Page 80 of Saving Grace

If I wasn’t feeling so torn up inside, the wide-eyed look he gave me would have been hilarious.

His mouth opened like he was about to say something then closed.

I wanted to gloat.

Instead, we sat quietly in solitude.

Atticus broke the silence.

“Is she mine?”

I forced myself not to be angry at his question. It was one I had myself until Samaya opened her eyes. They were identical to her father’s and siblings.

I nodded. “She is, Gionni didn’t think so.”

He had been secretly harassing me for years, over email, over the phone, any time I had the misfortune of seeing him at different events around town. Though Atticus had given up the life after his grandfather’s death, we still ran in the same circle. Keep those who can hurt you most close was Atticus’ theory. I think Gionni knew the truth but got off on holding it over my head.

“Who else knows?”

I ran my hand over my hair and stood. “His uncle and a few of his family members.” I answered while I nervously straightened the pillows on the sofa, avoiding looking at Atticus.

The sound of flesh hitting something solid resonated through the room. It didn’t take rocket science to know Atticus had punched the wall. Before I could turn to face him the keypad beeped, and the metal door squeaked open.

Panic seized me by the throat. My instinct told me he was about to do something terrible.

I ran after him, as fast as my swollen belly would allow.

I grabbed his arm before his foot landed on the step.

“Where are you going?”

He snatched away and turned to glare at me. There was an expression on his face that I don't know quite how to read.

“You think I’m letting motherfuckers live thinking they’re kin to my blood. I don’t ever want her doubting who her father is. So, I’ll kill all of them before their lies can get back to her.” He spat.

Gionni’s dead, is that not enough for you? The war he was about to started was unnecessary.

“No!” He damn near growled. Then he grabbed my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “And when this is all over —remember, your lies caused whatever happens next,” His southern accent had crept out again.

Though he was no longer going by Roman, there were parts of his alter ego still haunting him. The anger. The vindictiveness. The hyper vengefulness. That was all Roman. After laying the burden of the sins he was about to commit on my shoulders, he did an about face and stormed up the stairs, taking them two at a time before I could respond.

Frustration and sadness grappled inside me. I would have never told him the truth if knew it would turn into three months of silence between us and six months of him and DeMarco flying around the globe trying to end two families entire bloodlines. The carnage they created played out on local and international news for months.

Epilogue.

Grace

“Stop.” I giggled as Atticus slid his entire hand under my dress then up between the crease of my ass.

“I will when you bend over.”

The house would soon be full of friends and family. Instead of preparing for them, all Atticus wanted to do was have sex. He had me trapped between the kitchen island and him, his hard dick pressed into my back as his hand traveled up the curve of my waist. He reached my breast, lifted the globe he tested the weight.

“You sure you aren’t pregnant again?”

“Eww no.” We already had five. There was no way I was adding to that.

I smacked his hand away.