Protecting Her(18)

“Do something else. Have someone keep watch on this woman to make sure she never tells anyone. Give her enough money to keep quiet. Anything. Just don’t kill her.”

“I’m done wasting my time on her. I’m putting the order in tomorrow. It should be done within the week.”

How could he do this? The woman is nine months pregnant. With his child! How could he not think this is wrong?

I hesitate, because I know I shouldn’t be doing this but I’m desperate. “Jack has shit on you.”

“Yeah? So? He has shit on everyone.”

“He’ll use it against you. I’ll tell him what you’re planning to do and he’ll stop you.”

“Why the hell would Jack care?”

“Because he doesn’t believe in killing pregnant women.”

Royce laughs. “Most people don’t, until they’re backed in a corner with no way out.”

“I’m serious, Royce. I’ll tell Jack, and I’ll get him to stop you unless you agree to call this off.”

There’s a knock on the door. “Who is it?” Royce yells.

The door opens and a woman, who I assume is the nanny, walks in with the baby. “Your wife wanted you to say goodnight to your daughter.”

He nods. “Fine.”

She brings the baby over, wrapped up in a pink blanket, and hands her to Royce.

“Could you give us a minute?” I say to the nanny.

She nods and walks away, shutting the door behind her.

“Look at her, Royce. Look at your daughter.”

Sadie is awake and watching Royce like Garret watches me, so intently, searching his face like she’s memorizing his features. She’s a very cute baby. She’s a month older than Garret, but she’s only slightly bigger than him. She’s very petite, with wispy strands of light brown hair and big brown eyes.

“It’s not the same,” he says quietly as he looks at her.

“They’re both babies. They’re both yours. They just have different mothers.”

“Which is why I have to do it.”

“You don’t have to do anything. Just let her have the baby and see what happens. If this woman hasn’t come after you by now, I doubt she will when the baby arrives. Just leave her alone, Royce.”

Sadie gurgles and smiles at him. He shuts his eyes, like he doesn’t want to see it. But she keeps gurgling and smiling and he opens his eyes again. And when he sees her, his body relaxes and his expression softens.

“You’re a father, Royce. I know you don’t want to hurt an innocent child and his or her mother.”

“Fuck,” he says under his breath as he looks down at Sadie. He sighs. “Fine. You win. I’ll wait until she gives birth and see what happens. But if she tells anyone, she’s dead, and the child will be an orphan. I’m not taking it in. And you have to promise not to tell Victoria. Or anyone.”

I nod. “I won’t tell anyone.” I stand up. “I’ll leave you two alone. I need to get home.”

He doesn’t say goodbye as I leave. When I get out to my car I realize I forgot to ask him about Shelby. But this wasn’t the time to bring that up. After Royce told me about that woman, my priority was to save her and her child. I’ll have to find another way to save Shelby.

I don’t know what’s happened to Royce, but it’s starting to frighten me. He’s becoming someone else. Someone dangerous. He’s never been a caring or compassionate person, but tonight he was evil. Acting as though taking a life had no effect on him. It’s like he’s losing his humanity. And it’s all because of his thirst for power. His insatiable need to be president.

When I get home, Rachel and the baby are both asleep. I go in the nursery and look at Garret in his crib. He’s so small. So innocent. So helpless. I would kill anyone who even attempted to harm him.

I wonder if this woman Royce had the affair with is worried for her safety. I wonder if she knows what Royce is really like. Maybe that’s why she moved to that small town. Maybe she was hiding out. Maybe she fears for her life and her child’s life.

Royce better keep his word. I think he will. I saw the look on his face when he held his daughter. It’s the look all us fathers get. The look that says how much you love your child. As long as he keeps remembering that feeling, he’ll leave that woman and her child alone. At least I hope he does.