Page 67 of Shame

Later that night five quick raps on the door announces a visitor. I’m not entirely surprised. I’m scared to death, though, that Salvatore will have learned of my whereabouts. Jane is out on the streets, so I force Alex to leave her customer hanging, causing a string of curses from both of them. I grab David and climb out on the fire escape, my heart in my throat.

When Elena sticks out her head through the window, I exhale with relief.

“Tell me you’re alone,” I whisper.

She reaches for me. “I’ll die keeping your secret. I’m so fed up with his behavior.”

“Gabriela?”

“He doesn’t know that she knows. Come inside, girl, before the two of you catch a cold.”

Alex has gone back to her john. I make coffee for Elena and myself, putting the deeply sleeping baby back on the bed.

“You’ve got some nerve, girl. He was furious.”

I can’t help grinning. “He was being an ass.”

“Anything else would have surprised me.”

“What’s he saying?”

“He wants to talk with you again. He wants to see the baby.”

“Oh fuck no. There’s no way I can protect myself. He can kill me, grab David and then kill Lucas.”

“I know.” She grimaces and stands, pacing the little kitchen. Stopping, she regards me. “It’s David now? You named him?”

The dull ache in my chest that seems to be near-constant increases. “Got old calling him ‘it’,” I mutter, not daring to meet her clever gaze. When she doesn't say anything I look up.

She nods slowly, her eyes unreadable. “All right. Let’s set up a call. Skype.”

“I’m not using my phone,” I say quickly.

She picks up her own. “No problem.”

“Now?” I nearly shriek. “I’m not ready.”

“Go get the boy. You’ll never be ready.”

I swallow against the lump in my throat as I, filled with dread, go to get him.

“Here she comes.”

I freeze. She’s already on the phone with him. His all too well-known face fills the little screen. I stare at him in horror.

“Pregnancy has treated you well. You look radiant.”

“Stop with the compliments,” I sneer. “You have no idea how fake you sound.”

Out of sight from Salvatore, Elena grins, then she walks closer, holding the phone closer to David. I pull the blanket to the side, revealing the chubby little Salvatore copy.

No one speaks for a long time.

“Kudos for a clever cunt,” he finally says. His crude words fitting him much better than the sugary ones from before.

I stay quiet and Elena takes back the call. “Convinced?”

“Enough.”

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