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“I know. It shocked me too and took the wind out of my sails. But I could tell he really meant it.
“The next moment, he pleads for me to give him another chance. I got completely swept up in him again. It was the weirdest feeling. I couldn’t think straight, yet everything was so crystal clear.”
She blinks a few times. “So your head and heart are pulling you in different directions?”
“Yes, that’s it! My head is telling me I should pick Aiden. Because let’s face it, I’ve fallen in love with him too. And he can offer me the life I want… with stability and compatibility and love and he fucking adores me and I adore him. We’d make a great couple. I could live a normal life, out in the open, no hiding, no death threats, no one painting a target on my back. He and Lex are friends already. The four of us could have fun together… joint vacations and holidays, poker nights… you know all the things we’ve dreamed of….” I say without taking a breath.
“I’m glad you’re realizing all of this. Though, I sense a but…”
I nod. “Despite my feelings for Aiden and all the rational reasons my mind gives me, I’m so goddam drawn to Tiero. When I’m with him, I forget everything else around me.”
Rhia sighs, resigned. “Ella, the heart wants what it wants. Yes, you have this magnificent attraction to Aiden and you two would be great together, but I guess if you went down that path, you might always ask yourself what-if.”
“Wouldn’t I ask myself that question anyway, no matter who I chose? When things get hard, wouldn’t my mind automatically wonder what it would have been like if I had picked the other one?”
“Possibly.”
“In the end, I’m carrying Tiero’s child, and he deserves to be a part of our life now that he knows about her. Doesn’t he?”
“How did he find out? I’m surprised you told him.”
“I didn’t. The pregnancy test was in the suitcase I had to leave behind on the cruise ship.”
“Oh,” is all Rhia says. After a heartbeat, she asks, “But what happened to not wanting to bring this child up in the mafia?”
It’s a valid point. It’s what I’ve been focused on since I found out about this pregnancy.
I lean in closer, lowering my voice so only Rhia can hear me. “He promised me to find a way out.”
Her eyes go wide. “He’s gonna leave the mafia?” she whispers, sounding shocked.
“Shh,” I put my finger against my lips, signalling her to keep this quiet.
“Nobody can know Rhi. I wasn’t even meant to tell you. The success of this depends on absolute secrecy.”
“My lips are sealed,” she promises. “But how?”
“He hasn’t told me yet… said there were too many people around who might overhear something.”
“He’s not just stringing you along, is he?”
“I’ve considered that. But I think he’s telling the truth. He knows he’ll lose me forever if he lies to me.”
“Good point. He’s just earning back your trust. He’d be stupid to deceive you. But then again, men can be stupid. Just look at Lex keeping his double life from me.”
“Well, he was contractually obligated to conceal his secret identity from everyone. Tiero doesn’t have that excuse.”
A knock on the door halts our conversation. “I’m surprised these goons have such manners. I expected them to barge in,” Rhia says, frowning.
“After how angry Tiero got with that Roberto, I’m not surprised they’re walking on eggshells.”
“Yeah, he was seriously pissed off. He redeemed himself at least one percent with that.”
I open the door to reveal Roberto, holding a tray with sandwiches and biscuits. “Signor De Marco thought you and Miss Bannaghan might be hungry.”
“Thank you,” I say as Rhia appears beside me, taking the tray off Roberto with an icy glare.
Shutting the door, I chuckle. “Guess you haven’t forgiven him for tying you up. And here I thought you enjoyed bondage,” I tease.
