She blanched. “What do you even care about this for? Why extract me from a life where I’m happy, to shove me in whatever hole that you see fit?”
“Because you’re mine goddammit!” He leaned in, whispering. “Whatever your mother told you, her little escapade wasn’t worth it, because I got her in the end, didn’t I?”
Viola’s look of complete horror was met with nothing but a little laugh.
“What, you thought your mom could run around on me?” he said. “I took care of her. The way I’ll take care of you and your Cúram friends if you don’t listen to me. Now go talk to my guys, and be friendly.”
He gave her a little shove, pushed her right into the middle of a group of supporters. Most keen amongst them being Richie Vertucci, her father’s right-hand man.
Richie was almost forty, with slicked back dark hair and a creepy smile, like he was thinking about how he was going to kill you later. He’d risen to prominence while Vi had been gone, and was her father’s confidante.
Richie came over to Viola, his smile smugger than usual.
“Hey.”
She gave him a baleful look in return, not saying a word.
“You know, I think you should be nicer to me. I’m the only shot you got for a normal life.”
What about him is normal? Doesn’t he know he works for the mob?
“Well, it just so happens I don’t agree with any of this, so…”
“Life’s gonna be hard if you don’t have a partner.”
She stared at him. “My father’s forcing me to marry.”
“He’s just doing what he thinks is best.”
“For him. He’s doing what’s best for him. I’m just a way of passing on the crown.”
“I’m sure that’s not all there is to it.”
“Yeah, well. He just copped to murdering my mother to keep her from having an affair, so…” She felt another wave of tears coming on. It was impossible to stay in the ballroom. “Excuse me.”
She went through the lobby to grand golden elevators, taking one up to the top floor. Her room was the biggest of the suites up here, taking up half the floor. She swiped her card, went in, and sat down on the first thing she saw — a velveteen pouf.
She put her head in her hands. She was so far away from Savannah, so far from Callum and the whole disaster she’d left in her wake. No doubt, Callum was elbow deep in some stranger’s pussy by now.
The thought made her ache inside.
And yet, trouble followed her all the way to New York City. Trouble was sitting on her shoulder, waiting to come out and play.
I have to know, she told herself. I need to know, once and for all, that no part of him has made its home in me. Because that would be…
She shook herself, then got up. She moved through the suite, closing herself in the bathroom and locking the door.
She picked up the pregnancy test. She’d had it since the airport, but she’d been hoping that her period would come and she wouldn’t have to take it.
It’s just stress, she told herself as she peed on the stick. That’s why you haven’t had your period.
The wait to allow the urine to develop was forever. She did a little dance while she waited, born of nervousness.
Just getting it over with, she reminded herself. That’s the name of the game.
And then, the test was done. Two lines…
What does two lines mean?
She scrabbled for the box, which she’d already thrown away. She got it out of the trashcan, searching for the directions.
Two lines… two lines…
She lowered the box. She was… pregnant?
Holy shit.
She sat on the bed in her suite, looking at four positive pregnancy tests. Four different brands, nonetheless. She’d paid the maids a handsome fee each to get her the tests, and for their discretion.
At least she hoped that expectation for discretion had been communicated — she’d been a bit hysterical at the time.
She’d gone through the disbelief and feeling wretched and wondering if Callum would ever find out. She’d even forced herself to think about terminating the pregnancy.
After all, she believed in a woman’s right to choose.
But… she couldn’t do it. It was Callum’s baby, and hers. They’d made it together, made a life.
How could she just throw that away?
Now, she was just tired. She scooped all the tests up, depositing them in the trashcan. She’d stripped out of her dress an hour ago, and was now favoring pajamas with little elephants all over them.
There was a faint knocking from the door. She got up and went out into the main room, just as the door opened. Her father walked in, a smile on his face.
“You left the party early,” he said, coming in with one of his men that Viola didn’t know. He held an envelope, large and manila, but didn’t comment on it.