Page 77 of Diamond Devil

“You’re not going down there?” Before I can answer, understanding dawns on her at the same time the stone in my gut sinks lower. “Ahh. Something happened between the two of you.”

“Nothing happened. She’s just stubborn and arrogant.”

“Hm. Reminds me of someone I know.”

I narrow my eyes. “Go and check in with Dima. I’ll handle this.”

“Good luck.”

I head straight for the security gate at the bottom of the driveway. As I approach, I see Taylor facing five of my men with her back to me and a packed bag at her feet. They’ve formed a loose semi-circle around her, fidgeting uncomfortably in place while they itch for guns they know far better than to use.

Taylor doesn’t notice me coming. “…This is abduction! I hope you realize that!” she shrieks. “I can have you all arrested!”

“You can try.”

She spins around, her face flaring up with renewed fury. “You. Stay away from me.”

I stop a few yards short to give her the space she wants. “Get back in the house, Taylor.”

“In your fucking dreams.”

I glance over her head at my men. “At ease, gentleman. You’re excused. I’ll take it from here.”

The men leave without bothering to hide their relief, and I turn to Taylor impatiently. “I understand why you want to leave. And believe me, I’m counting down the days until that will happen. But it’s not today.”

“I have an apartment I need to get back to.”

“It’ll keep.”

She grinds her teeth together. “I don’t know why I stayed here as long as I have. Chalk it up to shock. I was reeling from what happened to Celine and Dad. And then…Mom.” She takes a deep breath. “I should have left that same day. You have no right to keep me here.”

“Don’t make this unpleasant,” I warn, taking a step forward. She moves back, keeping the same distance between us. A fucked-up tango between two people who don’t belong anywhere near each other. But who are stuck together nonetheless.

“Are you trying to tell me that I’m a prisoner here?”

“I’m trying to tell you that it’s not safe for you out there.”

“What do you care?”

“I care because you’re carrying my baby, and that is my concern. For as long as you’re pregnant, that makesyoumy concern as well.”

She looks around in frustration, her shoulders dropping. She’s tired, that much is obvious, but it’s not in her nature to admit defeat.

Another thing that we have in common.

“No one knows I’m pregnant.”

“It’s only a matter of time.”

“No it’s not,” she argues. “But it will be if I stay with you.”

She has a point there, but it’s not one that I’m willing to entertain. The idea of watching her stroll out from under my protection feels unnatural somehow. Like losing a limb. I tell myself it’s about the fact that she’ll be walking out with my baby, but I’m not so sure that’s the whole reason.

I just can’t afford to examine any other possibilities.

“The Bellasios managed to not only find out about my engagement to your sister in record time; they also attacked my private home in order to abduct her. I’m not taking chances.”

She shakes her head in disgust and resignation. “So what’s the plan then?”

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