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He clicks his tongue. "That all changed last night. She spent the night at his place."
Dammit Jackson. "So, that's all you need me to do? Just play the tape and nothing else?"
DeLuca nods. "Yes. That's all for now."
Seems easy enough. I'm getting ready to leave....but then guilt snags me.
This is a really fucked up thing to do to someone...even by my standards.
Granted, she was the one who made the sex tape in the first place, but having someone set your new boyfriend up to watch it is just plain mean.
I don't like her...but I don't really want to do this to her, either. "I don't want to do it," I whisper.
Emilio shoots me a warning glance and DeLuca pounds his fist on the table.
"I'm sorry, mio amore. I think it's wrong—" my voice trails off.
On second thought, it's not my problem. It doesn't matter what I think.
I have a baby to protect.
"Never mind, I'll do it," I say quickly. "I'll do it for you."
He looks pleased. "Good. Emilio will hand you the disk."
"Okay. Talk to you later." I signal for Emilio to turn the laptop off but DeLuca barks, "Not so fast."
I'm about to ask what's wrong but then the computer screen goes black before some kind of video starts playing.
I have to fight the urge to piss my pants.
How? What? This can't be happening.
Oh, my god.
I look away and put my head in my lap. Hate isn't even the word for what's playing on the screen currently.
Unfortunately, I'm still able to hear every word.
"Come on, Princess," his voice says. "Do it for Daddy."
"No! I don't want to," a child-like version of me says. Then I start sobbing hysterically.
Both on the video and in real life.
I cover my ears and squeeze my eyes shut. Then a bone chilling scream escapes from my mouth. "Stop!" I shriek so loud my ears ring.
I can't believe the monster filmed the first time he violated me.
Why would DeLuca have this?
That's easy. To torment me.
God, I feel sick. So fucking sick.
Emilio nudges me and I finally realize the video isn't playing anymore.
"Why would you do that to me?" I wail when DeLuca pops back up on the screen.
He smiles darkly. "Because I can. You needed to be reminded that you are mine and only mine...and if you ever think you're not. I swear on your pathetic, miserable life—the very same life I chose to save—that I'll make you suffer far worse than he ever did. Now go and do what you're supposed to," he sneers before the screen cuts out.
Clearly, that was my warning.
Emilio hands me a tissue and gestures for me to step outside of the car.
After we're outside he says, "I know this isn't the best time—especially after what just happened. But you can't have that baby, Lucia
I step back, torn between thinking I misunderstood what he said and wanting to punch him.
"You have no right—" I start to say.
"Look, if you actually love Ricardo...then you need to terminate the pregnancy."
He stares at me in shock when my hand co
I go to slap him again but this time, he catches my wrist. "Then you'll be responsible for Ricardo's death—because make no mistake about it—DeLuca will kill him over this shit. He's been looking for a reason to take him out without getting in trouble with the DeLuca Council and you just gave him a damn good reason."
My heart stammers and it feels like the world around me stops. "What?" I gasp. "W-what did you just say?"
I can't believe DeLuca wants to kill his own son.
"You heard me. What the hell do you think he's been doing in Italy this whole time? He's been looking for a way to break the curse and kill his son. You just provided the perfect solution."
My eyes fill with tears. "No."
His expression softens. He tries to put an arm around me, but I turn away. "I'm sorry. God, I'm so fucking sorry, Lucia
He runs a hand through his hair. "Ricardo still doesn't know about the baby, right?"
I shake my head because I'm too torn up to speak. I feel like my soul is being shredded in the cruelest way possible.
The birth of my baby will be the death of the other love of my life.
I start dry heaving and collapse on the ground because I can't lose either of them.
"No, Emilio. There has to be a way around this."
He helps me up off the ground. "There isn't."
Yes, there is.
I can't believe I'm even considering it...but this is the only way.
It's the only way to keep both of them alive.
"I'll make DeLuca think he's the father."
"That won't work," he says. "He'll still kill Ricardo." He looks uncomfortable."And I hate to point out the obvious but you haven't been with DeLuca in months. Don't you think he'll catch on?"
"If he comes back soon—or if I make an impromptu trip to Italy to visit him—I can pretend the baby is premature."
He rubs his chin, appearing to consider this. "You'll have to find a doctor willing to cover for you. That's going to be near impossible."
"Do you know any?"
His expression turns pained. "Last time I helped someone out...the doctor ended up dead and she ended up dying anyway."
My mouth opens in shock. "You were the one who helped Ricardo's mom?"
He nods and his jaw works. "Yeah. Hell of a lot of good it did me. Look what he ended up doing to her."
"One good thing came out of it," I whisper.
His eyes co
"Please," I say, my voice cracking. "Please, help me. I won't end up like her...because this time...it's the opposite."
"What about Ricardo? If you have that baby—you already know what will happen."
"Not if I convince DeLuca not to kill him."
"How?"
"Well, for starters...I'll remind him that we don't know whether the baby will be a boy or girl. I'll remind him that anything can happen during the birth—that alone will buy Ricardo some time. In between then, Ricardo can go to the council and tell them what DeLuca's pla
"There is," Emilio says. "But DeLuca has never been one to follow the rules before." His brows furrow. "I'm sorry, but your plan sucks. There are too many holes. Too many ways it can all go wrong."
Anger and devastation pulse through me. "I'm not giving up my baby." Tears make their way down my cheeks. "And I can't bear the thought of losing Ricardo, either." I gulp back another sob, my heart feels like it's physically cracking right down the middle. "There's no way I can choose between the two of them."
"I know," he says before he pulls me into a hug.
"I love them both so much," I sob loudly, barely even breathing.
"I know you do, honey. I know you do." He squeezes me tight before releasing me. "Listen, don't tell Ricardo about the baby. Not now at least, okay? Promise me, Lucia