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“Keep it down? My unmarried daughter is pregnant, and you want me to keep it fucking down?” He seethes at my mother.
My father has a terrible temper and is super hotheaded, but Momma knows him better than anyone. He’s never laid a hand on any of his girls, nor would he.
“Yes,keep. It. Down. I will not have you upset her in her condition. She needs her rest. We can have this conversation when we get home, in private.” Momma’s tone leaves no room to argue as she pushes my papa toward the door.
“You’re staying?” Papa utters in disbelief.
“Yes, she needs to be in overnight, and she needs me now more than ever.” She stretches to place a kiss to his cheek. “We will see you tomorrow. I recommend you send one of our men to collect us.”
Papa shakes his head and places a kiss to the top of Momma’s head.
Without another word, they both leave. Nic didn’t even look at me. I guess I need to get used to being made to feel ashamed. That’s how everyone is going to see me, as a whore, one who has brought shame to the Giordano name.
“Rest,cara,we can talk more in the morning.” Momma gives me a small smile and takes her seat in the big comfy chair next to my bed.
* * *
The next morning, I’m discharged from hospital with a supply of tablets to help ease the sickness. One of Papa’s men collects us and takes us home. Momma doesn’t say a word in the car, and I wonder if that is so as not to let onto our guard that I’m pregnant. Of course, Papa will want to keep it a secret. I’ve disgraced my family. But I cannot think of this pregnancy as a disgrace. I love this baby, and I’m damn well ready to go to war for it. Even if that means against my papa and Nic.
The raised voices coming from Papa’s office fill the hallway as we enter the foyer. Momma looks toward the office and then back to me.
“You need to face him,cara.” I nod, and she continues. “He’s mad, they both are, but they love you. Don’t forget that.” I nod again as I make my way into Papa’s office.
What confronts me has horror filling my veins. I heave, but it has nothing to do with the pregnancy. Sergio is strapped to a chair, and his face is unrecognizable. If I hadn’t been with him yesterday and seen what he was wearing, I wouldn’t have known it was him. His face is purple and blue, and he has blood coming from multiple cuts. His clothes are soaked in blood too. He has a gag in his mouth when I enter. His eyes find mine, and I know he’s reading my terror, he shakes his head at me.
I hear Momma gasp as she enters behind me and closes the door. I rush to Sergio’s side, but Nic grabs my wrist.
I spin so fast and slap his right cheek. Shocked that I would raise my hand to him, he releases my wrist, and I fall to my knees in front of Sergio. I pull the rag from his mouth and use it to wipe some of the blood away. He winces at the contact but doesn’t pull his face away.
“Well that answers our question,” Nic sneers.
I whip my head around to glare at him. “What are you talking about? What have you done? Why have you hurt him like this?” I turn back to Sergio, his eyes full of sadness.
“They think it’s mine, sweets.” Sergio croaks.
Nic’s fist flies past my face and slams into Sergio’s left eye. The popping sound makes me gag.
“Don’t you dare fucking talk to her. You disgust me. You took something that didn’t belong to you. Now you’ll pay with your life.” Nic pulls out his gun, unclicks the safety, and holds it to Sergio’s temple.
“Anything you have to say?” Nic grins like he’s taking pleasure from this.
Sergio looks at me, I don’t see fear in his eyes, I see regret. “I’m sorry if I failed you, Carmella.” He bows his head, ready to accept a fate that’s not his.
“NO!” I scream. “Stop this.” I spin towards my papa. “Papa, make him stop. Please!” I beg whilst tugging at his shirt.
Nic is waiting for my papa’s command.
I grab his face with both hands and pull it toward mine so he’s looking at me. “I’ll tell you who’s baby it is, Papa. But please stop this, this was my choice. Sergio had nothing to do with it.” I plead with him to listen to me.
“Dante, listen to her. The man is innocent.” Momma speaks toward my papa.
“Innocent? She’s fucking soiled. Even if the bastard child isn’t his, it was his job to protect her,” Nic shouts.
Papa holds up a hand to halt Nic. “Nic, don’t you dare speak to your mother like that. Show her some fucking respect,” Papa seethes.
“Sorry, Ma.” Nic lowers his head but not his gun. His gun is still firmly pressed to Sergio’s temple.
“I’m going to look you in the eye and ask you once, Carmella. If you lie to me, he dies. Is he the father of your child?” Papa’s dark eyes feel as if they are looking into my soul.
