She was going to use the summer to set up all of her classes. Donnie listened, and Jake even gave a couple of suggestions himself.
“I don’t know. I don’t like business, or history, or science. I’m leaning more toward English, but again, I don’t know.”
They pulled up into their parking spaces. Tonio and Luiz came in five minutes later. They all unpacked boxes, and they turned to watch Paige gather a couple of boxes herself. When she saw their gazes on her, she froze. “What is it? What’s the matter?”
“Sorry,” Jake said. “They’re not used to a woman lifting a finger when they’ve got four strapping men.”
“Please, I couldn’t handle riding an elevator being the only person without a case.” She shrugged. “Get used to it,” she said, smiling at him.
Donnie could handle how different she was compared to other women. They made their way toward the elevator, and Paige even rested the boxes against the wall, clicking the button for the elevator.
“I’m a serious multi-tasker. Are you afraid?”
“No, but I can see why you’re going to need something to do. Sitting around the house all day is going to drive you crazy.”
“Tell me about it. Today, I’m unpacking my stuff and mixing it with yours.”
His three buddies were laughing, but Donnie was simply charmed by her. She really was fun to be around.
They entered his floor. He keyed in the code, and they entered his apartment. He placed her case on the floor as it held her books.
Paige went straight for his bedroom in the back of the apartment. Jake, Luiz, and Tonio followed in behind her. While Paige stayed in the apartment, they went and gathered the rest of her stuff. Donnie didn’t see why he was waiting to make contact with his father’s mistress, and made a quick decision.
On the way back, Donnie placed the box he carried on the floor. “I’m going to go and see my father’s woman,” he said. “Keep her busy for me.”
“Will do,” Jake said, herding the box into the apartment.
He walked back toward the elevator and took it down to the third floor. When he found the number of the right apartment, he knocked on the door, waiting for her to answer.
Seconds later, a woman with long blonde hair and green eyes, answered the door. She was sporting a baby bump, but what hit Donnie hard was the black eye and split lip.
The moment she looked at him, she froze. He wouldn’t have seen it if he’d not seen the tension gather in her body.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“You know who I am?”
She shook her head.
“Look, honey, I’m not in the mood to be lied to today. Do you know who I am?”
“You’re Anthony’s boy,” she said.
Donnie tilted his head to the side. “How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-five. I don’t think you should be here. He’ll get really angry with me, and I don’t want him to get angry with me.”
“You’re afraid of him.”
She snorted. “Please, I don’t want any trouble.” She touched her stomach protectively.
“I’m not here to make trouble. He’ll never find out, I promise. It’s time you and I had a chat.”
He pushed his way into the apartment. Donnie paused once again when he saw how clean the space was. She was a clean person. The floors were immaculate and sparkled. There was no hint of anyone living in the room.
She closed the door and stepped around him.
“I don’t know your name,” he said.
“It’s Charlene.” She locked her fingers together, and her gaze stayed on the floor.
“You’re my father’s mistress.” She didn’t say anything. “Are you here willingly?”
Charlene looked up at him. “What?”
“You heard me. I’m not a fucking idiot, and I wasn’t born yesterday. Are you with my father willingly? Most of the time mistresses are the other woman, and they’re happy, apart from the lack of being the main woman.” Donnie shrugged. He wasn’t going to have a mistress. Last night, and the last year he’d spent with Paige, had told him he’d never do anything to hurt her, not even take on another woman.
She sat down on the nearest chair. “I was, erm, I was taken from my family six years ago. I was walking home from school when I was taken.” She laughed. “I’d never been so afraid in all my life. I wasn’t the only girl there. They had over a hundred girls. When we tried to fight back, one man pulled out a gun and shot two girls one after the other. Told us we were a dime a dozen. If we didn’t get in line, then we’d die, and he’d find more girls.” She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I was eighteen. I didn’t want to die. I stopped fighting.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “We were divided up and sent into a truck to be sold. I was sent to a club that your father owns where they keep girls. They discovered I was a virgin, and Anthony, he, erm, he liked me, so he kept me for himself. I’m here because I didn’t have a choice.”