She froze, having no idea what to do until Dr. DeMarco pointed at her chair. “Take your seat.”
She sat down, folding her hands in her lap, but wished she had left anyway when Dominic started the conversation. “First of all, Dad, what’s your problem with Haven?”
“Why do you think I have a problem with her?” Dr. DeMarco asked.
Carmine scoffed. “Maybe because you fucking threaten her?”
“Calm the hell down,” Dominic said, pointing at his brother. “There’s no yelling in my sit-downs. Let me handle this.”
Carmine grumbled under his breath and crossed his arms over his chest.
“That’s better.” Dominic turned to their father. “Maybe because you fucking threaten her?”
Dr. DeMarco shook his head. “I have nothing against the child.”
“But you said . . .” she started before she realized what she was doing. She shut her mouth, nervous she had spoken out.
“I said what?” Dr. DeMarco raised his eyebrows. “Be out with it.”
“You told those men I wasn’t worth it.”
“You’re right, and I won’t take it back. Doesn’t mean I have a problem with you, though.”
Carmine fidgeted, fighting to remain silent, while Dominic continued with his questions. “So if you don’t hate her, what’s the big deal about her and Carmine being together?”
“Because there are complications they don’t understand,” he said. “I’ve told them they can be together for the time being.”
Carmine couldn’t restrain himself any longer. “Can’t you see how unfair that is? We can be together ‘for the time being’? What the hell does that mean?”
“It means until I figure things out, I can’t give you any guarantees on the future.”
“What things?” Carmine asked. Dr. DeMarco didn’t answer. “Fine, I’ll figure it out myself. Just tell me who she’s related to.”
“I can’t. If they find out you know, you’re going to get hurt. I need you to understand that.”
“What’s the big deal?” Dominic asked. “She has family . . . isn’t that good?”
“No, it’s not. He’ll expect her to be handed over, and she wouldn’t be safe with him.”
Haven’s mind furiously tried to work through what he’d said.
“No one’s taking her,” Carmine said. “I won’t let it happen.”
“You think I don’t know that? You’ll follow right behind, and I can’t have you both being taken down. I’m trying to find a way out where you walk away from this, but you’re making it difficult.”
“Do I know him?” Carmine asked.
“I can’t answer that.”
He laughed dryly. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Mind your own business!” Dr. DeMarco said. “You have to forget all about the DNA test!”
“Why can’t you?” Dominic asked. “Forget about it. Let the information die.”
“Because three can keep a secret if two of them are dead. That’s why. People know. You have no idea the dilemma this has put me in, how hard it has made helping her. Carmine has no regard for his own life. He made that clear again last night. Threatening him won’t affect him, but threatening her will. And it’s not an idle threat. If it comes down to it, I’ll choose my blood.”
Haven’s heart thumped hard in her chest as Carmine snapped. “You’re stupid if you think I’d just move on with my life if something happened to her.”