“Go ahead,” he grins, and I saunter over to the pile.
Instantly, one present catches my attention and I pull it out of the stack of gifts. This one is wrapped in exquisite, champagne-colored paper and feels heavy in my arms.
I slowly unwrap the gift, allowing my mind to wander about what’s inside. Not that I want for anything, but it’s nice to know how glad everyone is about Tallulah’s arrival in this world. She’s so blessed to have so many people in love with her already.
The paper folds back to reveal a box. I lift the lid. Inside, a gorgeous necklace is laid out, one with angel wings in solid gold.
“This is beautiful,” I whisper. “Who is it from?”
The guard standing next to me coughs into his fist, his face reddening.
“Well?” Heath demands from his seat. “Answer her.”
“It’s from… It’s from Don Xavier, signora,” the kid gets out.
I let go of the gold chain as if it’s burned my fingers. “What is his gift doing here?”
“It was delivered this morning, signora,” the guard goes on. “I assumed, since he was her godfather-“
“You assumed wrong.” Heath’s muscular arm wraps around me, and we balance our daughter between us. As she coos at me, I can only manage a weak smile, waiting for my husband to go on. “That man is a lunatic. His gifts are not welcome here.”
“Yes, Don Heath,” the young guard mutters, apologizing profusely in Spanish.
“Is there a note with it?” I whisper as Heath turns back to face me.
“Does it matter?”
I nod. “I need to know, otherwise it’s going to haunt me for years.”
Heath hands me the baby and pulls out a card from the box that held the necklace. “Here it is.”
“Read it.”
He does, and his eyes grow wider, then angrier with every word. “Fuck this. I’m not doing what he says.”
“What does he want?”
“Read for yourself.”
“I can’t,” I get out. “Just tell me.”
I hold on to our daughter, inhaling her sweet baby powder scent. Already I can’t imagine losing her. What is Xavier forcing us into now?
“He… He wants to see Tallulah on every birthday.”
“Not happening,” I spit out, instantly feeling anger rising inside me. “He has no right to our daughter. Not for eighteen years.”
“I’m afraid we don’t have a choice,” Heath mutters. “He doesn’t give us one, and he says our disobedience will lead to him taking her sooner.”
I want to fucking cry.
Heath approaches me, gently wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “It’s only one day out of the whole years, and probably just for a couple of hours. It’s nothing.”
I nod, though I can tell how angry this makes us both. We’re doing our best as new parents and Xavier is using his position of power over us to extort us for more than we’d agreed upon.
“Look on the bright side,” Heath says softly. “He says this is the last thing he’ll ask of us.”
“I don’t know if I believe that. We should get it in writing.”
“I agree,” he nods. “I’ll make the call tomorrow. Make sure he doesn’t go back on his word. I’ll have the attorneys look it all over.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want to head inside? I know this was a lot to take. Maybe you should have some rest?”
“I can’t,” I whisper, kissing the top of Tallulah’s head.
Already I want to spend every second I have left with my daughter, knowing all too well she’s going to be leaving me sooner than I would like.
“We’ll make it through this,” Heath tells me. “I’ll fix it.”
I look deep into those charcoal eyes I fell in love with as a young woman. And once again, I inexplicably trust him. It’s as if he’s holding out a hand in the darkness, offering to pull me out and be my light. And I gratefully accept it.
Hand in hand, we walk back inside the house. I lay Tallulah to sleep in her crib, leaving her in the capable hands of a nanny we hired a few weeks ago. I want to spend as much time as possible with my daughter, but Heath wants me to himself, too—and he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Once Tallulah is sound asleep, I join Heath in our bedroom. Wordlessly, he pulls me into his embrace and holds me close. I listen to his heart beating and let myself settle. What is going to happen to Tallulah is awful, but I’m going to fight for my daughter every step of the way.
“If he hurts her,” I whisper. “If he marries her and ever hurts her, I’m going to rip his heart out through his throat with my bare hands.”
“So ferocious,” Heath says, nuzzling my neck. “You’ll have me to do that for you, Sunshine. Not that I doubt you’d defend our child with everything you have in you, like the lioness you are.”