CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE: REVELATIONS
His mismatched eyes fixed on her, but he didn't appear to see her as he approached. Eloise backed away from him until her back hit the wall and she gasped.
"Kane, what is it?" she asked, bringing a hand to her stomach, protectively. "What's the matter? What did I do?"
"I saw you with him! I saw you holding hands! Do you think I am blind?" he spat at her. Eloise felt hot tears stinging her eyes.
"No," she protested. "He offered his arm because it was slippery! What is the matter with you?"
Kane leaned in close to her.
"I do not expect to see my fiancé flirting with another man," he murmured, his voice dangerous in her ear.
"I was not..." She gasped when he stepped back and automatically covered her face. "Please, Rico... Kane..."
Kane heard what she called him; saw her cover her face and his anger died, instantly.
"Jeez, El, I wasn't going to hit you. I would never hurt you..."
"How could you think I was flirting with another man? How could you think that? Look at me!" she sobbed, gesturing at her stomach. Kane bowed his head, suddenly ashamed of himself.
"I'm sorry," said Kane.
"If you ever, ever threaten me like that again, Kane," she said, suddenly angry. "I will walk out of that door and I will never come back. I love you, but we have a child to consider as well."
"El, I wouldn't have hurt you," he said. "It's just... you don't understand."
"No, I don't. He was the designer..."
"I know who he was," said Kane, his voice rising slightly again.
"Who is he, Kane?" asked Eloise.
"He is the designer who Rachel walked out with," he said, looking away from her. Eloise took a deep breath and then crossed the room to him, pulling him to her in as tight an embrace as she could manage with her stomach.
"Oh, Kane, I am sorry. I didn't know," she said, softly.
"No, but someone did. He knew who he was. What on earth would have possessed him to come here?" said Kane, thoughtfully.
"I don't know," said Eloise. Kane suddenly leaned towards her and kissed her forehead, lightly.
"I'm sorry I frightened you, El," he said. "I would never ever hurt you or our child."
"Forget it, Kane," she said, softly. "I know why you were angry." She placed her hands on her back and leaned back a little.
Kane smiled at her and held her again, but over her shoulder his gaze darkened. He had a feeling he knew who would have sent that particular designer to his door.
***
"Guest for you, Rico," said his warden.
Rico got up. Uncle Paul was early today. He smiled and followed the warden from the room. The interview room seemed darker than usual, but he didn't worry as his warden held the door open for him and then closed it behind him. Rico sat down and looked around the room. When his eyes found his visitor he nearly shot to his feet again, but a large hand on his shoulder prevented him.
"Now then, Rico, that's no way to greet an old friend of your dear uncle's, is it?" His voice was quiet and calm. Rico sat down, nervously.
"What do you want?" he asked. Kane sat down on the chair opposite him, stretching his legs out to the side of the table.
"If you try to interfere with my relationship again, Rico, you will soon be leaving the asylum in a box. Do you understand me?" Again, the quiet, calm tone of voice.
"I don't know what you mean," he said.
"Simon Jones, designer and contractor. I paid him a call; seems you paid him a large sum of money to attempt to draw my fiancé away from me." Kane studied his hands for a moment, closed his fists and then looked Rico directly in the eye. "My fiancé is nearly ready to give birth to our first child. She does not need anything to upset her at present. I have decided on this occasion to leave you alone, but if you should do anything else to try and harm her I will harm you, permanently."
"You couldn't do anything to me," replied Rico, but his voice shook a little. "My uncle..."
"Your uncle will do nothing; he has washed his hands of you, Rico," said Kane, dismissively.
"You think he would take your side?" said Rico, incredulously. "I am his blood..."
"Well, I suppose you can't pick your family. I've always been his boy."
"Yeah? Maybe you should ask him about that? You ask him about that fire and why he's always been so keen to "help" his boys..."
Rico was cut off by Kane's large hand around his throat.
"Don't even think to mention that!" he said. The door behind them opened and the warden stepped in. Kane released Rico, abruptly, so that the smaller man fell into his chair and then stormed out.