Page 12 of Forbidden Pregnancy
I know I’ll have to be a lot more careful with my brother. Luckily, Michael has a mild alcohol dependence. He doesn’t question the flask for longer than a second before greedily guzzling enough of my potion to turn him into my human puppet. I doubt he’ll remember a single thing after leaving Belladonna’s tonight.
He won’t remember stating out loud on a voice recording that he was fully sober and consenting to my contract, just like Myra. I don’t bother trying to stuff him in the trunk too. I just get him in the passenger seat and lean the seat all the way back, just in case we stop at a traffic light and run into Uncle Leo or something.
I’m too far into this plan to screw up.
Getting them out of the car and into the bedroom requires using an even more questionable cocktail of drugs. My heart races as I start my car and turn out of the parking lot, past the point of no return. I see Peter’s car at the first stoplight, but he’s gazing into his phone and not paying attention to my left turn.
That means he’ll get Michael’s car out of the way and my little jaunt out of the house will remain undetected by my crazy ass dad. I almost have a real drug-induced high from how good it feels to get away with this much of the plan.You’ve done the hard part, CC. Just keep going.
For my entire life the men in my family have tried to control me. Whenever I took the slightest bit of freedom, they put me in my place.
Let’s see how Michael feels having his control stripped away. Myra won’t just be collateral damage either. The contract I wroteensures my former teacher will spend the rest of her days living like a queen. I’m breathless with excitement as I speed down the highway towards Michael’s lake house.
It’s a couple hours out of town, far enough away to let the first cocktail of drugs work through their system so I can suffuse them with the rest and get what I want with absolute certainty.
My brother and my former nanny are going to have a baby. A niece for me, a daughter for him, and a little new life to bond us all together again.
Chapter Six
Michael
Twelve years ago
Myra's lesson with Cosima begins in twenty minutes, making dad's long-winded meeting with me even more painful. At least this time he agreed to coffee instead of golf. After Cosima's stunt last week, I worried that Myra would quit and send everything in this household spiraling out of control.
"How has Cosima handled the separation lately?" dad asks. "Has she made any trouble with the tutor?"
I don't think dad knows her name. Ruby hired her, and I have more of a "management" role, if you can call sitting in on boring middle school lessons trying to calm my arousal in Myra's presence "management".
"No trouble with the tutor. But she misses Flora."
Dad doesn't blink. There's not even a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
"Hm. Flora won't have any contact with her until she settles properly. I've not heard good things from the family."
"She's in a strange country where she doesn't speak the language," I remind my father. Not to mention, Flora is smart enough to realize that she's in Italy because dad promised her hand in marriage to the very "uncle" she's currently living with when she turns fourteen.
I can't save them both, but for now, I can protect Cosima from the same fate. My father remains unsympathetic. It horrifies me to think that one day I might become that cold. And for what? Money? Out of loyalty to Luigi Taviani and an old backwards culture that wasn't a good enough reason for us to remain in Italy in the first place.
"I invested a lot of money bringing your sisters up to understand their responsibilities. Cigarette?"
I nod in agreement, careful to keep my eyes on my father as a pair of gorgeous women with large Afros walk past our table. The third in the group of friends has waist-length maroon-colored braids. Sexy...
I lean forward so my father can light my cigarette.
"Do you think Cosima will be ready for marriage soon?"
I don't think either of my eleven year old sisters are ready for marriage.
"She's very bonded to Myra. I suspect Myra might be able to tame some of her worse behaviors before we send her off."
"Two girls..." he grumbles. "Can you believe it? When Leandro had twins, at least he had boys. Women are worth nothing."
Strange irritation passes beneath my skin. I understand life in the mob can make you cold, but I never understood carrying that attitude towards your own children. Even Leandro Taviani, the leader of this family, waits until his daughters are closer to eighteen before promising their hand in marriage.
Does he even care what might be happening to Flora in Italy while she's under the care of strangers who can hide theirintentions in hushed Italian whenever they don't want her to hear? She must be scared. And I can't do a damned thing to protect her.
I can only protect Cosima. By playing along. Staying on my father's good side. And keeping her focused on the lessons with Myra. If Myra leaves due to frustration, low pay, or any other reason... I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep Cosima in the shadows.
