Chapter Twenty-Four #2
All I do is nod, and she looks over my shoulder at the crystal clock on the wall. “Looks like we have a few hours before we need to get ready. You should shave beforehand. Try not to look like a caveman.”
The digs are starting to wear on me, but I take them because what I want to say will give her more leverage to hurt Maddie. “Anything else?”
“I think that’s it.”
As I turn to walk to the room I stay in when I’m visiting, she says my name. I stop for a moment. “I’m sorry I had to do this, but you tied my hands, and I had no other choice.”
Instead of responding, I continue forward.
As soon as I’m alone, I ball my hands into fists needing to release my anger.
The frustration I’m experiencing is like nothing I’ve ever endured before.
It’s a prison of emotions, tucked deep inside, and I have to play along.
I’m not convinced Maddie is fine, and I’m unsure of her current situation.
Victoria grew up watching her father be merciless and the same cold blood flows through her veins.
The woman wouldn’t know empathy if it slapped her in the fucking face.
Kicking off my shoes, I lie on the bed and stare at the ceiling until my vision blurs.
My head pounds as I think about my life.
I could’ve never predicted any of this. Knowing my father is now a target along with Maddie being taken brings this all to the next level, and I’m not sure how I’m going to get us out of this.
Though hours have passed, time feels as if it’s standing still.
Considering we’ll be leaving soon, I jump in the shower, then shave my face as Victoria requested.
Her wish is my command—a mantra I’m sure I’ll repeat a dozen times before the night is over.
When I walk into the living room, the shirt she bought for me is lying on the back of the sofa.
I grab it along with my bag and get dressed.
Three knocks on my door tell me it’s time to put on the performance of a lifetime.
“Ready, hubby?” Victoria coos.
I nod, and we leave. The ride to meet her family is full of mental anguish.
I try to remember the last time we had sex along with how far along she is.
The math adds up correctly if she’s being honest, which could account for the size of her belly with twins.
However, I can’t be sure if I’m the only guy she’s been with since we hooked up.
The first night we met, Victoria admitted she wasn’t a one-man type of person, but she’s also been watching her back because of our marriage.
The babies only complicate this scenario further.
She admitted she wanted out of the mob life once before.
The reason she needed her trust fund early was so she could be free from it all.
Having a baby meant getting more money in the end, so I can only imagine what the monetary value is for two.
She seems overly thrilled by it—the dollar signs, that is.
She mentioned she’d have so much cash she’d hire a full-time nanny to raise the kids, with no intention of changing her jet-setting lifestyle.
The thought alone makes me sick. I never imagined having children, but I’d never abandoned them either.
They’ll be her pawns that’ll allow her to get more of what she wants.
The car eventually slows in front of an Italian restaurant. When we get out, I wrap my arm around Victoria, and she leans into me. Her skin against mine feels as if it’s leaving third degree burns.
“Make me proud, and I may reward you later.”
She’s now resorted to treating me like a dog.
I swallow hard as we walk through the restaurant to the private area reserved for the O’Learys.
Once we enter, everyone rushes to give us hugs and side cheek kisses.
Wine glasses are passed around, and Victoria refuses one, but I don’t.
Might as well get sloshed to take away some of the pain I’m feeling.
Victoria’s grandma comes over and squeezes me with as much force as she can muster.
If the circumstances were different, I’d enjoy being around the woman because she’s nice, and I truly believe she sees the best in people.
Though it’s possible she’s wearing a disguise and is as cold-hearted as the rest of them.
Johnny gives me a firm handshake, and I meet his grip with the same pressure. “Been treating my daughter right?” he asks with a grin, eventually letting go of my hand.
“Yes sir, like the queen she is. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” I turn to Victoria, placing a soft kiss on her plump lips.
“Mm-hmm. We’ve been doing great, Daddy.”
He hugs and kisses her. “That’s what I like to hear.”
The staff enters carrying trays of food and sets up an area that acts as a buffet.
There are no less than thirty people in the room.
Victoria reintroduces me to cousins, aunts, uncles, and after I realize how many people are here, I get nervous.
Of course I’ve met them before, but I can’t remember half of their names because her family is so large.
Considering the magnitude of this dinner, I understand how much everything will change once she announces the pregnancy.
The smile I wear is fake, but I play the role of a doting husband so well her cousins are jealous of our relationship.
I want to scream out that it’s not real, it’s pretend, and explain how much I despise the woman standing next to me.
While I owe her my life, I’m repaying her with it.
Free will isn’t something I’m privy to anymore because I have zero decision-making power. At this rate, I’m better off dead.
After everyone has filled their plates with food and the tables are full of her family, Victoria stands and reaches for me. I grab her hand and stand.
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to let you all know that we’re expecting!” Victoria beams excitedly.
The room bursts into cheers and congratulations, and her grandmother cries. I kiss Victoria and hold her in my arms as she smiles. “Tell them the rest of the news, sweetie.”
“We’re having twins!” I force out as cheerfully as I can as the photographer snaps an ungodly number of pictures.
“Twins?” Her father gasps. “What a blessing!”
The words that come out of his mouth are full of hypocrisy. He can celebrate his daughter’s pregnancy with such ease yet doesn’t think twice about stealing life from others. Pretty sure he’s the devil.
Hours pass in a blur, and after we’ve eaten and Victoria has shared all the information about the babies, it’s time to go.
The entire family is overly ecstatic about the news, and I’m exhausted from listening to their plans and guesses about the genders.
At this rate, she’ll have no less than five baby showers and diaper parties, along with exclusive baby clothes made by her designer aunt.
We say our goodbyes, and by the time we make it home, I have a full-blown migraine.
We take the elevator up, and once we’re alone, the act is quickly dropped.
“You seem pleased.” I loosen my tie and remove my suit jacket.
“I am.” She grabs my hand. “I was thinking you should consider moving here, maybe for the next year or so, to help with the babies and prove to my family that we tried to make this work.”
“No.” I rip my hand from hers, fully aware of the manipulative tactics she’s trying to use. “It wasn’t part of the agreement.”
“Me getting pregnant wasn’t either but look what happened.”
“I need proof they’re mine.”
“And when you have that, then what will you do?”
“I’m done talking about this,” I state firmly. “Are you gonna tell me where Maddie is now?”
“She’s fine, but if you keep it up, she won’t be. Understand?” She bats her eyelashes, loving the control she has over me.
“Heard you loud and clear,” I say before turning and going to my room, not having the strength to argue with her after tonight.
I could try to steal Victoria’s phone and scour through her messages, but she doesn’t allow it to leave her palm.
Without a doubt, the information I need is on that device.
The day replays in my head, and it’s hard to believe how much has happened in twenty-four hours.
Her family now knows the secret. It won’t be long until the whole city does, considering how proud Johnny was about becoming a grandfather.
The thought of it makes me sick because just when I think things can’t get any worse, the universe laughs and shows me otherwise.