Of Love and Deception (31 page)

Daniella wondered if it was odd that she was thankful to see Blake. Even if he did threaten her life and that of her unborn child if she didn’t go along with one of his ultimatums. But still, an odd relief washed over her at the sound of his voice. Yes, he was sick. Yes, he was twisted, but he still loved her. Had to. If he didn’t then why would he have done everything he’d done, went along with Meg’s plan, if he didn’t love her? To agree to have his sperm… impregnate her this way all for the sake of revenge?
Oh god! If he knows it’s not his… I’ve got to turn this around…

“You said she stole him away from you. What the fuck is this, Meg? What the hell have you gotten me into? And… Fuck! You said she was pregnant with
my
child! You used my sperm!” Blake’s voice rose a couple of octaves each time he spoke. “You fucking lying bitch! She was already pregnant!”

…Or make him think I love him and get him to think the baby is his.

Daniella watched the drama unfold and wondered what excuse Meg would conjure up, knowing Blake would tear her down. He may be a lot of things, asshole, cruel, cheater, but one thing he wasn’t was a fool. Well, yes, he was a fool, but because he was the ultimate liar, he’d know and see right through Meg’s lies. She couldn’t help the smirk forming on her lips. She couldn’t remove it quick enough.

He stepped next to her, softly dragged the back of his hand along her cheek. With derision, he yanked her hair and pressed his lips against hers. Hard. She sealed her lips tight, not letting him slip in his tongue. He dragged his mouth to the shell of her ear and whispered, “Open up, or you’ll be sorry.”

Not wanting to, but seeing no way around it, she reluctantly opened her mouth to him. He swirled his tongue inside several times. She forced herself to kiss him deeper, and passionately. He groaned into her mouth and she pressed harder, urging him on. He accepted and then ended the kiss by licking her lips. He stared at her.

She silently mouthed the words
I love you.
He nodded with a smile and stood straight.

“She’s so much sweeter than you, Meg. Mmm.” He leaned over and kissed her again.

Daniella’s stomach knotted. She missed Cruz. Missed his touch, his kisses, the way he made love to her. But more than that, she missed her husband, her protector. She wished she would have told him she was further along when she ran into him at the hospital after learning the truth. She wondered how he took the information when he met with the team of doctors the day she was taken. Would it be enough to convince him Meg was a liar? Did he know the things her lawyer revealed to her about Meg, Meg’s employee, the unknown man, obviously Blake, did he know all of this? And more importantly, did any red flags go up when she failed to show up for her meeting with the radiologists?

“Get the hell off me!” Meg shouted, bringing Daniella out of her thoughts. Blake had Meg in a headlock. She was kicking and digging her claws into his arms.

“Tell me the truth. Why the hell did you lie? What’s your purpose with her anyway?” Blake pulled Meg’s head back against his chest, forcing her to look at him. She swiftly went forward and in one fluid motion, she threw her head back, cracking him in the nose.

Blood splattered everywhere.

Releasing his hands to grab his now bloody nose, he groaned. Meg stormed out of the room and Blake dropped his hands and went after her. There were a lot of vile words passing between them, their voices trailing off after the door slammed shut.

~~~

The cabin was too quiet. It seemed like hours dragged by and Daniella wondered where Blake and Meg went. Maybe they were kissing and making up.
Ick.
And then she thought of poor Falcon. He probably had no idea what his wife was doing. He probably only knew all of the awful things that were said of herself.

 Hours passed by. Daylight faded. Sweat dribbled down her cheek, along her ear and down into the hollow between her neck and collarbone. Her hair clung to her forehead, one stray strand dangling on her nose making it itch. She tried desperately to blow it away, but it kept landing in the same spot. Angry, she yanked against her restraints, twisted and pulled, even kicking her legs. As if that would do her any good. She started to panic.

What if they up and left me here… how long before anybody would find me… will anyone look? Yes, Lori and Jill will, but they wouldn’t know where to look.
Would Cruz notice my disappearance… will I be alive if they do find me?
Her chest constricted and she couldn’t breathe.

Oh, God! Please don’t let me and my baby die like this!

She must have passed out or fallen asleep. Somewhere in the cloudiness of her head, she could hear voices. Meg and Blake’s voices? They were arguing. Meg shouted something about him being an idiot. And how she only said all those things about the baby being Cruz’s because she wanted to torture me further. He mumbled about her mentioning how Cruz would be back in her arms knowing she gave him a child and how she and Cruz would be proud parents of the baby. He went on to say something about it being his, then not being his—Meg shouting over him that it
is his and not Cruz’s
the entire time.

