Chapter 11
11
Giselle
The flight home seemed like it took a billion hours.
At least.
The tension inside the plane was unbearable. The kids could feel it, too. And they thanked us all by crying and having any number of tantrums on the way home.
Dani was asleep.
Finally.
She held onto Carlo's hand, and it was the sweetest thing ever.
I couldn't fully appreciate it at the moment because I was so freaking tired, I could hardly keep my eyes open. As the limo came to a stop, Stefan said, "I'm going to continue home." He looked at me. I could tell he was trying to be stoic. But I knew from the look in his eyes how hurt he really was.
"No, stay. Please?" I said with a yawn. "It's late. You need to sleep."
Carlo interjected, "She's right. Stay."
Carlo's words shocked me more than a little. I'd expected him to gladly say goodbye to his brother.
Stefan closed his mouth and gave a short nod. "I'll help Sophia and the driver unload the car. You guys deal with Daniella."
The relief I felt was huge.
Stefan would stay one more night with us.
I'd be able to say goodbye.One more time.
"Okay," Carlo said and nodded at his brother before opening the door. He stepped out and grabbed my hand. Then he leaned back in and undid Dani's car seat. He scooped her up carefully—which seemed impossible to do with those large hands of his. "Shh, Dani. You're fine. Dada is here. Shh."
My heart melted.
Gosh, I would miss these moments. I filed away this memory with the others and turned around to my house.One more night in my house.
Carlo had wanted us to sleep at his place tonight. But it would be way more difficult for me to escape with Dani from there.
So, I begged and pleaded to sleep here just for tonight.
Carlo must've been tired of arguing because he relented easily.
It would be crowded in here tonight. But that didn't matter. Being surrounded by Carlo, and Stefan on my last night with them actually comforted me.
I could find a way to say goodbye.
My own way of saying goodbye.
I couldn't really walk up to them and say, "I'm leaving now. Forever. Thanks for everything. Have a nice life."
I shoved the key into the lock and turned. My eyes looked around to make sure nobody was there.I remembered the note my father had sent me and how it had turned my blood to ice. But he was gone.
For the time being.
Carlo had seen to that.
Nick had briefed Carlo about our little—discussion—in the kitchen. And once Carlo had all the details, he'd thrown my father out.
There was nothing I could do about it. Nothing I wanted to do about it.
He'd tried to bribe me, and this was what he got in return.
Not that the men knew any of that.
They just assumed he was some rough and tumble idiot who disobeyed too many rules.
Anyway, Carlo didn't seem broken-hearted over getting rid of an employee. It didn't affect him at all. The only thing he'd said to me about the matter was, "He's trash, Giselle. They never should have hired him."
I didn't know who "they" were. But I’d bet each one of them received a good reprimanding from Carlo.
"Don't turn on the lights until I get her in bed," Carlo whispered from behind me.
I turned around in the dark and touched Dani's back. My lips pressed against her cool cheek. "Goodnight, baby." Then he took her into the house and down the hall.
Stefan and Sophiadiscussed something at the back of the limo. Whatever it was, he made Sophia laugh.
Yeah.
Eve was going to have to deal with her.
I actually felt guilty for leaving her to do the dirty work. I'd do it, but there was no sense in getting rid of Sophia tonight.Besides, it was just one more night.
She’d been a great caregiver for Dani. And the babies.
It was too bad she'd changed.
And it was definitely too bad she developed a crush on one of the men.
I was willing to bet it was Stefan. The flirty way she laughed and played with her hair while she talked to him made me think he was her target.
It was all too much to think about. And right now, all I wanted to do was spend one more night with the two men I loved to death.
One more night.
And then I'd be gone.
"Go shower," Stefan said from behind me. I turned to see his arms full of suitcases. Sophia was following him with bags and a suitcase.
"I'll help you bring everything else in."
He shook his head and set down the luggage. "We're almost done. Go grab a shower first. We'll all want one. Might as well get started.”
He made sense.
And if Dani woke up and was disoriented, I'd be the one to get up with her. I'd have to start packing our own bags after everyone else was asleep. I wasn't going to need much. We weren't going to need much. Not that we could take a whole lot with us, anyway.
My car couldn't hold an entire household of crap. And I'd have to ditch my vehicle soon after I left. Who knew what I'd be driving—or how many cars I'd be using until I ended up where I ended up.
That I hadn't exactly worked out.
When I stole a car, Dani and I would have to do a quick changeover from one car to the next.
And then to the next.
I wouldn't have a nanny and two strong men to help me out.
It would just be me.
From now on.
"Giselle." Stefan got my attention again, and I looked up. "Go shower. I can tell how exhausted you are."
I nodded and gave in. He was right. Someone had to shower first. It might as well be me.
I walked down the hall quietly and poked my head into Dani's room. Carlo was rocking her. "Shh, shh, you're okay. Dada's here," Carlo's deep, soft voice floated through the quiet air.
Next, I heard Dani's sweet sigh. "Dada."
My eyes welled up, and I backed out of her room.
I tiptoed to the bathroom and closed the door.
I stripped and shuffled into the shower, hoping the hot water and steam would stop my tears from falling.
It didn't.
Something woke me out of a deep sleep. It wasn't Carlo's soft snore beside me.
Was it Dani?
Had she called for me and I'd been too zonked to hear?
I listened.
Nothing.
And then a faint squeaking noise hit me.
But no crying.
Maybe she was trying to get out of her crib. I knew the day would come when she'd try to escape. I just wished it wasn't tonight.
I slipped quietly out of bed and headed to the hallway.
I'd told Sophia not to worry about listening for Dani tonight. That I'd get her if she needed something. She'd smiled at me and gone downstairs to her bed.
Stefan said he'd take the couch. I was too tired to talk to him. And my bed wasn't big enough for three of us, anyway. I thought I'd wait a half hour for the house to go to sleep before I went out to see him.
Maybe make love to him one more time before I left.
If he even wanted to.
Unfortunately, I'd fallen asleep the second my head had hit the pillow.
The squeaking sound grew louder when I stepped into the hallway.It wasn't coming from Dani's room, though.
What the heck?
The TV flickered in the distance, and I wondered if Stefan had fallen asleep with it on. Then I heard voices.
Yeah.
It must be the stupid TV.
I closed Dani's door and walked the rest of the way down the hall. Maybe Stefan and I could spend some time together if he was still awake. We could talk and snuggle. I grinned to myself.
Then maybe I'd ride him on the couch one last time.
As I rounded the corner—I saw that position was already taken.
What the heck?
Was I actually seeing what I was seeing?
I couldn't be.
Sophia’s big breasts bounced in Stefan’s face as she rode him on the couch.
No. No.
"Oh, yes, Stefan. Yes," she said in a high-pitched moan.
Stefan's head lowered and his mouth landed on one of her breasts, sucking her nipple. That made her bounce even faster now. "Yes, yes," Sophia moaned as she leaned back slightly, giving Stefan more room to play with her breasts.And he certainly took full advantage.
I should do something.
I should yell.
Or scream at them to stop.
But I couldn't move.
I was frozen to the spot. My mind not believing what I was seeing.
He let go of her breast. "Are you on birth control, babe?" His smexy, heady voice asked her.
Babe?
He'd never once called me—babe.
What the heck?
"No," Sophia whined, still rising, and falling on his lap, seemingly oblivious to all else.
Stefan's hands rose up and cupped her breasts. She whimpered like it was about to push her over the edge.
"Fuck it," Stefan muttered as he leaned back.
Whoa, what the HECK, STEFAN???
How is he going to get himself out of this mess??? (And out of Sophia…)