Tempted By The Mafia Boss

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Charlotte

There’s a lot to think about and worry myself over and I really don’t need to be sick at this time.

Yet I am.

I have that awful stomach bug Cordelia had the other week. I’m so sick with it I haven’t been to school in two days. That says a lot for me because even with the whole Tobias shit I still planned to go in, but this damn bug knocked me for six.

Since I saw Tobias I’ve had various people watching me and staying with me.

Today it’s Cordelia. My parents were here earlier because I can’t keep anything down.

Her orders from my mother were to take me to the doctors if lunchtime came and I was still throwing up. Apparently the tablets Cordelia got from the doctor worked like a charm and everyone thinks I’m stubborn for not wanting to go to the doctor.

It’s not stubborn I’m just so tired.

And I just want Gabe.

He’s been out with his brothers all morning and it’s not about work which worries me. He’s left men watching the place. Inside and outside. It’s all heavily guarded. I’m grateful for the comfort that brings, knowing there are people to protect me in case of trouble, but I just want him.

It’s selfish but I just want some element of normal too.

The guys all around are reminding me of the villa in Italy and Antonio. That feeling of having the place guarded because danger could come for you at any time is very unsettling.

Last night Gabe talked about the launch event for the new business venture he’s planning with his brothers. It’s tomorrow evening at the Four Seasons and the only thing that’s going to make me go to the doctor is the worry of not being able to attend.

With everything going on I feel like we need some normal in our lives. Something to ease the tension. We haven’t even been to The Dark Odyssey since Tobias stepped up his game. The escape of being at the club was something that helped me.

The day after the event is also something I’m looking forward to. It’s when I plan to tell him I’m staying with him and I want it to have the same effect as when I told him I loved him.

I just have to get myself together first before I do any of that. I feel so sick. So damn sick.

Christ, I just threw up again. That’s the fourth time since morning.

Cordelia is waiting for me outside the bathroom door. She frowns when she sees me come out looking like shit.

“I made the appointment,” she says. “He had a cancellation and can see you in twenty minutes. Get your jacket.”

She’s in full-on big sister mode and even if I wanted to protest, I’m too weak to do it.

We get to the doctor’s office escorted by the guys Gabe left with us who wait outside on look out.

When I’m called in to the see the doctor I walk into the office on shaky legs leaving Cordelia looking through a fashion magazine.

Dr. Hague looks like a good-natured woman with her round glasses and dark curly hair. I’m guessing she’s in her mid to late fifties. She smiles when she sees me and crow’s feet crinkle at the corners of her eyes.

“Hello Miss Revello, I’m told by your very concerned sister that you’ve been vomiting nonstop for days now.”

“Yeah, I think I have the same bug she had the other week.”

“Oh that dreadful bug has been going around something fierce. Now I looked over your details and I see you were in Italy.”

Ma made me sort all that stuff out a few days after I got back. She wanted me to see the doctor too but I refused. She never said as much but she wanted me to have therapy, and that was before they knew the full story of all that happened to me.

“Yes, that’s correct.” I really hope she isn’t going to ask me about Italy because I don’t want to talk about it.

“We have all your details and I know you more than likely had the misfortune of catching the bug, but I want to make sure it’s that. I’d love to run some tests if that’s okay, especially since you’re a new patient.”

“Tests?” I narrow my eyes. “How long will that take?”

“Not long. To start I’ll check your vitals and we’ll do a urine test. Based on that I’ll know how to proceed.”

“Okay.” I smile although I really don’t want to do any of it.

She starts checking my vitals and I go off to do the urine test. It’s always felt weird to me to pee in a tube. The last time I did that was back in high school when I was sick with a similar sort of thing.

I start thinking about everything again while she goes over to a counter with all sorts of bottles and various instruments. To distract myself I watch her as she looks over the strip tab she placed in the urine pot a few minutes ago.

