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“What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer me. With one hand, he balled my shirt up just short of my breasts, and then with the other one, he touched my stomach. Gently.
“It doesn’t seem real.” He was whispering, but it didn’t seem that he was talking to me. It seemed as if he were talking to himself.
Then he took both hands and cupped my belly as best as he could on each side. “You should have told me.”
His voice was soft, but I heard regret in it.
Did he regret his choices? Did he regret forcing me to marry him? The real question was,did he regret it enough to let me go?
I got my answer when his expression became closed off, and he physically moved himself away from me, as if the distance would also grant him some emotional space.
It worked. The gentleness in his eyes had disappeared. The few inches could have been a continent away. It was as if that tender moment between us hadn’t happened.
“I’ll let you get dressed on your own, but I will watch to make sure you don’t hurt yourself.”
“You don’t want to?—”
“What made you think this was a democracy? I’ve already said what I intend to do.”
I hated it when he spoke to me like that. My eyes flew to his. I wanted to yell at him, punch him even, but instead, I kept the baby on my mind.
Silently, I put on the rest of my clothes while he stood within arm’s distance, just watching me. It was odd, him looking at me as I slid on my panties and stepped into my jeans.
I wondered how many times he’d seen me undress on camera. Was it different watching me when I could see him?
“Let me help you with your shoes,” he said, bringing them to me so that I could slip them on. He steadied me when I felt a little wobbly.
“Hmmm…maybe we should reconsider leaving. I’m sure they wouldn’t say no if I requested more observation time?—”
This was confusing. Now he was concerned about me again? He went from being a dictator to actually listening.
It was difficult to keep up with his moods. Either way, I hated hospitals, and I wanted to leave. “Please don’t. I want to leave. I’m ready.”
What felt like just moments later, I was being escorted to a car in front of the hospital, followed closely by Dario and several of his men who he was talking to in a low voice.
As I slid into the car, I heard one of his security details say, “The doctor has been located.”
“Bring him in. You know what to do.” The rest of the conversation, I couldn’t hear. He closed the door and stood outside until he was done.
When he climbed in the car, he seemed so calm and collected. I held back tears. What had I done? What would they do to Dr. Kali?
I bit my lip. Whatever they did, it would be my fault.
I really hoped they wouldn’t kill him. I started praying that they wouldn’t. But as I looked at Dario and he held my eyes, his eyes steely and unyielding, I knew that he was capable of anything.
My heart plummeted. I’d probably gotten the only person in the world who could help me killed.
My body sank in the seat, feeling heavier. Dr. Kali…was he gone?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Dario
She lookedat me in the back of the car like I was some sort of devil incarnate.
It was as if all the time we spent together where I tried to be gentle and kind was already erased from her memory. She didn’t trust me again. And part of her looked afraid…and disgusted.