Twisted Games of Revenge (Sinners of Ravens Hollow #3)

Chapter 29

Too afraid to leave the safety of my bedroom I pace back and forth instead. How the fuck did this happen? My mind races, thinking back over the last couple of months. Too much fucking sex, Harley, you idiot! You know how this fucking happened; they taught you at school. But I have the implant in my arm, I should have been covered.

Sweat drips down my spine, and I stare at the pink plastic strip in my hand for the millionth time. Those two blue lines staring back at me like fucking neon lights. You’re fucked , they flash. You have a Moretti or D’Amico baby growing inside of you.

Nausea rolls through me, making my skin all prickly, and I run toward the ensuite, toss the test down on the vanity, and throw up the remains of the morning coffee Maddox brought in for me.

Oh God. This isn’t happening. Not now when we’re so close to finally taking all control back and destroying Enzo for good. But I know it is. For three days I have been holed up in my bedroom, telling the boys I have the flu, every day trying to convince myself that’s what’s wrong with me. But this morning I just knew I was lying to myself, and something more sinister was going on. I woke up in a hot sweat after having a dream where I had twins, both boys, their dark curls and olive complexion glowing as they ran rings around me. They couldn’t have been any more than three, and as adorable as they were, I knew they were mine, and it freaked me the hell out. That’s when I broke into my bathroom vanity and found the pregnancy tests I stashed there when I moved into this place.

When I finally muster the energy to get up off the cold tile floor, I pull myself up to standing and wash my face, the icy water slowly bringing me back to life. I brush my teeth to get rid of the horrible taste in the hope I won’t have to vomit again. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, my normally porcelain skin is extra pale and blotchy. I look as terrible as I feel.

Taking a step back, I run a hand down to my flat belly, cupping it. The realization that a small human is growing inside of me sends warmth over me. I’m going to be a mom. And I’m not entirely sure why after my terrifying dream this morning, but I’m happy about it.

I pick up the test, wandering back into my room, not sure how I broach this with the boys. It’s all so complicated. Like who is even the father? There would be no way to tell until we do a paternity test. I have had sex with all of them multiple times over the last couple of months. There is also the question of how far along I am. When I haven’t had a period in a couple of years.

I snatch up my phone and do a quick Google search. How far along in my pregnancy would I be if I have morning sickness?

The reply that I receive is: For most women, morning sickness begins around the fourth week of pregnancy and resolves by weeks twelve or fourteen.

A hesitant knock at the door sends a jolt through me, and I fumble to hide the test before whichever one of them it is can see. “Yeah,” I say softy.

The door opens and Ricky comes into the room. “Lunch is ready if you’re hungry? I know you skipped breakfast, so you should probably have something for lunch.” He’s worried about me. It would be cute if I wasn’t freaking out.

I quirk a brow, trying to be snarky. “You really do notice everything, don’t you. Okay, I will be right out.” I try faking a smile, hoping I can hide my panic from him. I’m not ready to have this chat yet. Not until I know more about what I’m up against.

His eyes narrow, a glint of suspicion in their depths, as he focuses on me. “Are you feeling any better? It’s been three days.”

I run a hand through my long auburn hair. I haven’t bothered with the wig in days; what’s the point when I’m just lazing around the apartment. “Yeah, just didn’t sleep all that well last night. I’m fine, though, I’ll be out soon.”

“Bad dreams again?” He takes a tentative step closer, his eyes searching mine for answers. “I call bullshit, baby doll.”

“Ricky,” I warn him, not liking the knowing look in his eyes and the predatory gleam like he’s about to attack me for answers. Why does he have to read me so damn well?

I take a step back, but it’s too late, his weight crashes down on me as he pounces, the air whooshing from my lungs as he pins me on my bed beneath his body. With a swift move, he forces my arm up and over my head before I have time to react, the rough fabric of his sleeve brushing against my skin in our scuffle. With a startled yelp from me, he yanks the flimsy plastic stick from my hand proudly. His eyes widen with disbelief as he studies it more closely.

He pulls back from me, his breath catching. “What the fuck is this?” he asks in disbelief, knowing exactly what it is.

I purse my lips together as I stand up. “It’s what you think it is, Doc,” I whisper, freaking the fuck out. Tears prickle in my eyes. I’m not sure what to do. I have no idea how they will all react to this. It’s too soon. I’m too young and we’re trapped in a fucking mafia war. Nothing about this is ideal.

His hand comes to my belly. “You have a Moretti baby inside of you,” he says, way too excited about it. He’s forgetting what we’re all up against with his papa.

“Maybe?” I stare back at him, feeling faint all of a sudden. “Stop looking at me like all your dreams have come true at once. I’m fucking freaking out here, Ricky. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now, not like this.” Warm tears spill down my face, resisting my desperate attempts to hold them back.

He pulls me into his strong body, stroking my hair tenderly, and for a second, I let him offer me whatever comfort he can. There is something about him that just calms my crazy, and it’s exactly what I need right now. “Baby, this is the best news I have ever heard. You’re having our baby. You shouldn’t be freaking out about it. You should be happy.”

I pull back from him, staring into his striking blue eyes. “I’m not having a panic attack because I’m pregnant, I’m terrified because this has never been in the cards for me. Unlike you weirdos, I never wanted to bring a baby into this fucked-up world. But as soon as I saw those two blue lines, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this is right. I’m happy about this. I’m just so scared that my bliss will be taken away from me.”

He pulls back, his thumbs gently caressing my cheeks, his eyes locking with mine intensely. “We won’t let it. You’re safe with us, and the baby as well.” A wide grin stretches across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes. He’s so happy about this.

