Page 69 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

“Yes, Boss.”

Chapter twenty-three

Elena

I can’t sleep. It’s been two days since I found out that I’m carrying the child of a monster. And now, that monster is a wanted, high-profile murderer.

Tears run down my face as I stare at my reflection in the mirror, my fingers clenching around the edges of the vanity chair. Is this it? Is this how the story ends? How my story ends?

The high and mighty businesswoman, pregnant by her former bodyguard? A mafia don who built his empire on the ruins of ours? Someone who murdered a—

I let out a humorless chuckle at the thought. Even Enzo suspects foul play. According to him, Adriano isn’t foolish enough to shoot a high-profile prosecutor. He has too much at stake to be that reckless…especially in broad daylight. And maybe Enzo is right.

But in the past few days, there’s been this noise in my head where silence should be. Staying away from Adriano was supposed to bring peace. Instead, everything feels louder.

I’m standing at a crossroads where I can’t tell what’s real anymore. If he managed to get that close to me, look me in the eyes, and fuck me—all while plotting my family’s downfall—then I don’t know what else he’s capable of.

A knock jars me out of my thoughts, and I quickly wipe my tears, already knowing who it is. Enzo.

“Still feeling sick?” That’s the first thing he says when he pokes his head through my door, holding Puddles, who whines and wags his tail.

I don’t turn; instead, I stare at him through the mirror, afraid he might catch my reddened eyes.

“You know how it is,” I say, forcing a dry laugh. “It’s just stress from work. Plotting campaigns and all that.”

With a single crutch under his other arm, he steps—limps—in now, shutting the door softly behind him as he leans against the doorway.

“Are you sure, Elena?” He breathes deeply. “I mean, whatever it is that is bothering you, apart from business, you need to eat. You’ve barely eaten all day. Damn it, you barely ate yesterday, either.”

I shoot him a smile. “Of course, Enzo. I’ll be down in a minute.”

I hold my breath when it looks like he wants to press further, but release it when he gives a steep nod and leaves the room.

Enzo has enough on his plate already—worrying how to get the mafia back on its feet—since it is now broke. I shouldn’t be part of his worries. Not especially when I’d told him my part in telling Adriano about Silvio, and he’d simply said it wasn’t my fault.

My hands instinctively find my hair, grasping at the strands as if pulling hard might make all of this anguish vanish.

Yet, despite it all, I’m still wondering where Adriano is and what he’s doing now.

Shit, I’m so fucked. No, stupid. What do I even do now?

Go back to New Jersey and what? Start a life with the baby?

And does Adriano even want this? Does he want his enemy’s daughter carrying his heir?

I drop my hand to my tummy, smoothing my palm over the flat surface of my stomach. For a split second, I think of my sister, Bella. She’d told me all about how she was in this situation before and—

I shake my head. I can’t just call her and info dump… at least not right now.

A sigh escapes my lips. I still don’t know how to chart this course… but I do know that a life’s growing inside me, and I should take responsibility for that.

Just as I move to get up, my phone rings. As I pick it up, I see it’s Annora.

“Hey, what’s up?” she chimes, sounding like she hasn’t been completely off the grid for days.

“Where’ve you been, Annora? You had me worried.”

“Training,” she sighs. I know she’s lying, but with everything exploding in my life, I don’t exactly have the bandwidth to push. “Plus don’t be dramatic. I shot you a text letting you know how busy I’d be. And you, madam, didn’t respond.”