Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
KATE
Exhaustion rears its ugly head as I walk in the door of my apartment. The positive pregnancy test heavy in my bag. I have no idea why I allowed Andi to convince me to keep it. I suppose it was how excited she was when the longest three minutes of my life were over and two pink lines appeared.
Andi danced around the bathroom, singing off-key she was going to be an aunt. While I sank to the floor, overwhelmed with how much my life was about to change. It was one thing to get over the feelings I’d developed for Dante, those would vanish with time. Looking into the eyes of the child we created, would be both incredible and painful.
I tried to come up with a plan on the ride home. Getting a job was vital to survival, however I doubt any hospitals would be willing to hire me, only to have me take extended leave when the baby came.
Andi suggested applying to be a Digital Doc, one of those providers you see on the computer. I used my phone and found several companies, a few of them looked promising. One thing I was absolutely certain of, I wasn’t staying in Texas.
If I was going to raise this child, I was going to do it in a place I felt good in. A place where no one knew me, or what happened. Having sent my notice to the management company, a call to Vinney confirmed Brady was in federal custody, rendering it safe for me to return to my apartment.
Fortunately, I still have a majority of the money Dante paid me tucked inside my bag. I could use it to buy a new life, at least until I could afford to pay for it on my own. Then there is the watch, the one I can’t bring myself to remove from the box. I know how much it is worth, maybe I could put it away, give it to my baby when he or she is older.
My heart grows heavy as the number of places I can go dance in my head. California, Vermont, Florida, with each thought came the reason it wouldn't work.
Looking around my apartment, I am grateful my time with Dante didn’t happen here. There are no sheets to shred or pieces of him to remind me of the man who didn’t feel the same.
Standing to my full height, I shuffle my way to my bedroom, collapsing on the mattress before allowing sleep to take over. For such a tiny creature, this little peanut is zapping my energy.
Waking with a start, I sit up in bed, disoriented from the bizarre dream I had. My breath catches as I hear a heavy hand knocking on my door. Swinging my legs over the side, I clear the short distance to the door, pulling it open with an argument on my tongue and fire fueling the fight.
“You can save…”
My words die off as I lock gazes with Dante. His deep orbs are more intense than I remember.
“What?” My tongue is caught in the roof of my mouth, my heart pounding against the side of my chest.
“Hello, Kate.” His voice is like warm hot chocolate, sweet, thick and begging to be tasted. “Can I come in?”
I am absolutely helpless to deny him, moving to the side, I silently invited him in. Watching him take in my meager furnishings, I berate myself for letting him. Now, I will have to deal with the fallout of his leaving again.
“Can I get you something to drink?” My nona’s words are out of my mouth before I can contain them. She was adamant about making visitors feel comfortable, even someone who hurt me, like Dante.
“I’m sorry, Kate.” He spun those eyes on me. “I came here to explain…” He trails off, and I can see the struggle on his face. “I shouldn’t have left. I should have woken you and told you we had to leave.”
“Why didn’t you?” My lip trembles as the emotions from that day return. “I woke to your girlfriend?—”
“She isn’t my girlfriend,” he interrupts, tone clipped which makes me jump. “I’m sorry, Tesoro. Please,” he points to the couch, inviting me to sit. “Allow me to explain.”
Sliding to the end of the couch, tucking my legs under me, I hold a pillow against my chest.
“Angelo is a born leader, like I told you that night. He also suffers from knee jerk reactions, something our father tried to work out of him. Frankie brought news that the Cartel had found one of our men.”
“Johnny,” I offer, placing my fingers to my lips in apology for interrupting.
“Yes,” he smiles, making my heart skip a beat. “He worried they would follow him back to the farmhouse and…”
“Kill us,” I finish for him.
“When Angelo woke, he automatically became the Don again, leaving me no choice but to do as he said. At the same time my brother is handing out orders, Valentina arrives.”
Dante spears his fingers through the strands of his hair, the memory of what it felt like came rushing back to me.
“My father told me to always go with my gut. I knew she would sense what you meant to me if she saw us together. So, I tucked a phone into your backpack, programming it so when you opened it, there would be a message to call me. Somehow, and I’ll never know how, Valentina found the phone and took it.”
