Page 126 of The Don’s Omega

“Yes, but he still did all the things he promised he’d do for me. He paid for your surgery. He put the money he was going to give me at the end of our contract into my account early. He wants me to be with him by choice, not because of a piece of paper.”

“And you think you love him?” His eyes flicker. “Is this like a Stockholm syndrome kind of thing?”

I grimace. “No. Not at all. I love him, Fabio. For real. I’m with Marcello because I want to be with him. So you see, there’s no reason for you to feel guilty. Because of you, I found my alpha.”

“How can that be?” He sniffs, wiping tears from his face. “He paid for you to be his omega. That’s the kind of man he is.”

I sigh. “Because of who he is, there were reasons he chose to do it that way. I’ll explain all of that to you later. But what matters now is that you understand you don’t have any reason to feel bad or guilty. I’m happy and in love.” I laugh gruffly. “And you and I are set for life financially, Fabio.”

Fabio frowns. “I don’t like the idea of taking his money.”

“I understand.” I study him. “But the money is ours regardless. The kind of money we have now can open a lot of doors.”

“This sounds like a bad movie script,” he mutters angrily. “People don’t fall in love like this.”

I shrug. “I understand how you feel. It’s been a shock to me too. And in the beginning, it was difficult. I won’t lie about that. But even back then, when I’d visit you in the hospital, and I’d see the pink in your cheeks, it was worth it to me. I never expected to fall in love, and even if I hadn’t, it all would have been worth it to me, Fabio.”

His face twitches. “You… you actually love him? Even though he’s… in the mafia?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t imagine loving a man in the mafia.” He shudders. “The very idea repulses me. You know what they do. You know what they’re like. How can you love a man like that?”

“Mostly by not thinking about that stuff too much,” I admit.

“You just accept he’s a murderous thug? It doesn’t terrify you?”

I wrinkle my brow. “I won’t lie and say that the darker side of Marcello doesn’t scare me. But not because I think he’d hurt me. There are two sides to Marcello. His brutality is reserved for his work and his business. But when it comes to me, I know with every fiber of my being, he’d never hurt me.”

He says nothing and I know he doesn’t believe me.

“I think when you meet him, you’ll understand things a little better,” I say.

“I doubt it.” He scowls. “What happens if you can’t give him his heir? How do you know he won’t trade you in for some other omega who can?”

I smile wryly, touching my stomach. “Funny you should say that.”

He looks confused, then his gaze drops to my stomach and his eyes widen. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yes.”

He swallows hard. “Shit.”

Not exactly the congratulations I was hoping for, but I understand he’s still in shock.

“I think when you get to know him, you’ll understand why I love him.” I lean forward. “He’s a complicated man. He does things I don’t agree with and lives in a world I’ll never fully understand. But he’s good to me.”

“Good how?” He narrows his eyes. “Money isn’t everything.”

“No, I’m not talking about money. He takes care of me. He protects me. The morning of your surgery, I was alone and terrified for you.” I shiver, remembering that day. “Marcello surprised me. He flew back from Italy just to sit with me during your surgery, so I wouldn’t be alone.”

“He was there? During my surgery?”

“Yes.” I shrug. “That was when I began to understand him a little bit better. That was when I fell in love.”

Fabio’s chin trembles. He presses his lips together hard and looks at the ceiling, blinking fast. “This is so much to handle. I’m not sure how to process it all.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”