CHAPTER 12
Chiara
I look around, but I don’t see any threats or anyone suspicious. If anyone even glances at me weird, I’m going to run back to the café I just exited. Since I’m not sure what’s happening at home or at my parents’—I can only hope Matteo hasn’t gotten to them—I opted for calling my neighbor, Bianca.
Her number was the only one I could remember. She hasn’t changed it since we were kids. She has a car, and she won’t suspect anything if I ask her to take me home. And I don’t think Matteo or anyone else who might be after me would think I’d reach out to her first instead of someone closer to me.
As soon as she pulls over, I dash to the car.
“Hey.” She smiles as I hop into the passenger seat. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, um. I had a checkup at the hospital, but I must’ve parked in the wrong spot because my car got towed away. My phone was in there too, so I had to get to a café to call you. I couldn’t remember anyone else’s number. I’m so sorry for bothering you.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I don’t mind. I hope your checkup was fine too.” She eyes me carefully, and I know she’s curious why I’m wearing scrubs.
“Yeah, everything’s great.” At least I hope it is. “I... um, I’m pregnant. But I spilled a drink all over my clothes, so I had to borrow this from a nurse. She was so sweet.”
“Oh, my god! Congratulations! Wow!”
“Thanks.” I give her a small smile.
“You know, it’s been a while since we talked. A lot of things have changed. Everyone says you’re married to that guy... Gaviani. He’s the father? I don’t want to pry, but it’s a little weird. I thought you were against him taking over our neighborhood.”
“He’s the one, yes. It all happened so.... Well, it’s a long story. I don’t want to bore you with the details. But I didn’t exactly know who he was when I met him. He’s different from what I expected.”
Not completely different, because he’s still a mafia boss, and I’m in more danger than ever because I’m now tied to his world forever. But he’s the kind of guy who almost died for me, and I feel safe and comfortable around him. Maybe I shouldn’t, but I’m confident he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me or our children.
Deep down, he’s a good guy.
“Oh.” Surprise laces Bianca’s voice.
Maybe she expected it would all turn out to be just gossip and not the truth.
“I’m still against him taking over the neighborhood.” I haven’t talked about it with Adriano, but there’s no way I’m letting him do that.
“So that’s not going to happen?” She gives me a hopeful look.
“Adriano has different priorities right now.” I doubt he’s had any chance to even think about his project.
There are more important things happening right now. I still don’t know what Matteo told him—if anything at all. I have no idea what waits for me at home, and that’s why I have to be careful.
We’re getting closer to our street, and I can see my house in the distance. I can’t see any lights, but that’s probably because the windows are covered. Or maybe Adriano has left and he’s in some safe house because staying would’ve been too risky after what happened to me.
I still don’t know how Matteo got into my home. Although, if he was alone and quiet enough, I guess he could’ve slipped inside without anyone noticing.
“Do you mind if I use your bathroom?” I ask. “I don’t have my house keys either, and with my pregnancy and everything... if no one’s home...”
“Of course I don’t mind. Actually, you can call your husband from my phone. I have your home number memorized,” Bianca says.
“Thank you so much.” It’s exactly what I need.
A safe place to stay and a phone.
If Adriano is here, all he has to do is cross the street to come for me. If he’s not, we can arrange something. But I’m not going back to my house all on my own. Matteo could be lurking there, especially if he knows Adriano’s gone.
I wait as the phone rings. Someone finally picks up, but there’s silence on the other end of the line. My heart speeds up.
Is it Matteo? If he’s here and pissed off at me for running away, not even Bianca’s house will be safe enough for me. I don’t trust him not to shoot up the whole place anyway. I don’t want to put her or myself in danger.
“Hello?”
Relief floods me, because it’s Adriano’s voice.
“Oh, thank god. It’s me.” I keep my voice low. “Matteo held me captive, and I escaped.”
“Did you?”
I furrow my brow because of Adriano’s biting tone. “What do you mean?”
“I saw the photos. You and him. The ultrasound images with our twins written in his handwriting.”
