Stepbrother's Debt(48)
Paige’s own fears were starting to get the better of her now. She checked her cell phone hoping for a call or something from Donnie. Nothing.
She didn’t know where he was or what he’d been doing. Well, she knew exactly what he’d been doing. Where was he now? Why wasn’t he back home?
Running fingers through her hair she was about to call the police when the door to their apartment opened. Donnie entered, closing and locking the door behind him. He was covered in blood, and she didn’t care. Dropping her cell phone she rushed toward him, wrapping her arms around him, trying to find as much comfort as possible.
“I was so worried.”
“I’m covered in blood.”
“I don’t care.” She held him tightly. “I didn’t know what I’d do if you’d not come through that door. I was so worried.”
“I didn’t let him,” he said, holding her close.
“You didn’t let him what?” she asked, pulling away long enough to look him in the eye.
“I was going to play with him. Make him pay for the years of hell he’d given me. I didn’t know if I was going to make it. When I stood looking at him, I thought about you, and I knew in that moment, I wanted you far more than I wanted to make him pay. I killed him with one shot, then put a bullet in Luiz and Tonio’s fathers so they had time to kill them, themselves.” He cupped her face. “Until I had you I didn’t care if I lived or died. You’ve given me someone to love, and because of that, I will not take any risks over my safety.”
She took his hand leading him toward the bathroom. They both needed to bathe, and she needed to burn their clothes. The evidence.
“What happened?” she asked, stripping down before starting on his clothes. He told her everything, about taking out their three fathers, then moving to Maria’s house, where they killed Rafael. Maria was staying with Luiz until all the mess was cleaned up.
“We’ll have a meeting calling on all the soldiers and The Family. Afterward, we’ll start picking out the rot from the fresh, and dealing with any blowback headed our way,” Donnie said. “I went to visit your mother.”
Paige paused as she climbed in the tub. Donnie was already inside the tub.
“I gave her two choices. She could keep her mouth shut, stay in the luxury my father provided, and stay away from you. Or I’d kill her.”
“What did she decide?” Paige didn’t want anything to do with her mother. Not once did Sharon try to protect her, and she’d moved in with one of the men responsible for killing her father, so Paige couldn’t trust her.
“She likes her lifestyle. You won’t be having any trouble from her.” He wrapped his arm around her. “Are you afraid of me?”
“No. You would never hurt me.” She leaned back showing him that she loved him. “Maria’s safe?”
“Yes. No pain will ever come to her again. Luiz and I’ve got a feeling Tonio will see to that.”
“Tonio fancies Maria?”
“I believe so.”
She frowned. “They’d make an odd pair.”
“I never thought this was possible,” he said.
“What?”
“I’ve just killed several men, and you’re sharing a bath with me, talking about our friends.”
She held her hand up, and he locked their fingers together. “I never claimed to be perfect, and I know for a fact you’re not. I love you, Donnie, for better or for worse. I stick to my promises, and nothing you say is ever going to change that.” She looked up at him. “I love you.”
“I will be a much better father than Anthony ever was to me. I swear to you, Paige.”
She smiled. “You’ll come home at odd hours, covered in blood, but I believe you. You’re nothing like your father, Donnie. You’re a better man than him.”
“I’m going to have another little brother or sister,” he said.
“I know. Charlene looks terrified. We’ll be there for her. She’s going to need a friend.”
“She doesn’t want to return home,” he said. “She’s afraid to leave The Family because of everything she knows.”
“Give her time. We’re all going to be family.”
“How did I ever get so lucky?”
“I don’t know. I owe you for my life.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
She smiled. “I kind of like the thought of being in your debt.”
“Your stepbrother’s debt?”
“I never claimed to be perfect.” She leaned up, pressing her lips to his.
Epilogue
Four months later