breath counts and suddenly opened them again. “You have a nice home. Oops. I mean, you had a nice home. My black SUV fit nicely in your driveway. I felt… very much… at home. But I’d provide you with a better one.” He ignored the question.

Daniella tried to keep a steady eye, hoping to catch something… anything, but her thoughts kept drifting.

Why did this happen? Why did you do this to me, Blake? Why?
She burst into tears.

Blake reached for her hands and forced them against his chest. She quickly snatched them back.

He reacted by slipping away and parking himself in an overstuffed chair next to the bedroom bathroom.

Stunned by his unwillingness to leave, her heart filled with desperation, but was also occupied by all-to-recent memories of Cruz. She suddenly felt empty, lost. The moment was short lived. A sharp pain shot across her abdomen causing her to keel over and brace herself between the dresser and the wall.

Blake jumped to his feet and lurched toward her. “What is it? What hurts?” He bent down, reached his arms around her and lifted her in a cradle. She didn’t resist, but he gasped when she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest. She whimpered, and then sobbed. She could feel his lips pressed against the top of her head. He gently laid her on the bed.

Daniella stopped sobbing. She sniffed several times and swiped at the tears on her cheeks, suddenly laughing through even more tears.

“What? Why are you laughing?” His cheeks turned red.

She shook her head.

Blake reached for her hand and clenched it in his. With his other hand, he caressed her outstretched fingers and fiddled with her perfectly manicured fingernails. “You don’t have a right to be disappointed. I warned you previously. Now, I will take full responsibility. What I want is for you to come back to California with me.”

“N-no. I won’t… I can’t.” She froze, fearing his reaction.

“Have it your way, then. Since you refuse to go back with me, the alternative is to give the child up for adoption.”

What? Is he really… no. It can’t be that simple.

“Fine. I’ve already thought of that. What’s the catch, Blake?”

“No catch. Just payback. You know, for the damage and pain you caused me. That baby, it’s what you wanted and I’m taking it from you. I hope to cause you as much grief as you put me through. So, you’ll give it up for adoption?” He stated more than he questioned.

“Yes.”

“If you try to get out of it, I guarantee I’ll be back and you won’t like it.” He traced the outline of her belly with his index finger. He suddenly stopped and snapped his head up, eyes locking on hers. “If you fuck up—” He cocked his finger against her belly, as if it were a gun. “Pow!”

She jumped and pushed herself back against the headboard. He laughed and then pulled the real gun out of the pocket of his blazer and pointed it at her head. “Then I’ll blow your fucking brains out! Do I make myself clear?”

Words failed her. She was too frightened to speak so she nodded her understanding.

He lunged forward, his fingers speared through her hair and forced her head back so she was looking up with him hovering above her. “Say it! Say you understand. I want it from your fucking mouth!”

“I-I understand.” The words fumbled nervously from her lips.

He smiled down at her. “Good girl. Now, if you change your mind and decide you want to be a family, I’ll reconsider my offer… for a time. I’ll be watching you and all that you do so don’t fuck up, Daniella.” With that, he released his grip, stood and walked out of her room. She sat there listening for him, waiting for him to come back and inflict more damaged, but he didn’t bother.