With tears burning at the backs of my eyes, I rattle the doorknob fruitlessly and then try to look inside through a crack between the boards on the windows. I can’t see anything; it’s too dark inside. Maybe I can crack the combination on the lockbox.
Not much chance of that, though. I finally give up, mostly because my eyes are too blurry and I’m too panicky to think clearly. I’m starting to feel nauseated again, too. I should just go home, tell Nick, and let him deal with it.
“It’s a nice change to the decor, don’t you think?”
I spin at the sound of Sal’s voice behind me. “What the hell are you doing here?” I demand. My heart’s in my throat, choking me.
“Well, it’s my property, after all.”
“What do you mean, your property?”
He looks insufferably smug, but at the same time there’s a sharp light in his eyes. Anger. Hatred, even. Directed at me. My panic changes to pure fear.
“I’m not stupid, Sarah. Do you think I didn’t know you and that piece of shit husband of yours were going to try to pull everything out from under me? This place hasn’t been under your name for weeks.”
“What?”
“I had my lawyer draw up papers putting the property in my name.”
“How the hell could you do that without my signature?” I can’t believe what’s happening—it’s like my brain isn’t working, like I can’t get it to sort through the puzzle pieces to make any sense out of them.
He laughs, shaking his head. “You think that kind of trivial bullshit ever slows me down? If you do, you haven’t been paying attention.”
Of course. There’s nothing he can’t manage by putting enough bills into the right person’s hands. I can’t help it; the tears overflow and I can’t hold back the sobs that lurch into my throat.
Everything’s gone. Everything I put my life into. Everything I sacrificed to Sal. Everything I willingly gave to Nick. Nick promised he’d protect the bakery, but Sal made sure he couldn’t even do that.
Sal’s slow, smug grin makes me swallow my tears as quickly as I can. I can’t let my guard down around him; he’ll take advantage of it in any way he can, and that could be dangerous. Deadly, even.
“You want to keep that bakery, don’t you?” His voice is low and cold.
“Of course I do.”
“I can give it back to you.” He takes a step closer. It’s all I can do to keep from retreating a step in response, but I won’t let him have the pleasure of seeing me cowed.
“For what price?” Because of course there’s a price, and knowing Sal, it’s a steep one.
“All you have to do is come back to me.” He takes another step closer. I can’t let him get too near me or I won’t be able to get away from him. I try not to let him know I’m scoping out an escape route.
“I can’t do that. I’m married now.”
“Doesn’t make any difference. Take that fucking ring off like you took my ring off. Throw it in the dirt. Then find a doctor to get that asshole’s brat out of you. Come back home. Say you’re sorry. Forget Nick Angelino even exists. Do that, and I’ll give you your business back. Let you do whatever you want with it. New equipment, new employees, what have you. Say no—the bakery’s gone. So what do you say? Is it a deal?”
I’m just staring at him. I barely heard anything past “get that asshole’s brat out of you.” The heat at the backs of my eyes is from fury now. “Who the fucking hell do you think you are?”
His fists clench, and he takes another step toward me, his body taut now. “I think I’m the man who loaned you the money for the goddamned bakery in the first place. I think I’m the man who was going to marry you before you ran off with Angelino like the fucking slut you are.”
Before I can think about it, I haul back and slap him as hard as I can. “You fucking piece of shit. This is my baby. You have no say. None. And there’s no way in hell I’m having an abortion because you say so.”
He’s furious, and I suddenly realize the danger I’m in. My hand has left a bright-red mark on his face.
“You stupid bitch,” he snarls. “I’ll kill you for that.”
I know it’s not an idle threat. Quickly I sidestep him and head for my car. I hear him yell after me again, but by the time I get inside the car, several passersby have taken note of what’s going on, and Sal’s getting just enough attention that I know he won’t do anything.
Not right now, anyway. I have no doubt he’ll be more than happy to follow through on his threats later.