Page 62 of Relentless Oath

“Ivan,” Dario said. “He does odds and ends for me.” He changed the subject, “Are you ready to leave?”

I looked down at my clothes. “Yes, but you wouldn’t have happened to bring me some clothes that actually fit, did you?”

He nodded, “Of course.” He handed me a bag. “Also, Dr. Kali wants to speak with you. I told him about our umm, troubles, and he insisted that you call him. There’s a phone in the bag.”

He walked away from me then, disappearing to another room. I slipped into a comfy T-shirt that was a little too low-cut and looked in the mirror. My hair needed to be washed and there were dark circles under my eyes.

I splashed some water on my face and pinched my cheeks, trying to bring some color back into my face, to no avail.

Sighing, I pulled on a pair of jeans that just barely fit over my expanding waistline. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Dario knew my size…well, my previous size. I’d gone up in size and knew that I would have to spend hours in the car with my jeans unbuttoned.

I was just grateful the shirt was long enough to cover it.

I reached for the phone and realized that I didn’t know the doctor’s number. It was there in the contacts. The only number I could call…besides 911.

I thought about calling 911 for a second, wondering if that was the right thing to do. How would Dario react? What would he do? I’d seen the type of violence he was capable of.

Would he try to kill anyone who tried to come to my aid? I couldn’t say that he would, but I didn’t trust that he wouldn’t either. It was too much to gamble with—other people’s lives. I couldn’t bring someone else into this situation.

I touched my belly, feeling a wave of guilt, but it was too late, I already had.

“Dr. Kali,” I said once he answered, “This is ?”

“Mya, yes, Dario is worried about you and wanted me to check in with you.”

“Oh?” That was surprising. I thought it would have been the other way around. The way Dario had mentioned it, he made it sound as if it weren’t his idea at all.

I guess he did have a heart.

“Yes,” there was a long pause, and then Dr. Kali said, “Is Dario nearby?”

“No, he’s upstairs,” I said softly.

“Okay, then listen carefully, Mya. I have a house, a safe house, so to speak. If you find yourself in a situation where you must leave and you need help, I need you to call this number. I’ll make sure you and the baby are safe.”

“One second,” I said, rummaging through a desk to find a pen and paper, my hands shaking. Tears pooled in my eyes as I was overwhelmed by emotion.

An out. I could escape.

He recited the number to me and said, “I’m worried about you and the baby. Please, for both of your sakes, be careful.”

A wave of relief washed over me. Someone cared. Someone was willing to help me. And my child.

I rushed to say thank you, but he had already hung up.

This was it. My way out.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Dario

When I hadmy hands wrapped around Matteo’s neck, and I could feel his life force draining from his body, I had looked into his eyes. I had found myself going back all those years ago to the moment by the pool.

He had laughed at me for not being able to swim. He had watched our father almost drown me and he had laughed.

Then, he had been almost kind to me. He had invited me to go fishing. I loved fishing.

I had trusted him. I’d never had a big brother before.

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