Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
ROISIN
T he rumors surface first. I try to ignore them. Not to get my hopes up, because this news is big and will go a looong way to helping me with the unsettled feeling that constantly surrounds me, even though I try my damnedest not to consider whether I’m still in the Viper’s crosshairs.
I know he never wanted to let me go. Knew he felt like he’d been robbed of something he should have. And like he said himself, he always gets what he wants.
Since he wanted me and was thwarted, I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.
But if this is true …
I hardly dare to believe.
Except, that evening, my brothers are almost vibrating at the dinner table.
I can't help but notice the glances they keep exchanging. Something's up, and I have a feeling I know what it is.
Finally, Callum can't contain himself any longer. He slams his hand on the table, making the dishes rattle. "Roisin, you're not gonna believe this."
I raise an eyebrow, trying to keep my face neutral even as my heart starts to race. "What?"
Ciaran leans in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Vito Rossi–The Viper–is dead."
The words hit me like a physical blow. I grip the edge of the table, suddenly dizzy with relief. "Are... are you sure?" I ask, wondering if such a life-altering benefit can really be true.
"Positive," Ciaran says. "We’ve been trying to confirm the recent rumors, and our sources are rock solid. Apparently, he was found in his own living quarters at LCN with a bullet between his eyes. Poetic justice, if you ask me."
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. The relief is so overwhelming it's almost painful. For the first time since my release, I feel like I can breathe freely.
But as my brothers continue to talk about the implications of the Viper's demise, a wave of nausea washes over me.
I force myself to focus on the conversation, to nod and smile at the right moments. Inside, my mind is racing. With the immediate threat of the Viper eliminated, I know I should feel nothing but relief. I figure it must be a side effect of the overwhelming sea of emotions I’m feeling, which are breaking over me like tidal waves.
Callum pours champagne and raises his glass in a toast. “To the end of that feckin’ snake," he says, triumph in his voice. I lift my own flute mechanically, but the tumultuous feeling in the pit of my stomach forces me to do nothing more than pretend to sip, but while the bubbles dance mockingly, a dreadful thought occurs to me…
Did my brothers play a part in the Viper’s demise? Is that what this sick feeling is? Because if that’s ever proven to be the case or even suspected—then nothing will ever prevent a full-scale war with La Cosa Nostra.
Inevitably, my thoughts turn to Dominic and the nausea swells, causing me to excuse myself from the table in a hurry.
“Are you okay?” Ciaran asks, concern lacing his voice.
I nod. “Yeah, I just… this is a lot to take in.”
Thankfully, neither of the twins seems to be surprised by that. They exchange a look but let me go without questioning me further.
I only just manage to get back to my suite. Hurrying to the bathroom, I barely make it in time before I retch into the toilet bowl, and shortly after that I climb into bed, hoping a good night's sleep will help.
Except it doesn’t.
The following morning finds me in the same position, staring down the toilet bowl before I’ve even eaten. What the heck?
Not only that, but my breasts feel tender and achy, making me wonder if my period is about to start.
That’s when I stop in my tracks as shock splinters through me and my heart begins to race as I mentally count back the days. No, it can't be! But as I stand there, frozen in place, the realization hits me like a ton of bricks. I'm late. Very late.
Fuuuuck!
Running into the bedroom, I dig out the burner phone and pray Emylyah is free to answer before the freak-out threatening to explode my brain escapes the tenuous control I have over it. I need a pregnancy test and there’s no way I can get hold of one of those by myself, without anyone knowing.
I fumble with the jammer and have to stop and take a deep breath, checking it over again to ensure it’s activated properly. This is another conversation I really can’t afford for anyone to overhear.
My sweaty fingers slip on the phone screen, and I have to stop and wipe them on my sleep shorts, but finally, I manage to make the call.
The phone rings once, twice, three times. Each ring feels like an eternity. I'm about to hang up when Emylyah's sleepy voice answers, "Hello?"
"Lyah, it's me," I whisper, even though I know the jammer is active. Old habits die hard. "I need your help. It's urgent."
There's a rustling sound on the other end and when she speaks again, her voice is clearer, more alert. "Roisin? What's wrong?"
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I need you to get me a pregnancy test. As soon as possible. And... and I need you to be discreet about it."
There's a moment of silence on the other end. When Emylyah speaks again, her voice is gentle but edged with shock. "Oh, shit. Are you sure?"
"No," I admit, my voice cracking. "That's why I need the test. But... I'm late. And I've been feeling sick. And with everything that's happened..."
I trail off, unable to finish the thought. Emylyah doesn't need me to. She knows about Dominic.
“Why don’t you come and stay over… now the Viper’s dead, your brothers should ease up a little, don’t you think? And as it happens, Nico and Darian are away on business tomorrow night.”
I used to stay with Emylyah all the time, but I haven’t since before… Now, though, it seems like the obvious choice. But can I wait until tomorrow for the life-changing news I’m desperate to confirm?
“Okay,” I tell her. “Good plan.”
I need to get my head on straight, put on a good show and make my brothers think the news of the Viper’s death has freed me from the shackles that have been holding me back from living my life to the full. They’ll buy that, right?
Thirty minutes later, I breeze into the dining room, ready for the performance of my life.
“Hey, are you okay now?” Callum asks as I grab bacon, eggs, and toast from the buffet the kitchen has delivered. Fortunately, after spewing my guts up, I’m ravenous.
