There we go. Now it’s soaking in. I nod. “I want a kid. Somebody to carry on my business, my name. Somebody to take care of me when I get old. And you…” Calmly I take another drink of my coffee. “You’re going to have my baby.”
Her mouth gapes open, snaps shut, maybe three or four times before she squeaks out, “What? What the fuck, Nick? Are you fucking serious?”
She has no idea how dead fucking serious I am. “Yes. Serious as a myocardial infarction, as they say.” I shrug. “I mean, we can get married if that makes you feel better about the whole thing. It’s not completely necessary, but I do think it’d help things go more smoothly—”
She practically falls off the stool next to the kitchen island, her bare feet making a slap-thud against the tile. “Married? Have your baby? Have you lost your fucking mind, Nick? There is no way that is ever going to happen. Sal—”
“Oh, fuck Sal.” I’m so sick of hearing his stupid name. “Fuck Sal right in the ear. Forget about him. You’re mine now. I told you I’d take care of you, and I would. All I’m asking is one thing from you in return.”
“Nick, that is a big fucking thing! You have no idea—”
“Yeah, I do. You want me to protect your legacy—that’s your bakery. I want you to protect my legacy—that means I need a kid. An heir, if you want to put it that way. Obviously I can’t have one by myself, and let’s face it—I’m getting older. I’m in a job where I could drop dead any minute just because somebody doesn’t like my face. It’s time I start getting serious about this shit.”
“But why…why me?” I could take that as an indication she’s giving my proposal serious consideration, but I’m not sure that’s how she means it.
I lift a hand. “I’m getting to that. I like you, Sarah. You’re beautiful, you’re Italian, and you’re a good cook, obviously. You’ll be a good mother. I know that. And you’ve got to admit—we’re hot as fuck in bed.”
I don’t mention the fact that Sal will lose damn near every bit of respect he’s garnered if I just take his fiancée from him right under his nose, but that’s part of it, too. I want to take Sal down, and I want to take him down hard. Aside from shooting him in the head in the park or something, this is the best way I can think of. Besides, if I shot him in the head, I’d probably face retaliation at the muzzle of someone else’s gun. This way, Sal just loses his credibility and his power in one fell swoop. It’s brilliant, if I do say so myself.
But Sarah’s face has gone hard and cold, except for her eyes, which are burning laser-like at me. “Fuck. You,” she says in firm, measured tones. “Fuck you for making me think you actually wanted to help me. God. I should have fucking known better.”
I shrug. “You know it’s tit for tat in this business. You learned that from Sal. You gave him your body to keep him from burning down your bakery; I’m just asking for the same deal, right?”
Tears are edging her eyes now, and I almost feel guilty.
“He just wanted to fuck me. You want me to have your goddamn baby.”
“And he announced your engagement in front of the whole damn organization without so much as a by-your-leave from you. He’s an asshole, Sarah. You know that. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with him?”
“No, but I’m not sure I want to spend the rest of my life with you, either.”
I’m tired of arguing with her. She’ll either come around or she won’t. I’ve said about all I can manage to say to convince her my plan is the best path for her. “It’s your choice. But I’ll tell you this much: I’m not sorry I did what I did. You need to get away from him. If he doesn’t kill you, he’ll at the very least make your life a living hell. I think you know that.”
Her mouth is tight and firm, her fists clenched. I wait for her to chime in, but she doesn’t.
“He’s going to destroy your business, Sarah. And he’s going to destroy you. Whether he does it physically, mentally, or emotionally doesn’t matter in the long run. You stay with Sal, you’re going to lose everything. And I don’t mean just the bakery.”
A tear slides down her cheek. And I have the nerve to call Sal an asshole. “Look.” I use my thumb to wipe the tear from her face, and she flinches back from my touch. “Just stay here tonight. You can stay in the guest room for the rest of the night if you want. Think about it. We can talk later.”