“How old is this girl?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe 21? 22?”
“Did you see her again after that night?”
He hesitates, then says, “Yes. We had a brief affair.”
“When did it end?”
“When I found out she was pregnant.” He looks down at his desk, his jaw clenched. “The bitch should’ve been on birth control.” His tone is suddenly very hostile. Aggressive. “I told her to get rid of it. I sent her more than enough money to have it done.”
“But she didn’t,” I say.
“No!” He bursts up from his chair. “She said she would, but she didn’t! Fucking bitch!” He slams his fist down on the desk. “How could she do this to me?” He storms off to the side of the room and starts pacing the floor.
I’ve never seen him like his. Within an instant he switched from being normal to acting almost deranged. Shelby’s right. He’s not stable. I haven’t been around him for months. Like he said, he’s been on the campaign trail for most of last year, following around one of our presidential candidates. The organization is grooming Royce to be president someday, and part of his training is to watch another candidate in action.
“Royce, just calm down.”
He whips around, and storms back to me, slamming his fist on the desk again. “I will NOT calm down! That bitch is going to ruin my life! I’m going to be the fucking President of the United States! A president cannot have some bastard child running around!”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying the bitch is dead. I just haven’t arranged for it yet because I just found out about this. All these months, I thought she got the abortion, so I was going to leave her alone. Then last week, I hired one of our freelancers to check on her to see what she was up to. Make sure she wasn’t telling anyone about me. And yesterday he reported back to me and said he found her, living in some small town, and pregnant! She told me she’d take care of it!” He’s screaming and his face is red, his eyes dark. “But she fucking lied to me!”
He collapses into his chair.
I wait a moment for him to calm down, then say, “When is she due?”
“I don’t know. Maybe late September, early October. Who the fuck cares? She’ll be dead by then. And so will her bastard child.”
“Royce, no. Leave her alone.”
He picks a letter opener off his desk and points it at me. “You’re telling me you wouldn’t do it? Some woman threatens your marriage? Your future? You’d just let her do it?”
“This woman hasn’t threatened to do anything. She’s left you alone. She probably just wants to have the baby and have nothing to do with you.”
“How fucking naive are you, Pearce? The bitch knows I’m a billionaire. As soon as that kid’s born, she’ll sell her story to every tabloid, then come after me for money.”
“She could’ve already done that. She has no reason to wait until the child’s born.”
“You can’t talk me out of this. She’s a liability. I can’t risk having her around.”
“You are not killing her. She’s carrying your child. Are you seriously going to kill your own child?”
“It’s not a child. It’s a mistake.”
I can’t believe he said that. I want to reach over and beat him unconscious. I’m probably extra sensitive right now because I’ve just spent a week at home with my own child, who I love more than anything and would do anything to protect. But even if I didn’t have Garret, I’d still feel this way.
“If you didn’t want a child, then you should’ve used a goddamn condom. You’re a grown man, Royce. Stop acting like a teenager and take some fucking responsibility for your actions.”
“I AM taking responsibility. I’m cleaning up my mess. Getting rid of her.”
“I will not allow you to do this. It’s wrong, and you know it. You’re a father. Just down the hall you have a baby girl. You would never harm Sadie, so why would you even think of killing your other child?”
“It’s not the same,” he says quietly.
“It IS the same! It’s still your child! Please, Royce, just let her have the baby. It’s just a few weeks from now. Let her have it and see what happens. I bet you anything she’ll leave you alone.”
“I can’t risk it.” His voice is calmer now, but the rest of him is still tense, his body rigid, his back straight. “Perhaps if I didn’t have the presidency in my future, it would be a different story. But I can’t put my future at risk. I’m going to be president. And no one is going to stand in my way.”
“Do something else. Have someone keep watch on this woman to make sure she never tells anyone. Give her enough money to keep quiet. Anything. Just don’t kill her.”
“I’m done wasting my time on her. I’m putting the order in tomorrow. It should be done within the week.”
How could he do this? The woman is nine months pregnant. With his child! How could he not think this is wrong?
I hesitate, because I know I shouldn’t be doing this but I’m desperate. “Jack has shit on you.”
“Yeah? So? He has shit on everyone.”
“He’ll use it against you. I’ll tell him what you’re planning to do and he’ll stop you.”
“Why the hell would Jack care?”
“Because he doesn’t believe in killing pregnant women.”
Royce laughs. “Most people don’t, until they’re backed in a corner with no way out.”
“I’m serious, Royce. I’ll tell Jack, and I’ll get him to stop you unless you agree to call this off.”
There’s a knock on the door. “Who is it?” Royce yells.
The door opens and a woman, who I assume is the nanny, walks in with the baby. “Your wife wanted you to say goodnight to your daughter.”
He nods. “Fine.”
She brings the baby over, wrapped up in a pink blanket, and hands her to Royce.
“Could you give us a minute?” I say to the nanny.
She nods and walks away, shutting the door behind her.
“Look at her, Royce. Look at your daughter.”
Sadie is awake and watching Royce like Garret watches me, so intently, searching his face like she’s memorizing his features. She’s a very cute baby. She’s a month older than Garret, but she’s only slightly bigger than him. She’s very petite, with wispy strands of light brown hair and big brown eyes.
