Page 30 of Black Mark's Heart

"As if I would do that to her," Warren scolded. "I was there, Zander, when she came to tell him. I saw how heartbroken she was. I totally understand why she decided not to tell him."

Zander exhaled, "I'm sorry, Warren. Mora needed someone she could trust."

"Boys." Rebecca stepped into the apartment. "We have an hour until Dare gets back from his event. Can I talk to Mora now?"

Zander gave Rebecca a hug and directed her down to the lounge room. Rebecca walked towards me. She pulled me into a tight hug then quickly stepped back again.

I sat down, unsure what to say or do. Rebecca followed suit. Zander and Warren took the seats across from us.

"First off, I'd like to know a few things," Rebecca started. "You're sure it's Dare's child?"

"I hadn't been with anyone else from September last year until last month," I informed her.

Rebecca paused, "You have a new man in your life?" She looked nervously at Zander.

I shook my head. "My ex. We have a casual arrangement about sex. There's no one else."

"Do you ever plan to tell Dare?" Rebecca asked.

I swallowed. "That's sort of open-ended right now. If something happens which requires him knowing, or if his son asks to meet him, then I will tell him."

Rebecca nodded. "Name?"

"I haven't chosen names yet, but he will carry the Rafal surname. Dad insisted," I advised her.

"Does everyone know but me?" Warren asked.

"Well, not Darius," I smiled.

Warren shook his head, "You were at the store with Cassandra today, weren't you? They came to your house warming, so I'm betting even Jeremy knows."

"Jeremy knew before my dad or Alex," I told Warren. "It's why he gave me the job. He recognized my pregnancy when the morning sickness kicked in and called me on it."

"Argh. Morning sickness is a bitch, isn't it?" Rebecca frowned.

"Try being on tour for six weeks with it," I grumbled. "The only time I wasn't vomiting was when I was on stage performing." Or sleeping with Darius, but I wasn't about to admit that.

Warren looked at me. "He went to see you perform in Glasgow. Did you see him?"

Everyone was looking at me. I nodded. "Yeah, he was there. Jeremy brought him backstage. I could have throttled him."

Rebecca took my hand. "Jacob." I looked at her, confused. "It's his favorite boy’s name. He told me I couldn't use it, because if he ever had a son, that's what he wanted to call him."

I smiled and squeezed her hand, placing my hand to my stomach. "What do you think? Jacob Blake Rafal?" The baby gave its hardest kick yet. "That's either a hell yes or a God no," I laughed. I looked at Rebecca and swallowed my pride. "I need a favor."

"Just ask."

"I'd like a recording of Darius, preferably reading a kid’s bedtime story, singing a lullaby, or something like that," I requested. "I want Jacob to grow up hearing his father's voice, so when he meets him, he recognizes him."

Rebecca smiled. "He reads to Nigel and Sienna all the time when visiting, so that will be easy."

"I can probably get him singing in the shower at the gym, or playing his piano," Warren offered.

I sat up straight. "I never got to hear him play."

Warren smiled sadly. "He misses hearing you play. He's been nagging Jeremy to give him a recording of you at the studio so he can listen to that."

I laughed, "Jeremy has contracted me to do a tribute to Jacqueline Du Pre. I couldn't understand why he would choose me to do the concert, but I think I do now."

"When is it?" Warren asked, worried. "He's keeping a track of any planned concerts you might be performing at so he can go."

I shook my head. "I'm not doing any live performances until December now."

"Well, expect him to turn up," Warren warned.

"He'll be one of several hundred, Warren. I probably won't see him anyway," I allayed, but in the back of my mind, I expected Darius to make sure I saw him if he could help it.

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