Chapter 35 Matteo
MATTEO
Iwent upstairs to Bianca’s room as was my nightly routine. We’d grown closer over the last few weeks, and it felt normal to visit her, even if sometimes she didn’t have much to say. On those nights, we’d simply sit and watch TV together.
I opened her door to find her living quarters empty. Frowning, I went to her bathroom and knocked on the door. The sound of her shower going let me know she was likely inside.
“Bianca?” I called out. “Are you well?”
“H-Help,” she choked out.
Immediately, I opened the door and stepped inside to find her naked on the floor of the shower, curled into a ball.
I rushed to her, turned off the water, and grabbed a towel.
“Did you fall?” I demanded. The babies could be hurt if she did.
“N-No… I-I think I’m in labor. It hurts.” Her small body trembled as I draped the towel over her.
“OK.” I pulled my phone out and dialed the doctor. The moment he answered, I started talking. “I think Bianca is in labor.”
“How far apart are the contractions?”
“Bianca, about how far are your contractions?”
“F-Few minutes. Like e-eight or nine. I think.”
I repeated her words into the phone.
“She needs to go in. That is the plan still?”
I eyed her. “Yes. That’s the plan.”
“I will meet you there.”
I hung up and dialed Alessio. He answered on the third ring.
I knew he was spending time with his girl, and that girl I assumed was Indigo, considering he’d killed three Russians in the palace only nights ago and took her to her room.
I didn’t ask him outright, but he didn’t deny spending the night with her after admitting he may have overreacted a little.
Cutting off someone’s dick was definitely an overreaction, but then again, it was one of Ivanov’s men.
I couldn’t be too mad. I was, however, concerned about his involvement with Indigo, given that Frank was her father and our tie to the underground.
The entire reason I had her protected at the palace was that I did not want Everett getting his hands on her.
She was a bit of a hot commodity, being a female De Santis.
Everett had begged to own her contract because he wanted her for his breeding program.
He’d been looking for her for ages. I happened to be lucky enough to find her first.
And save her.
Despite her teen years being awful, I made it a point to keep her locked away and hidden from all.
Frank thanked me. And she hated me. She’d been on the streets.
In foster care. It was a mess, and I couldn’t have my family living that way.
Plus, she was roughly the same age as my Gianna would have been.
“I need you. Bianca is in labor. Reach out to Klaus and Alessandro. We are going to the hospital. I will meet you there.”
“See you soon,” Alessio said without hesitation.
I disconnected the call, went into the shower, and lifted Bianca into my arms. Despite being pregnant with two babies, she was quite light. I carried her back to her room and placed her on the bed.
I quickly grabbed clothes from her closet and came back to her.
“Can you dress yourself, or do you need help?” I asked, kneeling in front of her.
She gasped and reached for me.
Knowing she was having a contraction, I took her hand in mine and held it.
“Breathe,” I murmured. “I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I talked her through it until her hold lightened.
“I-I can dress myself,” she finally said, sniffling.
I reached out and wiped her tears away before getting up and turning my back to her.
I heard her rustling as she tried to dress in the sweatpants and t-shirt I’d given her.
“I-I’m ready,” she called out.
I turned and went back to her.
“Do you have a bag?” I asked. I’d made sure to leave her one for the hospital for her to pack.
“Yes. It’s in the closet.”
I went to the closet and found it sitting in a corner. Grabbing it, I went back to her.
“I-I don’t have anything for the babies to wear.” She looked up at me, tears in her eyes. “I-Dominic has everything at our house.”
“I’ll handle it,” I said gruffly, offering her my arm. She wound hers through it and let me lead her out. Instead of taking the stairs, I took her to the elevator.
“You have an elevator in your mansion. I should have known,” she muttered. “And yet you made me take the stairs whenever I got to leave the room.”
I chuckled at that. “Walking is good for you.”
She muttered something, but I didn’t ask her to repeat it, assuming she was calling me an asshole.
We made it downstairs, her leaning heavily on me. For a moment, I contemplated calling Dominic, but I tabled the thought. I had a lot to deal with regarding that. I wasn’t ready to face it all, and maybe I never would be. I’d likely die before I got to tell him what I needed to say.
I figured he wouldn’t listen anyway since he hated me so much, but that was my own fault. I could never blame him for my anger, even though I’d tried over the years. Speaking to Santino helped me a lot.
“Oh god,” Bianca muttered, pulling me to a stop as she leaned forward.