~~~

The following morning, Meg brought in a tray of food and set it on the table. She took the lid off the plate to reveal broiled chicken, mashed potatoes and a side of asparagus. She stood and proceeded to remove the restraints from Daniella’s wrists. “Don’t get any ideas. I won’t hesitate to stab you…” she raised her hand to reveal a switch blade, “…if you so much as attempt to escape.”

Oh how thoughtful. Feed me before you steal my baby and then threaten me…
She tried not to think what came after that.
Where’s Blake?
She wanted to ask but not sure if she really wanted to know the answer.

Meg twisted her face all up and said, “Eat up, eat up! You’re going to need all the energy you can get. Do you know why, Daniella?” Her words sounded like they came straight out of a horror flick.

Daniella’s eyes opened wide. Her throat swelled and she choked back a scream.

“Because, silly! Little Sunshine’s going to make an appearance tomorrow evening, if all goes as planned.” Meg’s expression changed. Her lips tightened into a circle, eyes wide with both brows arched high on her forehead. She raised an index finger and tapped her lips. An evil chuckle escaped her twisted mouth. She sucked in a deep breath and said, “Oh! But it’s too bad you won’t get to enjoy little Sunshine.” She enunciated each word carefully and didn’t blink an eye. “Don’t worry. You won’t be left out. Why, you get the honors of a natural delivery. The sensation of the head pushing against your pelvis, splitting it wide…”

The thought of food sickened Daniella. How could she eat after Meg’s statement? And the way she described the delivery…

“Eat your fucking meal!” Meg grabbed her arm in a painful grip. “Now,” she shouted and popped her in the head with her fist.

~~~

Daylight passed and nightfall settled in. Blustery winds whirled through the trees, snapping branches and causing the shutters to clap against the cabin with a
rap tap tap
and an occasional
bang!

Daniella cried in silence. She whispered, wishing he could hear some of her last words. “Oh, Cruz. I miss you. I miss you so much. And I’ll always love you.” She gasped and gasped and gasped. “I don’t know how to get out of this.” The raw emotions she felt wouldn’t let go, and she couldn’t stop the painful sob about to emerge from her throat.

“Cruuuuuuzzzz!”

The headboard knocked against the far wall in the other room and a
thump, thump, thump
followed. It could only be one thing. Daniella’s heart thudded. Meg clamored down the hall, the patter of her steps hastened as she drew closer.

“What. The hell. Was that?” Meg flipped the light on. She looked like… Medusa. Her ratty hair was all snake-like and her eyes were bloodshot.

“N-nothing. I guess I-I turned to my side and a pain shot up my leg. It feels sw-swollen and bb-bruised.”

Meg whipped the covers back and observed the swelling on Daniella’s thigh. “It’s just a hematoma. A sizeable one, but a bruise nonetheless.” She pressed a finger into it.

“Ouch.”

“What a wuss. It’s a damn bruise for cryin’ out loud.” Meg pulled the blanket back over Daniella’s legs and left with no further words or outbreaks.

“Whew,” Daniella whispered.

~~~

The following morning, Daniella woke to the sound of metal clanking and Meg singing ‘Hush Little Baby’.

It took her a minute to absorb her surroundings. When she suddenly understood what Meg was doing, her heart sank into her stomach and she started to shake. She instinctively went to wrap her arms around her belly, probably a maternal instinct to protect the baby, only to be reminded of the restraints.

“Hush little baby don’t you cry, momma’s gonna sing you a lullaby…”

 
A baby warmer and an incubator. Two metal trays, one with a green liner, the other with blue, instruments, metal pans, a heart monitor, IV pole, plastic tubes, a large light, the kind one would see in an operating room, little things, BIG THINGS, SOOO MANY THINGS!
Daniella broke out in a cold sweat. A stifled sob escaped from her constricted chest—tears threatened to crest and spill over, but she blinked them back.

