AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I understand your concerns, Liliana,” Sophia said softly, reaching out to touch my arm in a gesture of comfort. “But think about it: this baby is also being born into a family filled with love and loyalty. You and Nicholas have each other, and you’ll have this child to cherish.
“Nicholas would never let anything happen to you or the baby,” Sophia insisted, her voice filled with conviction.
I looked at her, my eyes brimming with tears. “It’s already happened once,” I said, as a vision of my past ordeal filled my mind. “I was kidnapped by Luca Carbone and held in his basement until Nicholas rescued me.”
Sophia gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth. “Oh, Liliana... I had no idea. How could I have not known?”
“I didn’t want anyone to know. It was... terrifying.” My voice trembled as I remembered the cold, dark basement where I spent days fearing for my life. The smell of damp earth and the feeling of helplessness still haunted me.
“Luca Carbone is a monster,” Sophia said, her voice barely more than a growl. “And yet you were able to escape him, thanks to Nicholas.”
“Nicholas saved me,” I agreed, feeling a surge of gratitude toward my husband. “But what might happen if our enemies found out about this baby? They would stop at nothing to use it against us.”
That’s when understanding dawned on Sophia. “Oh, so that’s why Jocelyn and Abby are at the house,” she said. “At least Nicholas is taking better care of them than Carbone took care of you. He’s not treating them like prisoners.”
I shook my head, trying to correct her assumption. “No, that’s not it at all. Jocelyn begged me to free them from Luca. Nicholas and his men went back to rescue them because I promised they would.”
“Luca must be furious,” Sophia remarked, her eyes narrowing in contempt. “But it’s a good thing they’re under Nicholas’ protection. You and he have such big hearts, Liliana. Of course I expect it from you, but from Nicholas? He’s nothing like I thought he was.”
“I just want our baby to grow up without this constant fear hanging over us,” I confessed to Sophia, feeling the weight of my concerns. “I want our child to have a chance at a normal life, despite everything.”
Sophia reached out and squeezed my hand gently. “You had a pretty normal life, right? You can make sure the baby has one, too.”
I’m sure my life looked normal from the outside, but I knew the security protocols, the invisible bodyguards, the last minute changes due to threats that filled my childhood. Sophia had seen none of those things because I desperately wanted to have a friend who didn’t treat me like a mafia princess.
I opened the ice cream and offered to scoop some out for Sophia. She shook her head. “It’s your loss, because it’s getting covered in sriracha.”
She grimaced as I started to pour the spicy sauce on my ice cream. “The real question is will I like this combination after the baby is born? No one ever talks about post-pregnancy cravings.”
“I think women who have just had children crave sleep more than anything else,” Sophia said.
“Sometimes I wonder how normal my life really was,” I admitted, shifting my gaze to the floor as I thought about the past. “But you’re right. I at least know what a normal life is from being your friend.”
Sophia looked confused for a moment, her brow furrowing as she considered everything we had just discussed. “I must not understand this mafia life at all,” she said slowly. “I thought it was all about killing your enemies and being the biggest criminal. But from what I’ve seen, it’s all about protecting your family and others.”
“Believe me, there’s still plenty of darkness in our world,” I replied, acknowledging the truth in her words while also wanting her to understand that danger always lingered close by. “But it’s true that family and loyalty are at the core of it all.”
“Speaking of family,” Sophia’s eyes twinkled as she glanced down at my stomach, “can I touch?” she asked tentatively.
“Of course,” I nodded, “but there’s not much to touch yet, and you certainly wouldn’t be able to feel the baby move.”
Undeterred, Sophia gently placed her hand on my abdomen, her eyes meeting mine with a warmth that radiated pure love and joy. In that moment, I felt an inexplicable sense of peace wash over me, as if somehow, everything would turn out all right.
“All right then,” Sophia grinned, “when is the baby due?”
“July,” I answered, feeling a sudden thrill at sharing this news with my closest friend.
“Really? That’s my birthday month too! Maybe we’ll become birthday twins!” she exclaimed, her excitement contagious. “If that happens, and the baby is a girl, you should give her Sophia for a middle name.”
“Deal,” I laughed, touched by her suggestion. It felt good to indulge in these normal, everyday conversations – a small reprieve from the dangerous reality that surrounded us.
Sophia’s eyes sparkled as she began talking about all the things we could do to celebrate. “We should throw you a huge baby shower! We can invite everyone and have games, gifts, and –”
“Wait,” I interrupted gently, not wanting to dampen her spirits but knowing I had to be practical. “I appreciate the thought, but a baby shower isn’t a good idea. I can buy whatever I need for the baby, and besides, it’s a security risk that I’m not comfortable taking, not while the war with the Bianchi family still going.”
Sophia’s face fell, but she nodded in understanding. “You’re right, Liliana. I just got carried away. Safety always comes first.”
“Thank you, Sophia,” I said, grateful for her unwavering support. Deciding to change the subject, I recalled a recent dinner that had caught my attention. “So, what was up with that dinner where you and Riccardo kept staring at each other? I’ve noticed he hasn’t been our dinner guard since then. Did something happen when he walked you to your room?”