I dropped her bag to the floor and held her against me.
“Sir?” One of my guards came into the hall. His dark eyes darted to Bianca, then to me.
“Get Frank. Have him pull the car around.”
He rushed out, leaving me with Bianca.
“Breathe through it. Just like we practiced,” I murmured.
She nodded, trying to level out her breathing.
“There you go. You’re doing great. I’m proud of you.”
“I really… hate… you right… now.”
I laughed at that. “I am not the one who impregnated you. Don’t hate me.”
“Shut up, grandpa,” she said, her voice wobbling.
Grandpa.
I blinked at her words.
She didn’t know that I was Dominic’s father.
I hadn’t put much thought into the babies, but I now realized one of them was my grandson.
Fuck. I wasn’t old enough to have grandkids.
I breathed out with her. I’d worry about all this shit another time. Right now, I needed to get her to the hospital safely.
Frank burst into the hall, his blue eyes wild.
“I’m here,” he said, rushing forward. “Come on, sweetie.”
He took her hand and led her outside as I grabbed her bag. Frank wasn’t exactly the paternal sort, but I suppose he had a lot of experience with women giving birth since he’d knocked up so damn many of them.
We got Bianca into the SUV, and I was grateful that several of my guards had already loaded up and would follow us. I’d trained them well.
Bianca snuggled against me as Frank pulled away from the estate, my men behind us.
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “And I can’t believe I’m leaning on you for help.”
“I’m here,” I murmured. “Funny how times change, isn’t it?”
She nodded and let out a soft hiss.
“Just breathe,” I said gently as another groan slipped past her lips, her breathing ragged. “Even breathing, Bianca. Do the best you can, little queen.”
She made it through another contraction, and I caught Frank’s eye in the rearview mirror.
“Sylar’s mom gave birth in the front seat of my car,” he said. “So I can deliver if we need to.”
“Frank, eyes on the road,” I said.
He nodded and focused again.
Bianca groaned. “Do you have your gun? Just shoot me.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I won’t let him deliver the babies. I’ll do it before I let him.”
She whimpered.
“Alessandro is coming. He will meet us there, OK?”
She nodded. “C-Can I talk to Dominic and the kings?”
“Later,” I said. “Let’s just get you settled in first.”
“I want Dominic and Fallon,” she whimpered. “Please.”
We had to keep playing the game. If Carmine and Francesca found out that I was trying to mend fences or that Dominic and Fallon had anything to do with this situation, they would storm everything and try to take the babies. I couldn’t let that happen.
“I know,” I said tightly. “Trust me, it’s better this way.”
She sniffled and buried her face against my chest. I knew it wasn’t all that long ago that she’d gone through hell with Tate Riley. Raped. Abused. And still, she remained strong.
Dominic had indeed chosen well.
We made it to the hospital. Frank wasted no time rushing inside to get a wheelchair. I helped Bianca into it and pushed her inside.
It didn’t take long to get her checked in, and by that time, Alessandro had arrived and went to his knees in front of her, murmuring things I couldn’t hear.
I knew he didn’t love her, but the woman he’d fallen for was in for a world of unconditional love, because if he behaved this way with someone who was a friend, then I could only imagine the way he’d treat his wife.
They took Bianca away, Alessandro following. I made my way upstairs and waited in a waiting area. I had no plans on leaving.
“How is she?” Alessio asked, coming up to me.
“In labor. I expect we will be meeting some babies soon.”
“And how do you feel about that?” Alessio asked.
“I… don’t know.”
Alessio clapped me on the shoulder. “Klaus said he would try to come later, but he’s upset about the lead he had on Rosalie. It’s taking him nowhere, and that’s made him a little unhinged.”
I nodded. I assumed he’d not come away from the streets to stand in a hallway for hours with us. I understood it. Admired it, even.
“He loves her,” I murmured. “Rosalie.”
“He does, but he has a lot going on. I do not think he is ready to be in such a serious relationship.”
I nodded. “I have had these same thoughts. He wants a second chance with his boys. He is with us, too. I can’t let him leave.”
Alessio sighed. “Brother, we all want out of this life. Do not lie to yourself.”
“I’m not. I want out,” I replied. “But sometimes things don’t work out the way we want.”
“They will,” Alessio said firmly.
I smiled sadly at his words. “How do you know?”
“Because I see how tired you are. It helps that your brother has come home. I have no doubts that he will ensure everyone is free.”