CHAPTER 11
DELLA
“I have a child and you didn’t tell me?” he spits the words out like they taste bitter.
“What?” I hiss, not believing what I’m hearing right now. “Why didn’t I tell you? Are you being serious right now? Haven’t you heard a word I’ve been saying?”
He stares darkly at me. Suddenly he moves, and he throws the glass against the wall. The shattering sound echoes through the room along with my thundering heart.
I forgot how cruel Carter can be. He stalks up and down, every moment he makes is filled with rage.
Fear slithers down my spine as I slowly get up. When he doesn’t make a move for me, I run for the door. I yank it open, but Carter is right behind me. His arms darts past me and he slams the door shut. I press up against the wood closing my eyes. Why did I think I would actually be able to have a normal conversation with him?
Keeping his hand against the door, he presses his chest against my back. I can feel every hard muscle and I flatten my body against the door. I feel his hot breath on my neck and it sends shivers racing through my body.
Even after all these years, my body has a mind of its own when it comes to Carter Hayes.
“I’m not going to hurt you. Let’s both just calm down, okay,” he whispers.
I nod quickly. He moves back and I turn around so I can at least see him.
“I’m sorry I threw the glass. I’m just so fucking upset right now.” He looks at me and I nod again. “Don’t look at me like that, Della. I’ve never hit a woman and I won’t start now. I just want clarity on what the hell happened four years ago.”
“Okay,” I say but I don’t move away from the door. He has done nothing to earn my trust.
“You said that you tried to contact me?” He genuinely looks confused. Could it be that he didn’t know anything about the letters?
“Yes, the letters that Charlotte responded to. I really tried to get in touch with you. I wanted you in Daniele’s life. She needs a father. I’d never be that cruel to my own daughter to keep her from her dad.”
“I can’t wrap my mind around Charlotte being involved. She’s just my PA. Why the hell would she keep news of my own child from me?”
I shake my head. That’s something I can’t answer for him. He sits down on the couch and I decide to cautiously approach him. When he seems calm, I sit down next to him.
My eyes wander over his strong features. He was attractive in college, but now that he’s become a man and a powerful CEO, he’s disturbingly handsome.
“She’s three?” he asks. When he makes eye contact a piece of my heart breaks for him. Tears are shimmering in his eyes. I’ve never seen Carter so vulnerable.
“Yes. She’s healthy, Carter. I really did my best. She never went without food and I always made sure she was warm. I promise.”
He grinds his teeth and the action makes me sit back.
He reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze, then he breaks down right before my eyes. I place my other hand over his, not knowing what I can do to make this easier for him. I can’t imagine how he must feel.
He covers his eyes with his other hand and cries. I can’t keep my own tears back as I scoot closer to him. I pull him into my arms and hold him. I would also be heartbroken if I found out that I missed the first three years of my daughter’s life.
Tears roll down my cheeks as all the heartache of the past few years overwhelms me.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he whispers when he’s regained some control over his emotions. “I want to see her, Della. I want to hold my little girl.”
“You will. It’s late and she’s sleeping. If you come over tomorrow morning before the diner opens, you can spend some time with her.”
“I have to contact my attorney.”
His words shock me. I didn’t expect to hear them. I thought we would work things out between ourselves. I was stupid.
I get up and wring my hands nervously. “I can’t fight you for her, Carter. You know that. I’m all she’s known the past three years. Don’t do that to our little girl. I’m her mother. Please, don’t take her from me.” I gasp for air as a sob rips through me. I’ll die. I’ll just cease to exist.
When he just stares at me, I start to ramble. “She’s only three, Carter. Her biggest achievement is when she sleeps through the night without wetting the bed.”
He stands up and takes hold of my shoulders. “I’m not going to take her from you, Della. I’m not a fucking monster and I’m not the enemy. I need my attorney so he can get a DNA test done. He needs to get behind what role Charlotte plays in all of this. I need to make sure Daniele is taken care of, should something happen to me. I’m just going to do for her what my dad did for me. It’s all things I have to think of right now.”
I focus on one thing only. “You’re not taking her from me?”
“No. We’ll share custody. She needs both of us.”
I start to laugh and throw my arms around his neck. I give him a tight hug but soon my laughter turns into a sobbing mess. His arms fold around me and he holds me tightly to him as I cry my heart out against his chest.
“Thank you,” I manage to whisper.
He pulls back and frames my face with his strong hands. “Thank you,” he says with tears shimmering in his eyes. “You gave me a child, Della.” He presses a kiss to my forehead.
It’s been one hell of a night and I know it’s far from over. But for now, I feel a sense of relief knowing that my child is still safe with me.
***
CARTER
As soon as I close the door behind Della I phone Rhett.
The second he answers the phone, I growl, “I need you to come to my room.”
“Yes boss,” he growls back. He only calls me boss when I piss him off.
Since Dad passed away, the guys have been looking at me to fill his shoes. Dad took them all in during our high school years. We didn’t give him much of a choice. He once told me that I have a strong group of friends, something he wished he had growing up. That’s why he treated them like his own. It was just another way he ensured my future.
The guys all joined me in the company. We’re looking at going worldwide in the next year. If I can secure a deal with the largest publishing house in Europe then Indie Ink Publishing will be unbeatable. That was Dad’s dream and I’m going to make sure it happens.
While I’m waiting for Rhett, I phone George, my attorney. I quickly bring him up to speed with what I need before I let the man turn in for the night. Logan is training under George so he can take over from the old man when he retires.
Rhett comes in just as I phone Logan.
“It’s midnight and I’m on vacation,” Logan growls as he answers the phone.
“I just spoke to George so he’ll handle things. Della told me that Daniele is mine. I told George to get a DNA test done. If she’s really mine then we need to set something in place to protect her.”
“Fuck,” Logan groans. “I’ll start on it first thing in the morning.”
“Thanks.” I throw the phone on the couch and start to stalk up and down again. I’ve never felt so restless in my life.
“What happened?” Rhett asks. He picks up my phone and drops it on the table before he stretches out on the couch.
“Daniele is mine. That little girl from the diner is mine.”
Rhett sits back up, but he doesn’t look surprised. “I saw that one coming the second I saw her in Della’s arms.”
“Of course. I keep forgetting you’re all-fucking-knowing,” I growl at him.
“Don’t be pissed off at me. It’s your cock that got her pregnant.”
I take a deep breath so I don’t lose my shit with my best friend.
“She said she wrote to me, that Charlotte threatened her to stay away,” I grind the words out.
“Well, think about it. Did you tell Charlotte about Della?”
“Of course not. It had nothing to do with my fucking PA!”
“Calm your tits, man. I know this is all a shock to you, but you need to stay calm or you’re going to fuck this all up. The point I’m trying to make is that Charlotte had no way of knowing that Della was the real thing. The woman has to deal with all your fan mail. I’m sure there are a lot of women out there claiming that you’re the father of their kid. This kind of thing happens when you have money.”
I wipe tiredly over my face. “You’re right.”
I once got a call from a guy that threatened to kill his family if I didn’t give him ten thousand dollars. That was the only time I answered Charlotte’s phone. Things got so busy I forgot about it. How many calls like that does she get?
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Right now you need to get some sleep. Tomorrow we’ll figure it all out. One thing you have to keep in mind is that you can’t make any decisions about that kid without thinking of Della. You fucked up four years ago. Don’t fuck up again.”
I glare at him as he leaves but I know he’s right.
I’m heading for a shit storm of epic proportions.
One thing is certain, if that DNA test proves that Daniele is mine, there is no way I’m leaving this town without her.