Page 46 of Demon's Angel

As he swiftly turns to go out, I satisfy myself with a nod to his back. A dirty diaper is fine, a woman feeding her baby, apparently not. Taking Theo to the bed, I lean back against the headboard and allow him to suckle. I’ll have to get him a bottle too; I know my milk’s starting to dry up, or at least isn’t enough to satisfy him. I look down proudly at my son, he’s becoming a big lad, and already very handsome, at least in the eyes of his adoring mom. Now he’s acquired a father. A man I can trust, not like his sperm donor.

The room seems silent after an afternoon of arguing, the only sound a slurping coming from Theo. It seems empty, too. Demon’s such an imposing presence, an energy has left and gone with him. I have space to think for the first time in what seems like hours.

Have I done the right thing?I’ve been handed everything on a platter. But I have the man of my dreams for all the wrong reasons. How I wished we’d met as strangers, became attracted to each other, dated and fallen in love, then agreed to take that step into marriage as a consolidation of what we felt.

We do, however, respect each other, and there’s a sibling-type love. But is that enough? Can we pretend for Theo? Or will he grow to suspect? Exactly how long will we be together in this sexless relationship? If Angelino continues to press his case, it could be for years. By the time Theo’s eighteen I’ll be forty-three and verging on, or even over, the line of being able to have any more children. Demon will be fifty-three, not many years younger than his father is now. The best of both our lives will have passed.

Will Angelino give up?I’d never wish death on anyone, but I hope he dies an early gangster’s death. That’s the only way I’d ever truly be rid of him. In his grave is exactly where Demon wants him, but I don’t want Demon to spend his life behind bars, or, worse, if the Silvestri live up to their reputation, bring danger to all his club.

Theo’s finished, but his fist going into his mouth shows he’s still hungry. Straightening my tee, I stand up. “Come on, little man. Let’s go get you topped off.”

Carrying him carefully, I descend the stairs, my attention on the next step, not on the people below. When I near the bottom, I realise the chatter in the room has quieted. It’s the silence that makes me falter and look around. The men, apart from the prospects, aren’t in sight. But all the women are watching me.

Jayden and Mo are sitting on the couch, frozen in tableaux, Jay with a cup halfway to her mouth. The club girls are in a group by the bar, and Jeannie has paused halfway across the room.

The prospect Dan has a smirk on his face and Wills looks puzzled.

“Er, I’m just going to get Theo a bottle.” For some reason I feel the need to explain my appearance. Then I quickly look down to make sure I remembered to pull my top down and my boobs aren’t hanging out, but everything seems to be fine.

I start moving again. You could hear a pin drop as I cross the clubroom, but no one impedes me on my way through. As I take a bottle I prepared earlier and put it in some hot water to warm, I hear the murmur of conversation start up again. I shrug, maybe I’d been clanking down the stairs and had disturbed them. Still a little uneasy, I decide I’ve done nothing to upset anyone and take Theo out to give him his milk.

As soon as I sit, I notice once again the chattering has stopped and I’m the centre of attention. I settle Theo on my arm, he eagerly grasps the bottle and starts drinking. I steady it with one hand, then look around.

“Okay, have I grown an extra eye or something?”

Jeannie steps closer and takes the seat at the opposite end of the couch. “Something, definitely.”

“You been holding out on us, Vi?” Jay raises an eyebrow.

“Knew there was something going on with Demon,” Mo states.

He couldn’t have told them, could he?He wouldn’t, surely. Not without letting me come to terms with it first.

“You really going to marry Prez?” The sweet butt called Titsy—why she bothers to get dressed I’ll never know, it’s clear she’s not wearing a bra or underwear—leans over the opposite sofa.

Okay then, he has.

But what on earth has he actually told them? It’s best to ask so I don’t put my foot in it.

“What’s he said?” I’m staring at Mo.

“For all of us to get our finery ready as we’ll be going to the courthouse as soon as he can arrange it.”

What?

Breezy joins Titsy and waves the other sweet butts over. “Can’t see it myself,” she announces conversationally. “Prez likes variety. Never shown an interest in settling down. There must be more to it, unless you have a magic pussy.”

As my face starts to burn, Jeannie claps her hands. “That’s enough now. Think you better get your head around the fact that Prez is off the market. No one wants to know your views on that.”

Titsy straightens reluctantly and shrugs. “Can’t see how she’s gonna keep him satisfied, that’s all. Even if her cunt’s made of gold.”

Tulia taps her on the shoulder as they follow Jeannie’s instruction to make themselves scarce. “Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable?”

“What?”

“A pussy made of gold?”

“For fuck’s sake, Tulia. I didn’t mean it literally.” Titsy gives a loud sigh as she rounds the bar. Playfully she slaps Tulia around the head.

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