Ill have the truth, damn you!
Frank hasnt touched me, not in the way you mean. But he has been good to us. When he finds out what youve done, hes not going to like it. Hell come, and
Rescue you again? He shook his head, laughed bitterly. No, darlin, not this time. Hell have to go through me first. And trust me, Franks not that stupid. Hell come, thats a given, but my son wont be going back to Santa Palazzo. And if you want to see him anytime soon, you wont be leaving, either.
Chin high, Rhea promised, I wont abandon my son, Joey.
Then youve just limited your options, darlin.
What did he mean by that? The moment Rhea asked herself the question, he slid his hands down her back and curved them around her small backside. He had money to burn, as the saying goes. If he wanted it, or thought he needed it, he likely already had it. She had nothing of value to offer him. Nothing but
He pressed himself against her, kept his eyes locked with hers. Maybe some kind of an agreement can be made that will satisfy both parties.
She knew what he was suggesting, and the idea of sleeping with Joey made Rheas knees weak. Three years ago the sex between them had been incredible. What would it be like now, bandage-free?
Bandage-free, but not scar-free.
Her voice half strength, shaky, Rhea said, Ill do anything, Joey. Anything but that. I wont sleep with you.
The idea of having her naked beneath him took Joeys aroused state and pushed him over the edge. Stone hard and angry as hell, he shoved Rhea away from him, then turned his back on her.
He had every right to take his child, dammit. Every right to want to hurt her. He was justified, dammit!
Then, why did he feel so damn guilty?
Because if she was telling him the truth, it changed everything. She was right about Stud Williams. If he had learned she was pregnant, he would have been just that much more determined. And she was right about Sophia, too. He had planned to marry herin the beginning.
Joey studied Rhea holding onto Niccolos bear. Her high-necked blue sweater matched her sapphire eyes. Her jacket was short and it sent his gaze down her long legs, then slowly back up. It was impossible to look at her lovely legs without remembering how damn good they had felt wrapped around his waist.
Lucky was right. Three years ago there was an unexplained beauty about Rhea. But today she wasnt just beautiful, she was sexy as hell. And that, coupled with the fact that she was the mother of his child and the woman he had never been able to forget, was keeping his chest tight, and the constriction inside his jeans at a choke-hold level. Hed hoped that after their meeting he would be able to set her aside and concentrate solely on his son. But the fact remained that he still wanted her. More than ever.
Where are your bags? he demanded.
His question must have surprised her, because she floundered for an answer. UhI have a
room at the Fairmont.
Joey strolled to his desk and pressed a button on his phone panel. Gates, get someone over to the Fairmont to pick up her bags. Capiche?
Right away, Mr. Masado.
From behind his desk, he went back to studying her heart-shaped face. She had always been too pale, but now her skin was a honey brown and the contrast with her white-blond hair was magnificent.
Her right eye had been patched shortly after hed met her. The doctors had given her less than a fifty-fifty chance of saving it. Now, the only evidence that shed experienced hell were two white lines that disappeared into the corner of her eye, and a thin scar on her lower lip.
He moved on to her lush mouth, remembering how the slowly healing cut had prevented him from kissing her with any amount of passion. But there was nothing stopping him from kissing her now.
Angry that she still owned a significant part of his body and his mind, that she likely always would, Joey said, Youll stay here at the Towers. But for now, you wont go near Niccolo.
He heard her suck in her breath, watched her lean over as if she was going to be sick. Her blue eyes were instantly liquid with tears.
Joey, please. Let me have five minutes with him. Please.
He turned his back on her, walked to the window and pulled open the blinds to let in the morning sun. Minutes passed before he turned to address her once more. Stud was arrested four days ago. It seems hes not only a wife beater but a murderer.
She gasped. He murdered someone?
Actually, three people. Remember when Tom Mallory was killed just before you left town? Stud was the one who shot him. Several weeks ago, he killed Milo Tandi and a dancer at the Shedd. I wont bore you with the details. I just thought youd feel better knowing that hes locked up.
He killed Tom? Why?
Because he thought you were sleeping with him. He also tried to kill Jacky and me for the same reason.
Oh God.
She was shaking. In spite of his attempt to remain indifferent, Joey said, Hes crazy, Rhea. The best place for Stud Williams is six feet under, but instead hes going to Joliet Prison. I guess thats the second best place for him.