“It’s not the same,” he says quietly as he looks at her.
“They’re both babies. They’re both yours. They just have different mothers.”
“Which is why I have to do it.”
“You don’t have to do anything. Just let her have the baby and see what happens. If this woman hasn’t come after you by now, I doubt she will when the baby arrives. Just leave her alone, Royce.”
Sadie gurgles and smiles at him. He shuts his eyes, like he doesn’t want to see it. But she keeps gurgling and smiling and he opens his eyes again. And when he sees her, his body relaxes and his expression softens.
“You’re a father, Royce. I know you don’t want to hurt an innocent child and his or her mother.”
“Fuck,” he says under his breath as he looks down at Sadie. He sighs. “Fine. You win. I’ll wait until she gives birth and see what happens. But if she tells anyone, she’s dead, and the child will be an orphan. I’m not taking it in. And you have to promise not to tell Victoria. Or anyone.”
I nod. “I won’t tell anyone.” I stand up. “I’ll leave you two alone. I need to get home.”
He doesn’t say goodbye as I leave. When I get out to my car I realize I forgot to ask him about Shelby. But this wasn’t the time to bring that up. After Royce told me about that woman, my priority was to save her and her child. I’ll have to find another way to save Shelby.
I don’t know what’s happened to Royce, but it’s starting to frighten me. He’s becoming someone else. Someone dangerous. He’s never been a caring or compassionate person, but tonight he was evil. Acting as though tak
ing a life had no effect on him. It’s like he’s losing his humanity. And it’s all because of his thirst for power. His insatiable need to be president.
When I get home, Rachel and the baby are both asleep. I go in the nursery and look at Garret in his crib. He’s so small. So innocent. So helpless. I would kill anyone who even attempted to harm him.
I wonder if this woman Royce had the affair with is worried for her safety. I wonder if she knows what Royce is really like. Maybe that’s why she moved to that small town. Maybe she was hiding out. Maybe she fears for her life and her child’s life.
Royce better keep his word. I think he will. I saw the look on his face when he held his daughter. It’s the look all us fathers get. The look that says how much you love your child. As long as he keeps remembering that feeling, he’ll leave that woman and her child alone. At least I hope he does.
The next day at work, Jack stops by my office. He and Martha have been vacationing in Europe so I haven’t seen him for a couple weeks. I’ve missed him. He’s become somewhat of a father to me and I missed having him around.
He drops a box of cigars on my desk. “Welcome to fatherhood!” I stand up and go around my desk and he gives me a shoulder hug. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. We had a boy. His name is Garret.”
“Yes, I heard. Martha called Rachel as soon as we got home last night.”
“Oh, I didn’t know. She was asleep when I got home.”
“She said you came into the office last night. Why the hell were you in the office? You need to be home with your kid. These years go by fast, Pearce. You don’t want to miss them.”
“I wasn’t here. I was with Royce.”
“Royce? Why were you with Royce?”
I promised Royce I wouldn’t tell anyone about that woman, and I have to keep my word or he might do something to her. But I can at least tell Jack about Shelby.
“Do you have a minute?” I go past him and close the door, then come back around to face him.
He checks his watch. “I have a meeting in five, but go ahead.”
“Royce is abusing the associates again. One in particular.”
“Your wife’s friend?”
“Yes. You know her as Sophia but her name is Shelby.”
“And you’re sure it was Royce?”
“Yes. I asked Shelby if it was him and she wouldn’t answer but she didn’t deny it.”
He shakes his head. “Leave it alone. Don’t get involved in this, Pearce.”
“And just let him continue to abuse these women?”
“Is he doing it to all of them? Or just this one?”
“I don’t know. At the last Dunamis party, I looked at the other girls and I didn’t see any bruisings or scars on them so maybe it’s just Shelby. I saw her last week. She had marks along her wrists where he tied her up against her will. What can I do to stop him?”
“Nothing. Just let it go.”
“I’m not letting it go. Jack, you said you have things you could use to blackmail Royce. So do it. Make him stop.”
Jack sighs. “I can’t. And neither can you. He’s protected, Pearce. He’s their presidential pick, and even though he’s still a ways off from that, he shows more potential than any of the candidates we’ve had in the past. They need him, and Royce knows that. He can basically do whatever the hell he wants and they’re not going to punish him. And as for abusing an associate? The organization wouldn’t punish any of the members for that. They might be scolded and told not to do it, but nothing serious would happen. Those girls are on their own.”
“That’s just wrong,” I say, shaking my head.
“I’m sorry, but that’s just how it is. You can’t help this girl.”
“What if I made some kind of deal with the organization? A deal to get her out?”
“No. Stay the hell out of it. You’re already in trouble for marrying Rachel. Don’t go stirring up even more trouble by trying to save this girl. You’re a husband and a father, Pearce. Think about your family. You can’t put yourself at risk.”
He’s right, but I still want to do something to help Shelby. She’s a nice girl who was just trying to help pay her father’s medical bills, and now she’s trapped in this life forever.