“ …Nah nah nah nah… nah nah nah nah… And if that mockingbird don’t sing, momma’s gonna smash it to smitherines…”

Oh no! She… she… the song. She’s insane. Capable of… of—No! She can’t have my baby. Oh please, no. Time. Gotta buy some time. Think! Think! Think!

“You can’t deliver the baby yet, Meg! It’s too early. Please, please, please wait!”

Meg stopped singing and rubbed her temples. “I don’t think I can, Daniella. It’s too risky for me to wait. The longer you’re gone, the sooner people will start panicking and that means they’ll start looking for you. I need you to have this baby, now. Then, well. You know. I’ve gotta clean up the mess, make sure no part of you exists in this cabin. It’s just one of those things, Daniella. People vanish all the time, never to be seen again.”

Daniella’s heart hammered. “Who’d… who’d possibly look for me here? Thousands of miles away? You. You have time. Please. Let the baby develop further. Seven weeks is too risky. Please, Meg. If you love this baby—”

“Stop! No sense in trying to convince me, Daniella. I am a doctor, remember? The baby will be fine. I have all the necessary equipment to ensure the best outcome. Besides, the baby is Cruz’s blood. It’ll survive.”

There was no convincing a psychotic person to change her mind. Daniella knew she only had one possible chance.

“A doctor? I thought doctors took oaths to save lives, not take them,” Daniella whispered. “Besides, Cruz will never love you. NEVER. You’re nothing but a psychopath and all of this will catch up to you. Your demons will haunt you one day and come back to claim you.”

Whatever Meg was doing, she stopped, stood straight and her shoulders lifted as she inhaled a deep breath. Daniella hadn’t looked away for more than two seconds when she felt the sudden pain of Meg’s knuckles crack against her cheek.

“You… you bully,” Daniella whimpered. “I can’t even defend myself.” She pulled on her restraints.

“I think it’s time you take a little nap.” Meg fumbled with something on the tray, turned to Daniella and slammed a palm against her nose and mouth, and held it there.

“Huh—Sto—” The inhalant burned her nose and throat, and then she passed out.

~~~

Daniella woke to find Blake sitting at the foot of the bed. His hands were clasped between his knees, head slightly dropped. The creases in his forehead deepened.

Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Please, Blake. Don’t do this. Take me away… get rid of her. Tell her something; anything. Please, I’m begging you.”

Blake rubbed his stubbly chin and glanced up to catch her plea. “Really. What’s the purpose?”

Daniella had thought about what she’d say to him since the previous evening. She hoped she’d had a reasonable story, something believable. “Because. Because Meg is lying to you.”

Blake’s head snapped. She knew she had his full attention. “I was not pregnant before the insemination. It’s all a big lie.” Her heart rate soared.

“Go on.”

“I did a home pregnancy test. Not one, but five. And not the ones Meg gave me.” She lied. “One each day until the very day of the procedure. That one was negative too.”

“Then what would cause Meg to lie? Why did she tell you that you were pregnant before the procedure?”

“You heard her excuse. She hates me, wants to confuse me. It’s like she wants to dig the knife deeper into me, cause more damage. She wants to break me down to nothing. She’s been doing it since I met her, but I didn’t give in and let her chase me away from Cruz like she’s done with all his previous girlfriends.”

Blake roared in a fit of laughter and slapped his hands against his thighs. “Good thing Meg’s outside. Imagine her reaction if she’d heard that one. Better come up with a better story.” The color on his face deepened.

There was a long, uncomfortable silence.

Daniella panicked. She had to convince him somehow. Maybe he’d soften and reconsider if she could convince him. “This is your child,” she stated. “You can’t let Meg take it and raise it with Cruz. That is her plan.” Her voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. “It’s our baby, Blake. Ours. A part of me and a part of you. Please…”

No words came from Blake, only a pinched face as he stood and walked out of the room.

There were clanking of keys and the sound of Meg’s voice getting louder before the slam of a door echoed. Tears trickled down Daniella’s cheeks. Tears of uncertain fate for her and her baby.

The silence in the cabin lingered. The only sounds Daniella could hear were the noises of the wind and…
voices?

Blake and Meg were somewhere outside of the cabin arguing. Daniella tried to pick up on what they were saying, but they were too far away.

And then it was silent. So silent…

24 - Release Me

Pop! Pop! Pop!
Daniella startled at the sound of…
gunfire?