Page 59 of The Devil's Secret

When I see his little nose, that tiny hand bunched up into a fist, like he’s ready for the fight that’s about to be his, I slap a hand across my mouth, weeping for the days we’ll never get.

I have a son. My son.How could I ever let you go?

Robby. That’s what I’m gonna call you in honor of your grandma.

Her middle name was Roberta. It feels right.

I’ll protect you,I vow right then and there.I’ll do everything I can for you, even when I’m not there to do it. I’m sorry for this. I’m sorry I’ve ruined your life. I didn’t mean to.The tears fall silently as I stare up at his angelic face.It’s all my fault, my sweet baby. You don’t deserve this.

“Do you want to hold him?” Angelina asks, gazing between him and me, a grin etched on her face.

I nod, my breaths shuddering from the tears, my mouth curving into a smile, my heart beating so quickly, needing him against me forever.

I stretch out my hands for him, for that little boy who made me a mother, my heart never feeling so much love in my whole life.

But just as she’s about to hand him over, a door pushes open. I widen my gaze, inhales fighting the exhales as I see him coming, the eyes of hell, the face of demons. The father of my child.

“Give him to me,” Agnelo roars as he marches up to my beautiful boy, grabbing him away from Angelina, her expression as horrified as mine.

“No!” I lift myself up in the bed, ignoring the burning pain as I try to get off. “Please don’t take him! I’ll do whatever you want!” I swing my feet onto the floor, fighting to stand, holding on to the mattress as I do. “Just give him to me, please!” I wail, hoping for an ounce of his sympathy, but he doesn’t even look at me, staring down at my son like he’s holding a piece of junk.

Angelina walks up to him, rubbing the baby’s head. “Agnelo, let the girl hold him at least. Babies need skin to skin.”

He glares up at her with a snarl. “Shut the fuck up. This is my kid. She’s nothing.”

His eyes focus on me as he steps close, as I stand there, helplessly watching him with my son. “You’re never gonna hold him. He’s mine now. Just like you are.”

“No.” I violently shake my head, the wails coming from my mouth sounding inhuman. This is what hell looks like. Feels like. This is agony.

Arms are around me, holding tight, but I barely feel them. “Shh, I’ve got you,” Angelina whispers. “This isn’t right,” she tells him.

“Wh-who will care for him?” I sniffle, pushing away from her. “How do I know you’ll keep him alive? What reassurances will I get that he won’t be harmed?”

“Reassurances?” he howls. “Is that some kind of fucking threat? Because if it is…” His hand reaches into his pocket and he retrieves a gun. “I’ll kill him right now.” He raises the barrel to Robby’s little head.

I gasp, panting wide-eyed, hands reaching out for my boy, but Agnelo moves back so I can’t even touch him. “No, no, no. I—I wasn’t threatening you! Don’t kill him, please!”

“Oh my God, this isn’t necessary,” Angelina says. “How about you give me the baby before you—”

Pop.

It takes my brain a second to register what just happened, my ears buzzing. She falls onto the hard wooden floor, a bullet hole at her forehead, blood oozing out from around her as she lies there dead, staring at the white, unassuming ceiling above.

“See how easy that was?”

He’s talking but I can barely hear him.

“That’s how easily I can kill this kid of yours.”

That gets me to pay attention. My son lies still in the arms of a monster, not realizing the danger he’s in.

“Yes, I—okay. I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt him!”

“Get yourself cleaned up. The men will pick you up in thirty.”

He turns away, taking my entire heart and soul with him, every step he takes slicing at the wound that’ll never close.

“Robby!” I call. “His name is Robby.”

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