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It takes a while, but soon, I’m asleep. Several hours later, I wake to someone coming into my room. For a moment, I’m worried it’s Niko and he’s going to be angry that I didn’t tell him about the baby.
Instead, Rosa enters with a middle-aged woman. “This is Doctor Kaisen.”
Dr. Kaisen extends her hand. “I’m an OBGYN. I understand you’re pregnant.”
God, no. I look at Rosa, feeling betrayed.
“Early pregnancy care is crucial to have a healthy baby. You want that, don’t you?” Dr. Kaisen asks.
I nod and consent to her examining me. Once I pee on a stick, the pregnancy is confirmed, but she continues to ask questions and poke around. She exits the room for a minute and returns rolling in a machine.
“It sounds like you’re close to twelve weeks, so let’s do an ultrasound.”
Giving in, I lie on the bed as she sets the machine up and runs the wand over my belly. She examines the screen and frowns,leaning closer to it as she focuses the wand on a section of my belly.
“Is something wrong?” Panic grows. For so long, I’ve been hiding this baby, trying not to think about it, but now, with the possibility of something wrong, I’m terrified to lose it. Until this moment, I didn’t realize just how important the baby was to me.
The doctor turns her attention to me, her expression serious.
I press my hand over my belly. “What’s wrong?”
18
NIKO
Ihate having to leave the compound… to leave Elena. It’s only been a few days, but I’ve come to look forward to our morning walks like a kid on Christmas morning. Her delight at the room I created for her makes me feel like a fucking superhero. Me! The man who killed his cousin and lives for revenge, a superhero. I find myself craving her more and more, not just her sublime body, but for this feeling. She makes something deep inside me ache, a yearning I can't afford. And for that, I resent her. I can’t be distracted by her and by the emotions she evokes in me. They make me weak. Vulnerable. I can’t afford that. Not now. Not ever.
The call from Liam telling me Lucia Fiori Conti is in New York is my excuse to leave. As much as I don’t want to go, I’m relieved to leave to regain control of my life. I had Donovan find her and bring her to my office at the restaurant.
The drive from Long Island to Manhattan is a blur, as my mind is in a tug-of-war between concern for Elena and the anticipation of facing Lucia. I know I should focus on the latter. Emotions are liabilities, and Elena… she's becoming a liability.
“How is she?” I ask Donovan once I arrive. I meet him at the top of the stairs before heading down to meet Elena’s older sister.
“She’s like her sister on steroids.” There’s amusement in his voice, so I expect I’m going to be annoyed more than angry.
I head down with Donovan behind me. I enter a room off my office where I find a woman who has similar features as Elena tied to a chair, defiance etched into every line of her body. Her scowl could curdle milk, but it doesn't faze me.
"Lucia Fiori Conti, welcome back to New York. I’m sorry you won’t be visiting your father?—”
“My father can go to hell. Untie me and take me to my sister." Her words offer me some relief. Like Elena, Lucia doesn’t seem to have any loyalty to her father.
I glance at Donovan who is leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed, fighting to hide his amusement at the woman.
"Patience, Lucia. We have much to discuss before any family reunions can take place." I circle her like a predator. I like women with fire, but in this case, I need her to understand her situation. I have no qualms about disposing of her if she turns out to be a liability. Well… maybe a qualm about hurting Elena, but she’d never have to know.
"Talk, then. What do you want?” She is brazen.
I look over at Donovan again, noting the way his gaze lingers on her. Does he find her attractive? I study her, and she’s definitely a Fiori, but Elena said she was more beautiful and charming than her. I don’t see it. Lucia is pleasant to look at, but she’s nothing like Elena.
“What are you looking at, toadie?” she sneers at Donovan who lets out a laugh.
“I can see why your father sent you away,” I quip.
She rolls her eyes. “What is it about you men that keeps you stuck in the caveman era? Misogyny runs in your blood.”
I arch a brow. “Those are big words for a woman tied up and wanting something from me.”
She looks down, giving me the satisfaction of knowing she understands her situation. “I have no beef with you,Il Soldato Della Morte. All I want is my sister. In fact, I’m happy to thank you for saving her. I’ll even pay for the trouble.”