I swallow the lump in my throat, fear trickling down my spine. “Ricky, we both know you can’t protect me from Enzo. If he works out who I really am and what I have done, I will be dead just like my mother.”

He stares back at me, and I know he knows I’m right. “We add some new security measures. You can stay in more.”

“In other words, lock me up till the baby is born. We both know I won’t live like that. We’re so close, I want to finish what I started.” My eyes plead with him to understand, but he’s not even the one I’m worried about. When Alex finds out, he’s going to lock me up and throw away the key, probably both Maddox and Geovani as well.

He doesn’t say anything back. Instead, he kisses me, clinging on to me tightly. His head resting against mine, he takes both sides of my cheeks in his hands, staring at me lovingly. “Alex is going to lose his mind,” he says when he finally pulls away from our embrace.

“What will I lose my mind over?” Alex asks, entering my bedroom without an invitation.

His voice makes me jump. Should have known one of them would be lurking around. This place isn’t big enough to hide secrets like this.

His smug expression changes immediately when he sees my pale, tear-stained face. “What’s wrong, princess?”

Ricky hands him the pregnancy test he stole from me.

Alessandro studies it, realization dawning on him immediately as his brow rises. “Is this real?”

“No, it’s a fucking April fool’s joke,” I sass, not able to help it. He just ticks me off so easily.

“Harley,” Ricky chastises me.

I roll my eyes. This is his fault for stealing the test from me before I was ready to share the news. “I peed on the stick, and it came up with two little lines. If you’re asking if the test is real, then yes.”

“Obviously we will need to run some blood tests and have an ultrasound to make sure, but these home tests are pretty damn accurate,” Ricky explains.

Alex tucks the test into his suit pocket, the widest fucking grin I have ever seen appearing on his face. This is what he wanted all along. He moves toward me, pulling me into him as he smashes his lips with mine forcefully, kissing me so deeply I feel it right down to my toes. His love for me is so powerful. I knew he would be happy about it, but I have never seen him like this. Like a little kid that got the puppy he had been wishing for, for his birthday. “We’re going to have to move up the wedding.”

My eyes go wide, and I take his hands in mine, stopping him before he can snowball this idea by calling his mother. “No, let me wrap my head around one lifechanging event at a time. Please.”

“She’s scared about what this really means. What happens if Enzo finds out who she really is.”

“I’ll take over our plans. You can stay here, where it’s safe. I have a score to settle with the police commissioner anyway, and I’m sure Ricky and Maddox will take great pleasure in ending Enzo when we’re done.”

My heart aches knowing this is exactly what I didn’t want to happen, all the power taken away from me again. I have worked too damn hard to get here to give up my fight now. “I started this, and I’m going to fucking finish it with you. You’re not excluding me now because one of you bastards knocked me up. I need this just as much as all of you do. I have to make him pay for what he did to my family, or I can’t go into this next chapter of my life.”

His eyes narrow, and his jaw clenches, his face hardening into a mask of anger. I see every one of his protective walls shooting up. His lips twitch, and I know he’s suppressing what he really wants to say to me. He’s getting better at holding his tongue with me. He wants to demand I do what I’m told. I can see it written all over his face. “I won’t lose you and our baby because you’re so hellbent on getting revenge, Harley. I love you too much.” He surprises me with honesty that gets me right in the chest, instead.

A large lump forms in my throat, and I swallow hard, trying to push it down. It’s so difficult for him to open up, after the way he was brought up, but with me he’s trying. And I can’t ask for anything more than that. Taking his hand in mine, squeezing it softly, more tears form in my eyes. “I love you too, and I promise to be careful. But I’m one of you now. This life has shaped us. This revenge is ingrained in my DNA, you can’t wrap me in bubble wrap to protect me. You have to trust me now more than ever.”

Ricky takes my other hand. “How about we run some tests and find out how far along you are, see what we’re working with. I can get you some information on nutrition and vitamins and book an appointment with the antenatal clinic, I know one of the obstetricians there well.”

I stare back at Ricky, feeling overwhelmed by all the words he’s throwing at me. “Can we just start with lunch? I’m kinda starving after vomiting all morning.”

“And you need to go tell Maddox and Geovani. We can work out the rest later.” He says the last part looking toward Alex in warning.

I inhale a deep breath, knowing he’s right. Me having a baby is going to change all of our lives. Not only that but the dynamic we have going on here. We had gotten into a rhythm, one I was really starting to enjoy. But now things will be different.

The three of us enter the main living space and find the other two already digging into their gourmet sandwiches. I pull up a seat beside Maddox and collect the spare sandwich, biting into it, moaning when the chicken, lettuce, and mayonnaise hit my taste buds. This is what I needed to bring me back to life.

Ricky swats it out of my hand, and I stare back up at him like what the fuck. “No mayonnaise for you, I’ll make you one without.”

“What the fuck, Ricky, she loves mayonnaise,” Maddox pipes up on my behalf.

Ricky gives me a not-so-subtle look, offering me one last chance to tell the boys before he does. I shrug, not able to find my own words to tell them this news anyway. “The baby can’t have it,” he mutters, a half smirk twisting his lips.

“Baby?” Geovani coughs as he spits his mouthful onto the plate in front of him. “What fucking baby?”

“Our girl’s knocked up.” Alex beams, proud.

“Surprise.” I offer a half smile, not sure what else to say.

Maddox fades instantly, looking like he’s seen a ghost. When I glance toward Geovani, he’s just as pale. They have mega issues with their own parents, and they, probably like me, haven’t entertained the idea of having a kid of their own. This is going to be a lot for them to process.

“Holy fucking shit,” mutters Geovani.

“Ha, yeah, I know.”