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I don’t wait long before Alessandro comes in, closing the door behind him. I stand respectfully, and he kisses each of my cheeks. “Caio, Tori, what brings you here? Has something gone wrong?”
I sit down with him and fidget slightly. “I can’t stay too long. I need to sort things out.”
“I got your letter in the book. Frankie has used the territories you suggested and is fudging the numbers to make them more appealing. Don’t worry. If anything goes wrong, we’ll get you out of there.”
I nod. “I know you will, but there’s something else we need to discuss.”
“What is it?” he asks, looking worried.
I take a deep breath. “Ivan has sent me here to ask you for your honest answer. Did you try to gun him down this morning?”
Alessandro looked surprised, and I knew it wasn’t him. I sigh in relief. “I didn’t think you would, but he wanted me to ask you.”
Alessandro shakes his head. “No, it wasn’t me. He must have more enemies than us, Tori. You can tell him it wasn’t me who ordered the hit and that I honor our unity through marriage.”
I nod and breathe deeply. He asks, “So is it going all right? Is he hurting you in any way?”
“No, no. Nothing at all.” I feel awkward speaking about this because I don’t know how to explain to my cousin that I’m falling for the man responsible for my father being in hospital.
Alessandro nods. “If you need anything, contact me. I’ll have men over in minutes.”
I stand. “I will. Don’t stress too much. I can handle this.”
As I walk out, my smart watch goes off, and I glance at it. Day three of my period. Weird. I frown; I’m as regular as can possibly be. My period should have started three days ago.
I doubt it’s anything special, but I ask Luigi to stop at the pharmacy on our way to Kira’s place. I don’t tell him what I need, and I make them pack it in a brown paper bag so it can’t be seen.
We arrive at Kira’s, and I greet my sister. She looks even plumper than before, so I say, “You look ready to explode.”
“A big baby girl,” she comments with a smile. “We are thinking of names at the moment, so if you have any good ones, go ahead.”
I laugh. “I would probably pick something terrible, but before we sit down, can I use your loo?”
“Sure, we’ll wait in the living room for you,” she says, leading Luigi off. I go to the loo and hurry to unbox the pregnancy test. I read the instructions and awkwardly pee on the correct end of the stick. I put it aside and wash my hands. I don’t flush because I don’t want them to know I’m done just yet.
Time feels like it ticks by so slowly, and I know they will come looking for me soon. I figure it’s a negative, and I pick it up to throw it away when a faint line catches my attention. A line that turns the image into a plus sign.
No. No. No. No. No.
I feel panic rising as I realize I’m pregnant with Ivan’s child. This can’t be happening. I wasn’t planning on staying long-term with him. I am to screw him over and get out without any problems. I can’t be having a baby.
A sudden rapping on the door makes me jolt, and I hurriedly say, “Almost done.”
My voice comes out strained, and Kira says through the door, “Tori, are you okay? You don’t sound okay.”
I realize I didn’t lock the door too late when she turns the handle and walks in, seeing the pregnancy test in my hand.
“Oh shit,” she says loudly. “Oh shit. Oh shit. Is that? Are you pregnant?”
I look at her with wide eyes. “Please, Kira, don’t tell anyone. I need to figure out what I’m going to do.”
“You can’t have that asshole’s baby,” she says even louder. “Tori, it will tie you to him forever. You have to get out of here.”
I flush the toilet and throw away the stick in the trash. “Kira, listen to me. Promise me you won’t tell anyone until I have this figured out,” I say, looking at her sternly.
She swallows and sighs. “Okay, but you better think of something soon.”
“You’re pregnant?” I hear Luigi’s voice behind Kira. Kira turns and grabs his wrist, dragging him into the bathroom.