“It’s all fake. Matteo forced me to take those photos. I don’t know anything about any ultrasound images, but none of it is real. The only thing that’s true is that I’m pregnant, and the twins are yours.” I didn’t want him to find out like this, but I can’t change anything about it.
“We used protection. How can they be mine?” There’s so much pain in his voice that I want to jump through the phone and wrap him in my arms.
“They are yours because I haven’t been with anyone else, so I’m sure of that. If you don’t believe me, we can do a paternity test. And I was as surprised as you were when I found out, but protection fails. It’s nothing new.”
There’s silence on the other end of the line. All I can hear is Adriano’s breathing.
“Matteo is messing with you. You know him. He threatened our twins’ lives. Our twins. I had to do what I could to keep us all alive. I don’t know what he’s up to, but it’s not anything good. He’s probably looking for me right now.”
“When did you find out you were pregnant?” Adriano asks.
“When you were in the hospital.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know. I... I was scared, I guess. You said you didn’t want kids, and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen between us. I couldn’t just forget everything that you did.”
I have no idea how much I can say over the phone. The line is supposed to be secure when someone calls our phone, but I’m not going to reveal any more than I have to.
“Where are you right now?”
“Bianca’s.” I bite down on my lip because he hasn’t exactly denied not wanting kids.
Maybe this whole thing won’t work out the way I expect anyway.
“Stay there. I’m coming for you.” The line goes dead.
“Everything all right?” Bianca asks as I return the phone back to its spot.
“Yeah, he’s coming over.”
“Great. But I have a video call I have to take for my job. I hope you don’t mind if I leave you alone.”
“No, that’s fine. I’ll wait for Adriano. Thank you again.”
“Don’t even mention it.” She waves her hand. “You’d do the same for me.”
“Of course.” I spread my lips into a smile.
“If you need anything, I’ll be upstairs. Just knock on my door.”
“Okay.” I watch her as she hurries away.
As I take a peek through the window, I see Adriano striding across the street. His guards are watching from the shadows, and I hope no one’s taking a closer look at them and calling the cops.
But I guess they’re only this visible because there’s an active threat. Matteo might be close by, and we can’t take any risks.
I open the front door, itching to just throw myself into Adriano’s arms. But his face is serious as he enters the foyer and closes the door behind him.
We just stand there, studying each other. I can see the longing in his eyes, but he doesn’t move.
“How can I know I can trust you?” he breathes.
“Really? Trust this.” I close the distance between us and wind my arms around him.
Our lips are only inches apart as we stare into each other’s eyes, and then we can’t hold off any longer. Our mouths crash together, and his arms wrap tightly around me.
I finally feel alive and safe.
Adriano deepens the kiss, his tongue pushing past my lips. It’s like he can’t get enough of me. As if he’s making sure this is really happening and I’m not a hallucination or a dream.
His hands roam my body, but when he pulls me closer, I wince.
“Are you okay?” he asks as he steps away from me, concern filling his eyes.
His gaze falls on the blood stain on my leg. I’ve been too much on the move for the wound not to bleed through, I guess.
“I had to cut myself to escape Matteo,” I say, keeping my voice low because I have no idea if Bianca is listening in on us from upstairs.
“What?” Adriano’s jaw goes slack. “What did that asshole do to you? I swear when I get my hands on him, I’m going to tear him limb from—”
“Hey.” I place my hand on his chest because I need him to stay calm. “It’s okay.”
“So you’re pregnant? For real? Twins?” He lowers his gaze to my stomach.
“Yes.”
“That’s... amazing.” His whole face lights up.
“And you’re happy—”
“Of course I’m happy! I just never thought it would happen. I haven’t thought about having a family because it seemed like something impossible for me. My focus was on business and my priorities were all messed up. The things I thought would matter to me the most don’t. I was willing to give everything up to have you with me again, and it only showed me how meaningless it all really was. Because what really matters is you... and our twins.”
I can’t stop grinning and I give him another kiss.
“But now we’re going somewhere safe, and I’m not letting anyone ever hurt you again. Not even me.” He carefully scoops me up into his arms, and I yelp in surprise.
It’s the love that’s so plainly visible in his eyes that makes me realize I’ve made the right choice. And I’m so, so glad for it.