Page 70 of Demon's Angel

I shake my head, trying to clear it. I try to make sense of what I’m being told.

“This is absolutely ridiculous. You can’t really mean what you’re saying. Vitalia, I can understand how you want a child, but this way is absolutely crazy. You could pay a surrogate to have a baby for you.”

Her cruel stare fixes me like a butterfly pinned to a board. “You are misunderstanding the point. Angelino doesn’t want any child. He wants one with you. As the ultimate revenge. He finally gets what he’s been seeking, and I get my reward.”

This doesn’t make sense at all.

“I don’t know Angelino,” I say, picking my words as though I’m speaking to a child. “Our meeting was accidental…”

“You’re wrong.” Her lips curve and not in a nice way at all. “Who gave you the leaflet about the vacancy you applied for?”

I purse my lips as I think back. “It was on a table in a café I used to go to.”

“The waitress gave it to you with your coffee. Only you. He’d been watching you, knew the types of jobs you were applying for, so he made up one which would entice you. As expected, you fell for it and applied.”

My brow creases. I don’t understand. I’d never previously crossed paths with Angelino nor any of his family.

“But why? Why was he watching me?”

She sighs deeply, as though she’s becoming impatient with all my questions.

“Because by the time the pieces came together, your father had died. Your mother was, let’s say, incapacitated. At first, Angelino was going to kill you, but what good would that have done? There was no one to miss you, no one to appreciate the revenge that had at last been served. We needed a child, and you were a suitable incubator.”

My head moves side-to-side, then I repeat the action. Not one word out of her mouth gives me any answers.

“What are you talking about my father for?” I rack my brains for anything that adds up. “He was an accountant.” I think back to the man who I’d loved, wondering how he could have so angered the Silvestri family. I can’t see how he could have been involved with them. Unless, “Did he do the accounts for one of your businesses? Is that what this is about? Do you think he lost you money?” If so, he wouldn’t have done it on purpose. But even the best accountant can get caught out with an unexpected drop in the market at times.

“Lost us money?” She barks an incredulous laugh. She comes closer, placing a perfectly-manicured fingernail against my chin, forcing me to look up. “You really don’t have a clue, do you?”

“He killed my brother.”

Moving my head rapidly away from her touch, I turn to face the door where Angelino is leaning, his arms folded, his back against the wooden frame.

A chill settles in my gut just seeing him. “My father wouldn’t have killed anyone,” I protest, racking my brains. Was there a car accident or something I hadn’t heard about?

“He thought he was clever getting out of the game. Covering his tracks. We could never discover his new identity. But we knew he was out there, weaving his magic from behind a curtain, like the Wizard of Oz.” Pushing off the door, he walks into the room. “I didn’t give up, unlike my father. I couldn’t forgive. My brother bled out in my arms; you never forget that. I had to get the man responsible. Had to find out who he was. Well, lo and behold, he was your father. But by the time I came into possession of that knowledge, he was already dead.”

I open my mouth to repeat that my gentle father would never do anything like that, when he steps closer.

“I went to the funeral to spit on his grave. But what did I find instead? A dutiful daughter. I nearly killed you right then and there. But then circumstances changed.”

Vitalia gives a pained look to her husband. “We tried, but I can’t give Angelino a child.”

“Your father took someone I loved. So I came up with a better way of hurting him in return. I would have his daughter give me a son, and then take the boy from her. Marco, my trustedsoldato,fucked that up. Theo might be mine, but again, he might not. He’s with Demon. An outlaw MC president who’ll spend his life thinking he’s bringing up a mafioso’s kid. Let him worry and watch his back, never being able to relax. While Violet, you’ll give me another, one I can be assured is my own child. This time I won’t make a mistake. You’ll stay here until you’ve given me what I want. After that?” He raises and lowers his shoulders and leaves me to guess at what’s in my future.

I hate him. I disliked him when I first met him, but you don’t need to like your boss. I could have done my job without letting my animosity show. But to allow him near me? To allow him to touch me, knowing he’s already had what I didn’t give freely? There’s no way I’d do that.

“You’re wrong about my father.” I make my voice as strong as I can, trying to hide the quiver of fear in it. “You have the wrong man. Whatever your investigations told you, the answer was wrong. As for me? I’ll never let you take me again. You’d have to kill me first. And—” I think fast, wondering whether a lie could put him off. The expectation of the expression on his face makes a hysterical laugh burst out of me. “You’ll have the same uncertainty again. Demon and I have started trying for a family. I might be pregnant even now.” My hands cover my stomach protectively.

Angel’s face changes. I never seen such an expression of rage. I rear back but can’t evade the hand that hits my face, so hard it snaps to one side. Gingerly, my tongue touches my teeth; none feel loose.

Surprisingly, it’s Vitalia who puts her hand on his arm. “There are ways to make sure she’s not carrying a bastard kid. Our plans will just have to be put on hold, if what she’s saying is the truth.”

His anger is fading, his emotion changing to something else. I can tell by the way he’s leering, how his greasy eyes are examining me from head to toe. Once again, I wish I was wearing something other than the dress I’d worn to impress my new husband. Now, though, it’s not designer gear I’d prefer, but something made out of armour plating.

Keep him talking.“What do you think my father did? Who do you think he was?” I try not to move away, try to face up to him, desperate to get his attention off what he intends to do with me and onto something else. “Why do you think he still owes you from beyond the grave, and what’s it got to do with me?”

His hand snakes out, curling cruelly around the back of my head. “It’s got everything to do with you. He took my blood away from me, I’ll take his. If you were a man, I’d kill you. As you’re a woman, I’ll keep you alive. For now, at least, while your useful.”

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