Chapter 87 #87
Chapter 87
~Dante's pov~
The call comes through while I'm reviewing contracts in my office. It's the private investigator. He better has something good this time.
"Mr. Belmar?" The investigator's voice is clipped, professional. "I have the information you requested."
I lean back in my chair. "Go ahead."
"The person that has been sending the coded message was identified as Jack Morrison.”
"Jack." The name comes out like poison. My hand tightens on the phone. "You're sure?"
"Positive. Ran all the necessary security encryption to identify. It's definitely him."
"Send me everything you have." I end the call before he can respond.
Jack? But what's his deal?
I pull up his number, It rings twice before he answers.
"Dante Belmar." His voice is smooth, amused. "Didn't expect to hear from you."
"Stay away from my family." My voice is ice. "Stay away from Shailyn."
He laughs. Actually laughs. "Or what? You're threatening me?
"I'm not playing games, Jack."
"Neither am I." His tone shifts, colder now. "You really think you can keep her in the dark forever? That's adorable. But you should also focus on finding some certain truths that's right under your nose."
My heart hammers against my ribs. I ignore the other part of what he said. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't I?" There's a smile in his voice. "I know exactly what I'm talking about. And soon, so will Shailyn. I'm going to tell her everything, Dante. Every. Single. Thing."
"You touch her, you go near her again, and I'll…"
"You'll what? Ruin me?" He laughs again, sharp and bitter. "You know what? I can ruin you too. Tell her the truth about who you really are, what you've done. Wonder how she'll feel about carrying your baby then."
"Jack…"
"She deserves to know. And I'm going to make sure she does."
The line goes dead.
I sit there, phone pressed to my ear, rage burning through every nerve. He wouldn't. He couldn't.
I grab my keys and jacket, barely registering the goodbye from my assistant as I storm out. The drive home is a blur, red lights, other cars, none of it mattered. All I can think about is Jack's voice, his threat, the way everything I've built could come crashing down.
Shailyn can never know. She can't. It would destroy everything.
\---
I find her in our bedroom, folding laundry on the bed. She looks up when I walk in, smile already forming.
"Hey, you're home early. I thought you'd be…"
I cross to her in three strides and kiss her. Hard. My hands grip her waist, pulling her against me.
She makes a surprised sound, hands coming up to my chest. "Dante…"
I kiss her harder, rougher, needing to feel her, to know she's mine. My fingers tangle in her hair, tilting her head back.
"Dante!" She pushes against me, and there's alarm in her voice now. "Stop…"
I don't stop. Can't stop. My mouth moves to her neck, teeth grazing her skin.
"Dante!" She shoves me, hard enough that I stumble back. "What the hell?"
I stare at her, chest heaving, and suddenly I see her face, flushed, eyes wide with something that looks like fear. The rage drains out of me in an instant, replaced by horror.
"Shailyn, I.. "
"What is wrong with you?" She touches her lips, and I realize they're red, probably bruised.
"I'm sorry." The words feel inadequate. "I'm sorry, I just…”
"Just what?" She's backing away from me now, arms wrapped around herself. "You can't just grab me like that."
"I know. God, I know." I run my hands through my hair, trying to find the words. "I just wanted everyone to know you're mine. That you're my wife."
"Everyone knows I'm your wife, Dante. I'm wearing your ring. I'm pregnant with your baby."
"I know, but…" I sit on the edge of the bed, head in my hands, I lied to her. "There's so much stress right now. Work, the baby coming, Christmas, everything. I just needed to feel close to you."
"That's not how you do it." Her voice is softer now, but still wary. "You scared me."
"I'm sorry." I look up at her, and I let all the fear, all the panic about Jack show on my face. "I'm so sorry, Shay. I would never hurt you. You know that, right?"
She's quiet for a long moment, studying me. Then she comes closer, sitting on the bed beside me but not touching. "What's really going on? This isn't just about work stress."
"It is. The project is giving me hell, the timeline's all messed up—"
"Dante."
I close my eyes. "I'm just overwhelmed. And I took it out on you, and that's not fair. I'm sorry."
"You keep saying that."
"Because I mean it." I reach for her hand, relieved when she doesn't pull away. "You're everything to me. You and the babies. I can't lose you."
"You're not going to lose me." But there's something uncertain in her voice.
"Good. That's good." I squeeze her hand, maybe a little too tight. "Because I need you. We need each other."
She nods slowly, and I think maybe I've smoothed it over. Maybe she'll let this go.
Then she speaks, and my blood runs cold.
"Dante, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why are you so afraid of my memories coming back?"
I go completely still. "What?"
"My memories. From before the accident." She's watching me carefully now. "You always change the subject when I bring it up. You tell me not to push myself, not to stress about it."
"I just don't want you to hurt yourself—"
"Everyone seems afraid of it." She pulls her hand from mine. "Why? What's in those memories that everyone's so worried about?"
"Nothing. There's nothing."
"Then why do you look terrified right now?"
"I'm not…" I stand up, needed to think of a convincing lie fast. "You had a traumatic accident, Shailyn. The doctors said forcing memories could cause psychological damage. I'm just trying to protect you."
"From what?"
"From yourself. From pushing too hard and making things worse."
She's quiet, and I can see her mind working, piecing things together. "There's something you're not telling me."
"There's nothing."
"Dante." She stands too, facing me. "I'm your wife. I'm about to have your children. Don't I deserve honesty?"
"You have my honesty." The lie tastes bitter. "I'm telling you everything."
"Are you?"
We stand there, locked in a stare that feels like a challenge. My phone buzzes in my pocket, probably the investigator with more information about Jack. I ignore it.
"I love you," I say finally. "Everything I do is to protect you. To protect our family. You have to trust that."
"I do trust you," she says. I couldn't read her mind. "I just don't understand why everyone's so scared of what I might remember."
"Because we love you. Because we don't want you hurt."
“I love you too Dante. I think I'll let this memory thing go by. I'm already so overwhelmed, I just want to enjoy everything with you.” She said.
Thank Goodness. I'm out of that one.
“I love you so much Shailyn. I'm sorry for today.” I said.
She hugged me back tightly.
With thoughts running to my mind, I must never loose Shailyn.