“Annie, darling, get back in the car.”
“But…”
His face contorts in silent rage and without glancing my way, she backs up and walks back to the car.
“You need us, holler,” Leo offers, and he and JJ walk off toward the main house.
I look at Annie’s uncle. “If you’re here to stop me from seeing my son, I’ve gotta make it clear that I’m not going to allow that.”
“It’s not why I’m here. My niece has told me all about how you raped her and got her pregnant, then forced her to stay here at your club until she gave birth.”
I’m about to blow my shit when he continues, “You’re not the first and if she gets away from me again, you won’t be the last. Though, this is a first her seeing a pregnancy through to full term.”
“I knew she was crazy,” I mutter.
“We don’t use the term crazy anymore. Angelica suffers from delusions and fits of psychotic rage. I assure you, I’ll be getting her the help she needs.”
“To be honest, I couldn’t give a shit. All I care about is my son.”
His grin sets me on edge. “Then I’m sure you’ll agree to my deal.”
I wait for him to continue and when he does, I can’t help but watch the car. “Before that, if she’s prone to psychotic rage, why does she listen to you?”
“I’ve been her guardian since she was young. She knows what she can and can’t get away with around me. She’s looking at me to help her today so she’ll rein it in. If she knew my true intention, I assure you it would be quite a different scene.”
“What’s your deal?”
“Not that she realises, I’ve made her sign over full custody to you. You’ll get an annual payment of $100,000 until the child turns eighteen. In exchange, you’ll never tell the child who his mother is. You don’t tell him who I am. I don’t particularly care what story you have to concoct as long as it’s far from the truth. She died in childbirth is probably a good start.”
I don’t know what to say. It sounds too good to be true.
“Believe me, I’m doing you a favor.”
It doesn’t take me long to get on board. “Keep Annie away from me and you have a deal.”
He takes out a manila envelope and hands it over. He produces a pen from his top pocket while I pull out the contents and read over the papers.
“She’s already signed. We just need your signature.”
I sign before the deal can be retracted.
“You’ll find an account has been set up for the child, you’ll be the trustee. Like I mentioned, you’ll receive payments until he is eighteen.”
He pulls out a second envelope and this one I recognise for what it is. Money.
“For your silence.”
“Trust me, I’m not saying a word about her to anyone.”
“What about the other men here?”
“They see nothing. They hear nothing.”
“Good.”
“So that’s it?”
“There’s nothing more to discuss. I’m sorry you met my niece.”
