Page 83 of Revenge Vows

I swallow. “I can’t kill Antonio anymore.”

“Well, good for you—or sad that you can’t do that. I don’t give a fuck—nice doing business with you.”

The line clicks abruptly, and there is silence.

I throw the phone against the wall, and it smashes into pieces.

“Laura, mom and I,” I whisper to myself. “My real family.”

I begin to feel a tingle in my stomach, and I rush into the bathroom just in time to barf.

I fall weakly to the floor with my head resting on the edge of the toilet. I fall into a restless slumber.

A sharp gasp finds its way into my subconscious and drags me into wakefulness.

I open my eyes to see Laura looking down at me in horror.

I shoot up and place my hands over her mouth before she has the chance to make more noise.

“You’ll bring Mom down here!” I whisper.

I wait for her to relax when I finally move my hands.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” She asks.

“No cursing.”

“You passed out, Alyssa!”

“I just fell asleep!”

“There is no way. Are you pregnant or something?”

I swallow and look away.

Horror reads in her eyes, and she clasps her own hands over her mouth this time. “You—you’re pregnant.”

“You can’t tell Mom.”

She looks at me helplessly. “Alyssa—”

“I know you have so many questions, and I owe you and Mom answers. I promise I’ll do all that when I return.”

She turns as I walk out of the bathroom.

“And where are you going?”

I inhale. “I need to speak to the father of my child.”

And like a calf going back to its slaughter, I get dressed. Laura reluctantly helps me to pack a small bag of clothes, and I slip out of the house.

My destination?

Back to Antonio.

I feel like I’m moving through a dream as I see the gigantic gates that held me hostage.

I pay the Uber driver, and I walk up to the gates.

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