“So when do I get to see this baby of yours?” Jack’s tone lightens and he smiles. “Martha’s already buying out the stores. Baby clothes. Toys. Stuffed animals. She’s considering your kid her grandkid, by the way, until we get our own.”
I laugh. “She doesn’t need to buy him anything. He’s only a week old. He’s too young for toys.”
“Doesn’t matter. She can’t help herself. So when can we come over?”
“I don’t know. Just have Martha call Rachel. The two of them can figure it out.”
“Will do. I need to get to that meeting.” He turns to leave, but then stops and turns back. “I’m happy for you, Pearce. You look good. Tired, but good. And happy.”
“I am.” I smile as I think of Garret. “You were right, Jack. He brings light to my darkness. Just like Rachel does. And now I’m more determined than ever to get him out of his obligation.”
He nods. “You will. But don’t worry about that right now. Just enjoy being a father. By the way, do your parents know about the baby?”
“Yes. My mother actually came over and helped. My father still isn’t speaking to me.”
“He’ll come around.” Jack opens the door. “I’ll see you later. Get out of here early today and go spend time with your family.”
After he leaves, I get back to work, but I keep getting sidetracked thinking about how to help Shelby. But there’s nothing I can do. Even if there was, I couldn’t do it, because like Jack said, it could get me in trouble and I can’t risk it. I’m a husband. A father. I have a family. And I can’t put them, or myself, at risk.
CHAPTER SIX
Six Weeks Later
RACHEL
“Martha, we’re running out of room,” I say, laughing, as she hauls in more toys for Garret. Stuffed bears, stuffed footballs, stuffed basketballs. She comes over a couple times a week and every time she comes, she brings more stuff.
“Would you just let me spoil him?” she asks as she drops a kiss on his cheek. I’m holding him and standing by the door, watching as she sets down yet another shopping bag. She comes back and smiles at him. “Look at you. You’re getting so big. Tell your mommy that Granny Martha can buy you whatever she wants.”
I reach over and hug her. “Thank you, Martha. It’s very sweet of you to do all this. I’m sure when he’s older, he will love all these toys.”
Garret is now seven weeks old, and those weeks flew by. Everyone told me this time would go fast and they’re completely right. Before I know it, Garret will no longer be a baby. I wish I could slow down time, but it just keeps going and my little boy just keeps getting bigger.
“I don’t know how you do it, Rachel,” she says, looking me up and down.
“Do what?”
“How do you manage to look so good just seven weeks after giving birth? You lost all the weight and you don’t even look tired.”
“Pearce helps out a lot at night so I can sleep, and as for the weight, just taking care of Garret is a workout. Plus, I’ve been swimming every day. Garret sits in his swing and watches. He loves being outside. We’ll be sad when the weather gets cold. But Pearce bought me a membership for the gym in the next town over, so Garret and I will be going there all winter to use the pool.”
“Are you going to teach him how to swim?” She sets her purse down on the couch.
“Definitely. I’ve already had him in the water a few times and he loved it. Who knows? Maybe he’ll be on a swim team someday, like his mom.” I kiss him. “Would you like that, Garret? To be a swimmer?”
The phone rings from the kitchen. “Martha, do you want to hold him while I get the phone?”
“Like you have to ask.” She races over and takes him from me. She really does treat him like he’s
her grandson. She spoils him rotten.
I pick up the phone. “Hello?”
“Rachel, this is Eleanor.”
“Hi, Eleanor. Are you coming over tomorrow?”
Eleanor comes over once a week now, usually on Fridays. I keep telling her she can come over more than that, but so far, she’s kept her visits to once a week, which is fine. It’s better than nothing. She’s much nicer to me now. That’s relative, of course. Most people would think she’s rude with some of the comments she makes, but compared to how she used to be, I consider her to be nice.
Holton still won’t talk to us or come see us. I don’t know if Holton and Eleanor are still fighting. They keep going to social functions together so it’s hard to say.
“I won’t be able to make it tomorrow,” she says, “but I was hoping the three of you could come here to the house for dinner on Sunday.”
“Oh. Okay,” I say, but then wonder if I should’ve agreed to it. I probably should’ve talked to Pearce first. He may not want to see his father.
“Cocktails will be at seven-thirty and dinner at eight.”
“Could it maybe be a little earlier? I don’t like to have the baby out that late.”
Actually, we’ve never taken Garret out at night at all. We’ve hardly taken him anywhere. We spend most of our time at home. He’s been to the grocery store and the park and around the neighborhood, but that’s about it.
“What time would work better for you?” She sounds annoyed.
“Could cocktails be at six-thirty and dinner at seven?”
“Holton and I generally don’t like to have dinner that early, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. We’ll plan on six-thirty.”
“Okay. We’ll see you then.”
“Oh, and please dress appropriately. No denim pants. And no shorts.”
I almost laugh. Did she really think I’d wear jeans or shorts? I know better than that. I’ve never been to their house, but knowing how formal they are, I would never show up in casual clothes.
“Goodbye, Rachel.”
“Goodbye, Eleanor.” I hang up just as Martha walks into the kitchen. She doesn’t have Garret and I panic. “Where’s the baby?”
Protecting Her Page 5
