His Dirty Promises (Dirty Billionaires 2)

I’m glad we’re thinking along the same lines, our kids having a full-time parent always there for them. “I want our kids to have someone at home too, but it doesn’t have to be you. I’m more than happy to stay home. I’ve already worked more than my fill. We have enough money neither of us ever has to work again, and we can still keep our children’s children in this lifestyle. Che will understand, we’re both looking through our people to select a right hand we can depend on so we aren’t working as many hours. He wants to only work three days a week at the office and the rest from home. I was thinking of doing the same thing, but if you want to keep working I can stay home.”

Damn, the smile on her face has my cock hard. Her arms go around my neck. “You are too damn sweet. You make my teeth ache. I want to stay home, I love the idea of you being home more though. Something tells me your kids are going to be a handful, so I’ll need all the help I can get.”

“If you change your mind anytime, whether it’s once the baby comes or a year or two down the line, say the word. Nothing is set is stone for us.”

“Duly noted. Now it’s time for you take me to bed and make it up to me after all this shopping you did today without me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

***

Bethany

Ugh, this wedding is giving me a headache. The cloying scent of stargazer lilies numbering in the hundreds is overpowering. This chair is killing my back.

I shift to ease the ache. Alicia’s eyes meet mine and we both sigh. It’s almost eight o’clock, the church ceremony was at one, the reception here at the Drake Hotel started at two, as far as I’m concerned we’ve put in our time. I look around for Dante, he’s already at my back.

“You’re ready to go.” It’s not a question.

“Please.” I look to see Cesare is helping Alicia out of her chair.

Dante’s arm is around me. “They’re leaving right now. Let’s get out of here.”

“They aren’t doing the seeing off thing?”

Dante shakes his head. “I’ll explain in the car.”

Outside the hotel Alicia and I hug our goodbyes. Dante has the door open for me. I’m barely inside before he’s getting in beside me. “What’s going on?”

“Sheila pitched a fit because of some stupid shit the caterer did. She fucking threw a plate at the woman, barely missed her. Enzo and her got into it.”

I close my eyes as I slump into my seat. Dang my back is still hurting. At least it’s a dull ache now. “Poor Enzo, this is already a disaster.”

“You okay, sweetheart?”

“Just a headache from those lilies and my back from the chair.”

“Maybe an early night tonight?”

“Yes, please.”

I’m crashing hard; I come awake as Dante puts me on our bed. But can’t stay awake while he undresses me.

It’s a dream, I know it’s a dream, only it feels so real. Wake up, wake up. I come awake with a gasp. I sit up and yank the covers off me. Oh god oh god. There’s no thought, I scream for Dante.

“What? What’s the matter—oh god.” He sees the blood too.

***

Dante

Bethany shifts in her sleep, her forehead knotted with tension. The nurse promised the shot would help Bethany rest the way she needed to. At first Bethany didn’t want the shot, but she gave in as her sobs shook her body until she hurt. While Bethany might be asleep, she’s not resting. Her hand clutches mine even in sleep. Studying her hand in mine, I trace the fine veins along the back of her hand, remembering the nurse having a hard time finding a vein for the IV to combat the dehydration Bethany was experiencing.

I hope to hell she forgives me for urging her to have the emergency room doctor do the D&C and not taking her home when it was over like she asked. There was so much blood and it wouldn’t stop, and they wanted to send us home like that? Then the fucker tried to tell me it could take a week for everything to pass out of Bethany and to collect it to take it in to the doctor. What the fucking hell kind of evil bastards were these people?

No, bullshit. I wasn’t going to allow Bethany to suffer through all of that. He offered the D&C to Bethany, and when he said it, it was as if he struck her. I hated myself for even pressing it. But when I warned her it could take another week for the bleeding to stop, she clung even tighter to me and said yes.

I’m aware the doctor and nurses were annoyed with me for not leaving Bethany’s side, but I don’t give a fuck. She needed me; I’m not going anywhere. My phone buzzes in my pocket, it’s the front desk. They are confirming the okay for the store delivery men to pick up the stroller and the crib Bethany hated. Anguish fills me all over again. I respond yes, it’s okay.