When she looks over at me I sense something wrong and I hope like shit she isn’t going to tell me I have something more wrong with me than I thought. The last time I went to the doctor it was to see Antonio’s special team to get my pill. When it all started he made me have the injection and I had such a bad reaction to it I thought I was going to die.

“Miss Revello are you on any kind of contraception?” Dr. Hague asks.

“I’m on the pill. The daily mini one.”

She presses her lips together and looks me over. “Okay, so I don’t want to alarm you but your urine is showing up with … pregnancy hormones. The sickness you’re experiencing could be that.”

Shock flies through me in multiple waves because I never expected her to say that. “But I take it every day. At the same time,” I counter.

“You could have had a day where you were late, the mini pill is famous for that happening. It’s a lot easier on the body than any other pill but the things that make it good make it bad too in the sense that you have to make sure you keep within the time frame which is usually a four to six hour window depending on which one you’re on.”

I open my mouth to speak but the words don’t come. Yeah, I took my pill every morning at the same time when I was in Italy and I was sure I did that here too, but… with the way I’ve been crazy with Gabe, there’s a chance I forgot. I could have forgotten a day.

I don’t know. I …

She comes over to me and smiles. “Let’s run some more tests to be sure. No need to worry until then. We’ll do a full check and have the results ready by tomorrow at the latest.”

I nod but worry at the same time.

The next morning confirms I’m pregnant. Cordelia stayed over because she was worried about me. She was right to be. I’m pregnant. Me…

She was with me when I got the call from Dr. Hague and is with me now.

I haven’t thrown up like I did yesterday because Dr. Hague gave me some nausea tablets and honestly I feel better in my body but shocked at the news.

Shocked and beside myself because I’m happy, but I don’t know if Gabe will be and I don’t know how I’m going to calm myself with so much going on.

I’m three weeks pregnant. Three weeks.

Should I even be surprised with how much sex Gabe and I had?

“Hey…” Cordelia smiles and reaches out to take my hand. We’re sitting on the sofa next to each other. I’ve just been staring off into space thinking. Always thinking.

“Hey… I’m sorry I’m just shocked. And worried,” I tell her.

She puts and arm around me. “Please tell me you aren’t worrying over Gabe because you don’t need to worry about him.”

“You don’t think so?”

She gives me an incredulous glare. “You don’t need to worry about him. He’s going to be thrilled. He will, Charlotte.”

I release a heavy sigh and shuffle to face her. “I’m worried about everything. Now’s not a good time to be pregnant. I feel so… strange.” That was the best way I could describe it. I feel drained from the days of sickness but I feel like I can’t think straight and now’s the time to be on our toes. Be ready and aware of what’s going on. I don’t know when Tobias will strike. What if he hurts me and I lose my baby?

The thought makes me stand and ball my fists.

“Charlotte, stop.” Cordelia stands too and places her hands on my shoulders. “Just stop.”

“What if something happens to me? Cordelia, Tobias is –”

“Stop.” She cuts in and shakes her head. “Listen to me. Remember what I said about cutting the shit and living the day like you would if the shit didn’t matter?”

I dip my head remembering. I do remember and I credit her for the happy times I’ve had since being back because she helped me find the mindset to receive it.

“I know. I’m trying.”

“Try harder girl.” She chuckles and smiles wide. “You just got told you’re having a baby and your baby was made with true love. Charlotte you’re with a man who loves you to no end. Please, please take the moment to enjoy that, it’s beautiful and invigorating. It’s good news for the two of you. Other than getting you back, it’s the best news I’ve had in a very long time. Forget it all, the whole Tobias shit and make sure you guys enjoy it all.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

A tear runs down my cheek and I feel my heart warm. Gratitude fills me. She’s right, she is and I know just how to make tomorrow as special as I want it to be.

I nod, agreeing.

I’m going to tell Gabe tomorrow but the itch to tell him now grabs me. We’re in the function hall of the Hyatt and Gabe and his brothers have rented the hall and the whole balcony area leading out to the pool for the event.