“I can’t remember the last time I felt this great,” I tell him enthusiastically around a mouthful of food.
He looks a little skeptical and I wonder if I’ve overdone it. “Last night…”
I cut him off. “Last night I had a lot to get my head around,” I tell him, sipping at the glass of orange juice he places in front of me. “This morning, I feel like I’ve been given my life back.”
“That’s great news,” he says, stepping forward and kissing the top of my head, making me feel ever so slightly guilty for deceiving him.
Except I’m not. Not really. I am relieved about the Viper. More than I can properly put into words. It’s just that it's been overshadowed by this new bombshell. But I don’t even know if that’s actually a thing yet. After all, shock and trauma can affect your period, and I’ve sure as hell had my fill of that. So it could be nothing… Well, that’s what I keep telling myself, anyway.
“Well, that will stop me from fretting since I have to go out of town tonight and Ciaran’s got a late dinner with Million.” He smirks as he mentions Maximilian Smith and cuts a glance at his twin who’s been forced to play host to Million’s obnoxious daughter recently.
Ciaran only grunts in response, his eyes glued to what looks like a set of photos, and Callum shakes his head, waves goodbye, and leaves the room.
“So, since you and Cal are both gone this evening, I think I’d like to go hang out with Lyah. It’s been a long time since I went to stay with her and I’d kind of like to get back to normal now any danger from the Viper has passed.”
Ciaran looks up from the pictures in his hand, but I sense he’s not giving me his full attention. “Is everything okay?” I finally ask, shelving my own agenda out of concern for my normally stoic brother. “You’re not going to tell me it’s all a mistake, are ye? And the Viper is still alive?” I can’t keep the tremble out of my voice that makes the Irish in my accent thick.
Ciaran huffs out a breath and shakes his head. “Oh no, he’s dead alright.”
Relief sweeps through me once more. Thank the lord, or else I might just have lost my breakfast right here in front of my brother.
“But?” I ask, because I know there’s a but. Janey Mack! Could he have found out about Dominic? He’s managed to get all this other information from somewhere. Probably an LCN soldier on the take who is open to providing information.
“Maricela was hurt… badly,” he finally reveals and just the thought hurts my heart. She was tossed back to that evil monster because of me, and I can’t help the whimper that escapes my throat at the news that despite the Viper’s demise, he brutalized Maricela before he met his maker, making me wonder if she’s the one who pulled the trigger, and what that might mean for the poor woman. My brother is clearly riddled with guilt over what has happened to her too, which is… unexpected. Not that he’s a completely heartless monster. But it does beg the question of whether there was more going on between them than I know about. But that’s a conundrum for another day.
I’m fortunate Ciaran is completely preoccupied with the news and doesn’t question my sudden decision to spend the night at Emylyah’s. Or maybe he just thinks it’s a good idea, since he and Callum are otherwise occupied. Either way, he gives his blessing, and I breathe a sigh of relief before excusing myself to go pack an overnight bag.
In the afternoon, Liam drops me off and leaves me for the first time since the night of my escape from the Viper's clutches. It feels strange to watch him drive away, knowing I’ll no longer be under constant surveillance. A mix of freedom and vulnerability washes over me as I turn to where Emylyah waits for me at the front door of her own gated compound.
My friend greets me with a tight hug. "I've got everything ready," she whispers, ushering me inside.
Once we're safely in her bedroom, Emylyah pulls out a small paper bag from her dresser drawer. "Here," she says, handing it to me. "I got a few different brands, just to be sure."
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
With shaking hands, I rummage through the bag and extract several boxes containing pregnancy tests.
"Do you want me to wait outside?" Emylyah asks gently.
I shake my head. "No, please stay. I don't think I can do this alone."
The next few minutes are a blur. I follow the instructions mechanically, then set the tests on the bathroom counter. Emylyah sets a timer on her phone, and we sit on the edge of her bathtub, waiting in tense silence.
The three minutes I have to wait feel like an eternity. I pace back and forth, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. If I am pregnant with Dominic’s baby, what does that mean for our organization? How will my brothers react? And most importantly, how do I feel about it?
Deliberately, I don’t even peek before the time is up. When the timer on Lyah’s phone finally chimes, I take a deep breath, slowly turn and walk back to the counter to look down at the tests. Each one shows two pink lines, clear as day.
Positive.
My mind numb, I sink to the floor, my back against the cool tile wall, as the implications of this result wash over me. I'm pregnant. With Dominic's child. The very thought sends a shiver down my spine—a mixture of fear and... something else. Something I'm not quite ready to name.
I place a hand on my still-flat stomach, my heart racing. How am I going to explain this to my brothers? They'll be furious when they find out I'm pregnant, let alone when they learn who the father is. And Dominic... What will he do when he discovers I'm carrying his child? Do I even tell him?
The fragile peace between our families suddenly seems more precarious than ever. One wrong move could shatter it completely.
"Roisin?" Emylyah’s concerned voice pulls me out of my internal dilemma. "Are you okay?” she whispers, sitting down beside me and giving me an awkward side hug.
“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly, pushing to my feet, my mind still in a daze. I splash some cold water on my face, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I need a plan, and fast. This pregnancy isn't something I can hide forever, especially not from my overprotective brothers.
The truth is, the Viper may be gone, but I'm carrying a secret that could be just as dangerous.