Page 41 of Demon's Angel

My gut clenches like it always does when the name of my rapist is mentioned. I look away, then back.There’s a reason he’s telling me. He wouldn’t be bringing it up if it wasn’t important.I raise my gaze to meet his.

“I wanted to handle this without you knowing, Vi. Still could, I suppose; come up with some shit to keep you in the dark. Shit, I don’t know.”

I’ve not seen him like this before. Demon’s usually in such control, never at a loss for words.

“Just tell, me, D.”

A quick look, then, “No easy way of saying this, but he knows where you are, Violet. Where Theo is.” As my hand goes to my mouth to cover the gasp that comes out, he carries on quickly, “That’s why Cad’s looking through your purse. We think he might have put a tracker in it.”

My initial thought is that I don’t give a damn about the how. I feel like I’m going to be sick, the knowledge Angel knows I’m in the compound has swept my feeling of comfort and safety away. I drop my head into my hands as realisation hits.He’s been tracking me.If that’s true, there’s no way I could have gotten away from him. Nowhere would have been far enough. I’d gotten rid of my phone. How the hell did Angelino...?

“I dropped my purse.” It comes back to me in a flash. “After the court hearing. One of his men bumped into me, everything spilled out. He picked up the stuff, shoved it back in and returned it. I didn’t think twice.”Damn it!“I thought I’d been clever, D, getting the new phone, changing my number.”

“I think odds are, knocking into you wasn’t an accident and he slipped something in at the same time. He obviously suspected you’d skip town once you knew he was after Theo and wanted to be able to track you. You weren’t to know, Vi.” Briefly, his hand touches mine. A brotherly gesture of support.

Raising my head, I meet his eyes again. “So it’s back to plan A. Cad destroys the tracker, and I disappear out of state.” I wouldn’t be able to visit my mother, ever. But she’s being well looked after, and it’s not as if she would know whether I was there or not. I think for a second, then get excited. “Or, can one of your men go on a long drive, take the tracker with him? Leave a false trail? Have him chasing his tail trying to find me while I’m going off in the other direction? That would work, wouldn’t it?”

His eyes grow dark, his cheeks pinched. He doesn’t seem as excited about the idea as I am. “Not going to happen, Vi. On your own, with a kid? Not going to happen.”

“But, Demon. Look, I researched him. I know how big the Silvestri family is, they’re the Mafia. And if they know where I am now ? oh, hell. I have to run, get out of here today…”

“I said no.” He stands and walks to the door. He doesn’t open it but turns and leans his back against it. “I promised Nathan I’d look out for you, and that’s what I’m going to do. This morning, words were said, put a plan into action.”

“What words and what plan?” My eyes narrow.What’s he talking about?I’m in a blind panic here, knowing I have to get away.

For a moment Demon seems more interested in his feet, then he looks up, meets my eye, then looks away again.

“I told Angel that Theo was my kid.”

“You did what?” I shout incredulously.

“Told him Theo was mine,” he repeats, patiently.

“He bought that?” My heart leaps for a second.As easy as that to get my rapist off my back?I’d always denied his parentage, but never thought to substitute another name. But there had been no man in the running, no friend I could call. I’d been out of state too long. “He believed you?”

“Nah,” Demon shakes his head. “But it has to have sown a seed of doubt. And…” he pauses. He straightens, walks over, and sits by my side again. “Vi, hear me out, okay? Give me a chance to tell you everything before you interrupt.”

Confused, I nod, wondering what else he’s going to tell me.

“I’m claiming Theo.” He says it as if it’s a major announcement.

“If Angelino thinks there’s a chance Theo isn’t his, then it can only help. D. I’ll happily say you’re the father if you’re sure you’re okay with that? Of course, I won’t ask you for anything, we’ll keep the lie between us. Perhaps Angelino will put less effort into getting a child that he must now doubt is his.” I begin to breathe easier. Yes, this help I can accept.

Demon puts his finger to my lips. “I asked you to hear me out, Vi.”

I nod and say nothing. I don’t know what else he has to tell me, but I’ll listen. He’s trying to help me after all.

“Did you put a father’s name on the birth certificate?”

I stay dumb.

“Vi, I asked you a question.”

“I thought you said I shouldn’t speak?”

He ‘humph’s exasperatedly. “Vi,” he growls.

“No, of course I didn’t,” I answer.

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