Everyone is here and I see now why pregnant women have it so hard keeping their good news to themselves until they’re ready to share it with others.

I refuse drinks a couple of times and get a suspicious look from Mia, Nick’s wife.

I could be paranoid but I’m almost certain she’s guessed why I refused the drink because she has a one year old. She’s the first wife to have a baby in the immediate family, although Vincent and his wife have been married for years.

She doesn’t say anything to me though. I like her and the other girls, they’ve all been really nice to me.

We’ve been standing around inside talking for a few hours now. It’s super-hot so I figure a little break outside on the balcony would do me some good.

The cold night air washes over my face as I walk up to the railing and does the job.

Below me I can see Gabe, smoking a cigar with his brothers. They look deep in conversation.

They look worried.

He looks worried. Handsome as ever in his suit and sharp features and sexy with his cigar slinked to the side of his mouth. But I can tell even from here that he’s worried.

I’m glad to say that worry isn’t about whether I want to be with him. He knows I do, but tomorrow I will say it. I plan to talk to him first thing in the morning.

Maybe we can have a good day together and block out everything that’s happening.

The shuffle of footsteps behind me makes me turn. I actually thought it was going to be Cordelia coming to check on me or one of the other girls but it’s not.

I should have known to expect darkness every time I find light.

My heart practically stops in my chest when I see Tobias emerging from the shadows.

Fuck…

He’s all dressed up too like he’s part of the event. His long hair is in a ponytail and his smile suggests he was just waiting to get me alone outside.

Shit.. once again my eyes dart around looking for help. I go to scream for help but someone grabs me from behind and covers my mouth. The man has me in such a tight lock that I can’t look behind to see who it is.

“Shhhhh…” Tobias coos and gives my body a full sweep of appraisal and satisfaction. “Don’t scream, don’t make a sound Bellezza. Or your beloved gets it in the head. A bullet to the head. Look at him just standing there relaxed.” He glances over to Gabe. I can move my head to see.

Tobias looks back to me and his smile brightens. It’s almost demonic and the lightness in his eyes adds to his creepy demeanor sending shivers down my spine.

“This next part of the game is going to be very interesting Charlotte. Because you’re going to come with me willingly. You’re going to come with me and make sure this time we don’t get the backlash we got last time. You know, with me getting my testicle shot off, yeah?” He chuckles and shakes his head. “You will be mine and if you don’t come I will kill him. I will kill him and everyone you know, it would be so easy.”

I can’t stop the tears from falling.

He waves his hand for the guy to move his hand from my mouth.

“He’ll come after you if you take me,” I snap.

He nods. “Of course he will. He absolutely fucking will and that is why I’m not going to take you now. Charlotte come on now. You must know me better than that. Here’s what you’re going to do, you’re going to leave his ass. Tell him you two are done and then you will come to me.”

“No… I won’t do it.”

He pulls his gun and points it at Gabe.

I’m about to scream out but the guy covers my mouth again.

“You have until tomorrow at ten. Tomorrow morning at ten. You will meet me at the coffeehouse at ten and you’d better be alone. I’m serious as fuck. I’ll start killing. He goes dies. Understand?”

This isn’t happening…

It can’t be happening. It’s history repeating itself.

The guy removes his hand from my mouth and I wince.

The thought comes to me to tell him I’m pregnant and maybe it will stop him from wanting me.

Maybe.

“I’m pregnant.” I blurt. “Please… just leave me alone. I can’t be with you the way you want.”

To my horror his gaze drops to my stomach and he laughs. He places a horrible hand to my stomach and shakes his head.

“I’m sure we can fix your situation. Tomorrow at ten Bellezza. This is the second time I’m showing you compassion.”

Arms loosen around me and my own feel like dead weights hanging by my sides.

He walks off and I watch.

Darkness fills me when I realize what I have to do.