Stepbrother's Debt(41)

“Would you like to have that choice now?” he asked.

“I’m pregnant. I don’t have a choice. If I run he’ll find me.”

“No. What if I can grant you the choice of going back to your family, or staying here without fear of ever having to serve my father? I take it, that’s his handiwork.” He pointed at her face, and she pressed her fingers to the bruises.

“He was angry.”

“I don’t care what he was. It doesn’t give him an excuse to hurt a woman. Well, would you?”

He’d bring his father down, one way or the other.

****

Paige stood in the kitchen, wondering where Donnie had gotten to. Luiz, Jake, and Tonio were all trying to distract her, but she couldn’t help but miss him. He’d not returned to their apartment for a couple of hours, and she didn’t like it.

Pulling out a bag of pasta, she found several cuts of meat, sauces, and vegetables.

She placed the ingredients on the counter, before checking out his food supplies. When she found what she was looking for, she started to work on their dinner. This was her first time cooking in her own kitchen. Was this her own kitchen? She was Donnie’s wife, so what he had, she did as well.

“For a woman, you didn’t have a lot of stuff,” Luiz said, coming to sit at the counter.

“I’ve not been the kind of person to keep material things. I did tell Donnie about it a couple of weeks ago.” She filled a saucepan with water before bringing it to the stove.

Jake and Tonio came to join them. Their gazes were on her.

“What?” she asked.

“Donnie’s gone to see his father’s mistress. He’s not clearing his head, or worried he made a mistake in having you here,” Tonio said.

“It didn’t enter my head. Isn’t it dangerous for him to interfere with Anthony’s mistress?” She really didn’t like the thought of him getting into trouble. His father could still cause them both enough trouble to last them a lifetime.

“No, I won’t because he’s not going to find out,” Donnie said, rounding the counter. He walked up behind her, kissing her neck. “I’m sorry. It was kind of spur of the last minute in going to see her.”

“I don’t want you hurt, Donnie.”

“I know. I’m not going to do anything to get myself or you hurt.” He kissed her neck, and she closed her eyes, enjoying his touch.

“Ew, is this what watching brothers and sisters is like?” Jake asked, wrinkling his nose. “Sick, guys, you’re both sick.”

“And you don’t know when to keep your mouth shut.” Donnie picked up a carrot and threw it as his friend. “If you don’t want to cook for them, I can send them away. This is our honeymoon, you know?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “No, it’s fine. I owe them a dinner. They did bring all of my boxes upstairs.”

“Did you unpack everything?”

“Yes, everything is unpacked.”

Paige opened up a box of pasta and poured the whole lot into the boiling water. Donnie didn’t let her go, holding her around the waist as she diced vegetables for the sauce. She poured some olive oil into a pan, adding onion and garlic.

“I’m going to talk with the guys. We’ll be out on the balcony.” He kissed her neck after she nodded.

She’d not had the courage to go out onto the balcony yet. Paige hated heights and didn’t see her being able to sit on the balcony anytime soon.

When they were gone, she concentrated on the food in front of her. Sharon was a great cook, and before they moved in with Anthony, she’d taught Paige a great deal in the kitchen. It was a shame nothing like that was ever going to happen again. She no longer trusted the woman she once called mother. Their friendship had died, and there wasn’t a chance of it ever reviving with Anthony in their lives.

With the vegetables sautéing in the oil, Paige went and started the creamy wine sauce. When everything was simmering on the stove, she went to the table and set it. The door to the balcony was closed, but she saw all four men were in deep conversation. They were clearly planning something, but she didn’t know what. Donnie wouldn’t tell her everything. At first, she’d been gutted that he wouldn’t share his plans with her. Then, she’d seen and understood why with The Family all around. The more she knew, the more danger she was in.

Adding the sauce into the vegetables, she tossed in the chicken, allowing that to cook up before tossing in the cooked pasta. With it all together, she served it onto the warm plates, and carried them through to the table.

After that, she walked toward the balcony, opening the door. “Dinner’s ready.”