Stepbrother's Debt(49)

As predicted, The Family was divided over the change of leadership to Donnie, Luiz, Tonio, and Jake. Many didn’t like their young age, while some relished the change. Donnie stared around Luiz’s luxurious house, which he’d kept even after they’d disposed of their fathers’ bodies.

They had invited many of The Family, most of who had flown in for the gathering. He’d just welcomed into the fold a baby sister. Charlene had given birth a week ago, and to show her he meant to keep her safe, he’d prepared a party.

Paige rested her head against his shoulder. “She looks nervous.”

“I imagine she is. Many people here would gladly see her dead. It’s not every day that a mistress’s baby is welcomed as an actual member of The Family.” That was one of the changes he’d made. He, Luiz, Tonio, and Jake had made subtle changes over the past four months, and most of those had been in the girls working in the clubs. Donnie was working with the local police force in order to get the girls sent back to their families. He didn’t like trafficking women, and using them to line The Family’s pocket. They had enough money of their own. He’d also used the money from Paige’s father to help re-home women who couldn’t go back home.

They had problems with many of their people, but between him and his friends, they’d dealt with them swiftly.

Those who threatened the new leadership were killed or forced to leave. Donnie wasn’t going to risk the life of his family.

Pressing his hand to Paige’s stomach, he rubbed her slightly swollen stomach. The doctor had told him the good news that day.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired. I never expected to be having a baby at eighteen, and I’m scared.”

“We’ll get through it together. Charlene will help guide you.” He kissed her temple, loving the fact he’d bound her to him for the rest of his life.

“Will you still love me when I’m the size of a whale, with big feet, and a bad temper?” she asked.

“I’ll never stop loving you. I can’t wait for our baby to come into the world. It means you’ll never want to leave my side.”

It was his biggest fear that one day Paige would wake up and realize she was bound to a monster. He thanked the good Lord every single day that she had yet to see it herself.

“I’m not going anywhere.” She placed her hand over his heart. He took her hand within his, kissing her knuckles. It was hard for him to keep the love he felt for this woman off his face. They had faced so much together in their short time, but some people grow up faster than others. He wasn’t going to waste weeks, months, or years pretending he didn’t love her. This way, he got her all to himself for the next sixty years.

Donnie could live with that.

****

“You’re not down at the party,” Tonio said, entering Maria’s bedroom. He stared at the beautiful woman before him, wishing there was something he could do to reach out to her.

“I don’t want to be down there. The Family has new leadership, but they’ve not changed from the inside.”

She stared up at him. It had been so long since he’d seen her without bruises. Her beauty took his breath away.

“We’re changing everything.”

“You can’t change what happened, Tonio. You can’t change me.”

He swallowed past the lump in his throat. This was the one person he’d failed. She’d needed him years ago, but he’d been too much of a fool to help. Maria should never have married Rafael. She should have married him.

“What did you think?” she asked. “You’d take out Rafael and I’d come back to you?”

“Don’t, Maria,” he said. “I hadn’t hoped for anything.”

“He tortured me, Tonio. I can’t just forget that. Whatever was between us ended the moment Rafael put his ring on my finger. Move on because I’m not the girl you remember.”

She turned away from him. He reached out about to touch her but stopped.

Maria was right. They were two different people. The love they’d once had was long gone. Her innocence was gone, but so was his, and no one could ever understand what he’d been through, not one person. If they ever found out, it would destroy him.



The End