Page 61 of Forbidden Pregnancy
“I will never allow anyone to hurt you like that again.”
“Without committing a crime.”
“I said what I said, Myra,” he says. “We never have to talk about this again.Ever.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Michael
Our new home is perfect for starting a family. I don’t care who knows I’m coming back to Buffalo. If my father or anyone he sends after me comes my way, then I’ll be ready. The mansion I bought is an old carriage house made out of gorgeous red brick with two white columns, close to a lake. It’s a pretty old house with a baby room off the master bedroom and a fireplace in every room.
The master bedroom is the best part – a king-sized bed where I can imagine spending cold New York winter nights snuggled up next to Myra with our beautiful baby in the next room. The new house is a five bedroom, with an en-suite bathroom for all the bedrooms and a powder room downstairs. CC’s bedroom – the largest of the guest bedrooms – is situated downstairs, directly beneath the baby’s room.
For now, she stays with me. My sister wants redemption for dragging Myra into this situation and I have the perfect job for her.Bait.
The first night we move in, I spend all night awake. I promised Myra that nothing would happen to her if she came back to Buffalo. To make sure that happens, I have to make some sacrifices. The first sacrifice will be my sleep and mentalwellness until I complete what very well might be my last mission.
Leandro won’t forgive this. He might allow me to live based on the details of this family affair, but I can’t expect him to ever trust me again. Myra sleeps peacefully – at least I think she does – and I watch her stomach rise and fall as she sleeps with intrigue.
What would life have been like if we hadn’t broken up twelve years ago? How many children did my father’s actions cost me? My rage becomes so impossible to contain that I have to go outside for a cigarette. I face the impenetrably cold Buffalo night with nothing but a plain t-shirt on, a pair of jeans, and a cigarette. He might come any time. Tonight? Tomorrow? The day after? I have to act quickly.
But how can I find out who attacked my girlfriend twelve years ago? It couldn’t have been Peter. He was in Italy – his one year in boarding school. Renzo would have been my next guess, but he was still a child.
Luigi would have never obeyed my father’s commands and I don’t think Leandro ordered this attack on Myra. It doesn’t make sense.The Corsini Family…
When the sun cracks over the horizon, CC exits the side entrance into the carriage house, where she finds me leaning against one of the wide pillars, smoking my fifth cigarette. I took a break from smoking to gamble on a few Australian ostrich races. CC has a blanket wrapped around her shoulders over pajamas.
Puffs of white clouds exit her lips with each exhale. It’s cold out and I only notice because of CC. My body has been numb for hours. I’m wide awake, and Myra’s safe.
“How long have you been out there?”
“A while.”
“She’s still asleep upstairs. I can make you breakfast.”
I don’t want to look at her. But I do. I have always had a troubled relationship with Cosima. I was never kind or gentle enough. I made her into the kind of person she has become. I have to take some of the blame for what she did to Myra.
“Don’t trouble yourself.”
I’m not hungry – for the first time in ages. CC touches my back. I have to struggle not to flinch. Her hand is surprisingly warm.
“You didn’t have to come back here.”
“I did.”
“You’re going to do something crazy.”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to help you.”
I look down at CC, who seems stubbornly motivated to help – or something. I don’t know what to make of her choices now. The only thing I know for certain is that she loves Myra as much as I do.
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“But I can volunteer.”
“You can’t go to prison.”
