Chapter 59
Ascending the stairs to our bedroom, I rubbed a hand against my belly as our little one wriggled around.
I couldn’t help but smile. I would miss it when they arrived, but I also couldn’t wait to hold them in my arms and shower them with endless amounts of love.
If my excitement wasn’t enough, Arturo practically had a countdown on his phone… He couldn’t wait to become a father.
Placing my water and phone on the vanity, I sighed.
I had been feeling sick all day and had planned to crawl back into bed to binge something on TV, but the thought escaped me the second I saw Maria standing in the middle of the nursery.
Luca and Papa had been good on their word, getting the nursery looking how we wanted with the wall knocked down.
“Looks amazing, doesn’t it?” I asked, stepping into the room.
“Hmm…” she turned to me, eyebrows drawn. “You know, Isabella… You really shouldn’t have children.”
Ice filled my veins at her emotionless tone. Her accent was no longer there, it had been replaced by posh, flawless English. Unable to string a sentence together, I stared back at her, confused and shocked.
“You give them everything, and what do they do?” she chuckled, sinisterly. “Suck you dry and then order your death.”
“Maria, are you okay?” I asked, trying to understand what she was going on about.
With a hiss, she yanked open the top of the dresser and started launching neatly folded onesies across the room before chucking the drawer against the wall.
“Maria!” I yelled, confused at what I was seeing. “Stop it! What are you doing?”
“That boy does not deserve happiness… Not after what he did to me.” Another drawer followed, diapers flying all over before the drawer slammed on top of the other one.
“He deserves nothing .” The hate filling her words sent chills up and down my spine.
Part of me wanted to grab hold of her and force her to see what she was doing and saying, the other, more sensible part of me recognised instability a mile away.
“Maria, please, I don’t understand… Arturo’s done nothing but miss y?—.”
“Miss me?” she spat. “No. He is not capable of it!”
“Maria, I?—”
“I’m going to take his life away from him, just like he took mine.” Her head tilted to one side making my skin crawl. Clutching my stomach with one hand, I backed away with the other raised. Fear for our baby and the love of my life made my heart skitter.
“Please, Maria, I don’t understand why you want to hurt him, he’s your son.” I whispered, my breath hitching.
“Oh, you silly, silly girl. You misunderstood me,” she laughed. “I don’t plan to kill him . You’re his life…” Her eyes darkened with each passing second, “you and your baby.”
“No…” my voice caught in my throat as I stumbled backwards towards our bedroom, my heart thumping furiously in my chest.
“The more you run, the harder it’ll be,” she grinned, stalking towards me like something out of a horror movie.
“Maria… please, you don’t want to do this.” I begged, trying to soothe her in some way.
I backed toward the vanity, keeping my eyes firmly on Maria’s wide, unseeing ones. In a desperate move, I reached for my phone, cursing when she launched herself at me. Protecting my stomach, I ducked to the side, gasping as she swiped the device and glass of water crashing to the floor.
Fuck! What the hell was going on?!
My eyes glanced around to find a way past her, but she shoved my shoulders, sending my back colliding with the vanity.
“Ah,” I cried out as pain radiated up my spine.
“He ruined me,” she growled, fisting my hair.
Letting go of my stomach, I yanked her wrist to the side, and shoved her stumbling back a few steps. “Stop this! He’s your son!”
“He’s no son of mine. He’s as good as dead to me.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I felt sick. “Just as your baby will be,” she laughed, launching for me once more.
Gripping my hands into fists, I dodged her attack, making her slam into the bedside drawer. As I swivelled around and headed for the door, I heard a car roaring up the driveway.
Arturo.
Sprinting as fast as I could, I hurtled towards the stairs with Maria hot on my heels.
“Isabella,” she hissed, “you think you know him… but you don’t.” I halted at the top of the stairs, knowing in my heart I knew him better than anyone else.
“You’re wrong. I do know him, it’s you that doesn’t.” I spun on my heel, coming face to face with her. “He has always been honest with me.”
“Has he though?” Her head tilted again as she stalked closer.
“Did he tell you it was him who arranged to have his mother killed?” Her lips curled in disgust. “Or how much he wanted me out of the way to continue his criminal life?” Her crazed voice echoed in my head.
“You… criminals. You’re all the same.” I swallowed as she looked me up and down.
So she did know… “Weak, pathetic, life-suckers who must destroy others in order to feed their own lives and line their pockets. Getting rid of you will be a service to society, knowing there’ll be one less to worry about…
But watching you die? That will fill me with happiness. ”
Time slowed as she gripped my shoulders, digging her nails into my skin.
No, I couldn’t let her hurt our baby.
Get away from her, Bells.
Tyler…
Get the fuck away from her. Now!
With all the strength I had, I gripped her forearms and pushed back.
Her frail appearance had all been part of the farce.
This woman was strong and well trained, she knew what she was doing.
Grinning, she hoisted her knee swiftly up to my bump.
I gasped at the crippling sensation rebounding through my chest. Gasping, I tried to catch my breath but it was no use, she repeated her action, only harder than the first. Letting go of her arms, I doubled over in pain, whimpering as I felt warmth pool between my legs.
No!
Tears filled my eyes. I didn’t dare look down. I couldn’t… I was too scared.
She’s strong Ty… She’s going to hurt my baby.
Breaths seesawed in and out of my chest as Maria growled, making me glance up.
To my horror, she had pulled a kitchen knife from her back pocket.
Before I could move, she brought her arm down in a wide arc, slicing the blade across my stomach without a second thought.
The searing pain hit me like a train. The heat of it made me want to vomit as I clutched the wound, shuddering as blood seeped through my white t-shirt.
Don’t you dare give into her, Bells!
Fight the pain. Fight everything until Arturo gets here.
Please…
Tyler’s words were vivid and so loud it was though he was there beside me.
But the cut had been deep and I was struggling to staunch the blood.
Tears tumbled down my cheeks as my limbs became sluggish and I felt myself weakening with each passing second.
My head was spinning but I knew I had to do something.
I had to get away from her and get to Arturo.
From somewhere deep down inside, I found the strength I needed to pull myself up.
With the little energy I had left, I gripped the arm that held her knife in a tight grip and twisted.
She howled in pain, dropping the blade to the ground with a clatter.
I shoved the heel of my hand into her chest sending her flying backwards.
But as I did, my foot slipped out from beneath me, sending me tumbling down the stairs.
Just before my world went black, Maria’s sinister eyes caught mine as she smiled.