“How do you know she took it?”
Dante drops his hand, letting out a deep sigh. “Because in my Family, anyone who means anything has something on them so we can track them. The tracker on the phone pinged from her location.”
“Then why did it take so long for you to come? It’s been almost two months.” Jumping to my feet, the intensity of the moment is too much and I need to distance myself from him. As I move to go around the coffee table, my knee hits my bag, knocking it and the contents to the carpet below.
I stand in horror as the positive pregnancy test lands atop a copy of my hotel bill.
There is no point in trying to hide it, Dante’s shocked expression tells me he’d seen it.
“You’re pregnant.”
It wasn’t a question, but the truth set free. I’d warred with myself on whether or not to tell him, it seemed fate made the decision for me.
“My baby.”
Again, not a question, and likely not meant for me to hear.
“I won’t lie to you, Dante.” Standing as straight and brave as I can. “I’m not asking for anything from you either. You can walk out that door and?—”
He’s on his feet and over to me before I can blink, his lips cutting off anything further I have to say. It’s as if the past two months were nonexistent as he dominated the kiss, his hands roaming my body as if trying to reacquaint himself with me.
“The only way I’m leaving this place is if you go with me.” His words are spoken between pants as his hands cup my face. “I should have said this before, but I will say it now and for the rest of our lives. I love you, Tesoro.”
Tears spring to my eyes as his confession echoes inside me. “I love you, too,” I whispered against his lips, a shared smile breaking between us.
“Angelo asked me to apologize for him, but I told him he could tell you himself when I bring you back to Boston with me.”
Earlier, Massachusetts was the one state I couldn't bring myself to think of, yet the one place I knew I needed to be.
“How is he?” I pull back, drifting my hands down his arms until I reach his hand where my fingers hit something hard. My gaze drops to the ring on his finger, a surprised gasp leaving my throat.
“It’s temporary,” he assures me, deep eyes pleading for me to trust him. “Angelo needs time to heal, to walk?—”
“He still isn’t walking?” I nearly shout, a myriad of possibilities as to why dance in my head.
“Not yet. The doctor says it's something to do with his nerves not touching or something.”
“Is he getting therapy?”
“We tried, but he has chased off the last six physical therapists.”
Stepping around Dante, combing my fingers through my hair. After I recovered from the shock of my pregnancy, Andi told me the hospital was forced to make changes in its workforce, due to budget shortfalls. She was given a decent severance package, and the promise of a glowing recommendation. Her mother was also let go, however she took it as a sign to finally retire.
“I know someone, she is the best therapist I know. She’s a hard ass, won't take shit from anyone.”
“If you say she’s good, then get her on the phone, see what it will take to get her to Boston.”
My heart warms at the thought of my best friend being in Boston with me.
“She’s on a beach in Mexico,” I laugh, thinking of how close I came to joining her. “I’ll send her an email and see if she is interested.”
Dante extends his hand, placing his fingers on my stomach. “I promised Frankie I would assure you my feelings toward you have nothing to do with Bellamia. I know Angelo told you his opinion of her.” Snapping his gaze to mine, “It’s the truth, everything he said is true. She did pressure me into marrying her, not because she loved me, but because of what I could give her.”
Dante licks his lips as he moves closer to me. “She was selfish and unkind. At first it was a turn on, having such a ballsy girl by my side. She took things to the extreme: sex, money and any power she assumed she had. I gave in, because the last thing I wanted was to admit to my father he was right about her.”
Placing a gentle kiss to my lips, and then another. “Father Michael told me we forget the sins of the dead because they aren’t here to defend themselves. I kept her on a pedestal all this time, not because I loved her, but because I couldn’t forgive myself.”
Kissing me with purpose, “You bring me so much, Tesoro. Salvation, peace, and most of all.” Laying his open hand on my stomach, “A piece of immortality as a testament of how much we love each other.”
My stomach chose that moment to growl, bringing an end to the heaviness in the room. “Come on, let's get my babies something to eat before I load you up and take you home.”