Chapter Thirty-Two Leo
Thank God Drea hadn’t made me promise not to tell my brothers about the baby because the first thing I did the moment we sat down for our weekly business meeting was blurt, “I’m going to be a dad!”
Both Rafe and Gianni stared at me in disbelief for a few moments. “Drea’s pregnant?” Gianni asked.
“Of course she’s pregnant. Who the hell else would I have knocked up?”
“Sorry. You just took me by surprise. You guys have only been married like what, five weeks?” Gianni replied.
Before I could reply, Rafe said, “Wait a minute. Did you two lie to me about fucking around before the wedding?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, asshole, we didn’t.” Turning to Gianni, I said, “And for your information, it happened on our honeymoon.”
Gianni grinned. “You’ve got some hella fast swimmers.”
“Tell me about it. Good thing I wrapped my shit up tight all these years, or there might be a lot of little Leos running around.”
“Do you know the sex yet?” Rafe asked.
“Not yet. But we’re going to do a blood test in two weeks.”
Smiling, Rafe shook his head. “I can’t believe it. You’re going to beat me to being a dad.”
I laughed. “Like it matters. Your son will be the Neretti heir.”
“You know I still like to be first,” Rafe teased.
“Then get busy with Maeve.”
“While that hasn’t been a problem, we still need to get married.”
Gianni groaned. “Great, you’re going to be an old married fart, too. With both of you jackasses married, everyone is going to be on me to do it too.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” I countered.
“I think I'm good.”
“Come on, G. If a total player like Leo can be shouting the merits of marriage from the rooftops, maybe you ought to consider it.”
Gianni slowly shook his head. “Jesus, you two belong in your own pussy-whipped cult.”
I laughed. “Just wait. We’ll get you to drink the Kool-Aid when you least expect it.”
For the first time in a long time, fear radiated in Gianni’s eyes, which was hilarious considering the men we were.
***
Four days later, I was no longer laughing about Gianni’s fearful reaction to marriage. I experienced what I imagined was the look in G’s eyes when I entered the OBGYN’s office with Drea. No, there was nothing remotely humorous about the situation I currently found myself in.
As I sat next to Drea in the waiting room, I tried reasoning that I was a member of the underworld. I’d taken down men twice my size. I’d maimed and tortured. I’d seen a body turned from the inside out.
Yet I was pissing my pants about being around so many vaginas in a medical sense.
Turning to Drea, I said in a low voice, “Remind me again why we’re at a doctor’s in Jersey under an alias?”
“Because I want to protect the baby as long as I can. You know how I feel about the dangers it faces in our world.”
“I don’t think it’s that risky to see a doctor in Manhattan."
“Do you seriously not think my father has eyes on us there? While I might tell him I’m pregnant, I don’t want him having any clue where he could hack my medical records.”
I wanted to argue that she was being paranoid, but I knew better. Instead, I just decided to keep the peace and let her do her thing.
“Mrs. Chagall?”
Nodding, Drea rose out of her chair. As we started across the waiting room, I asked, “Where the hell did you get the last name?”
“Famous painter,” she replied.
With a smile, I said, “I should’ve known.”
Since I was completely out of my element, I stayed close by Drea’s side. First, she had the bloodwork taken for the gender test. Then they took us back to the examination room. After having Drea undress from the waist down, we waited for the doctor.
After pacing around the room, I desperately needed a focus that wasn’t part of the vagina art on the walls. “How did you even find this place?”
“Bianca told me about it. A lot of Bratva women from the city come here.”
I froze. “Is this a Bratva practice?”
Shaking her head, Drea said, “No. The doctor is an outsider.”
“Regardless, doesn’t the fact that Bratva women come here make this place a little dangerous?” Before Drea could answer, I added, “Forget New York Bratva. This has to be in one of the Jersey family’s territories, and we don’t have a single alliance with any of them.”
Drea shot me a look. “Leo, I highly doubt any Bratva are concerning themselves with us being here.”
“As the daughter of a capo, you should know that when it comes to territory, Bratva won’t turn the other cheek just because I’m at the pussy doctor.”
Throwing her head back, Drea laughed. “The pussy doctor? I’m here for the baby.”
“Yes, but this entire practice is based on pussies.”
“I think you’re spiraling,” Drea said with amusement.
“Maybe I am.”
“Why don’t you sit down?”
“Then I’ll be right there next to that model of a uterus.”
Drea snickered. “Leo, you kill and torture men, but you’re grossed out by a plastic model of a womb?”
I scowled at her. “Maybe.”
Thankfully, the door opened then, and a tiny woman with glasses and a silver bun entered the room. “You must be the Chagalls?” she said.
“Yes,” I reluctantly replied.
“I’m Dr. Dunbar.”
“It’s nice meeting you,” I choked out.
As she read over the iPad in her hand, she murmured, “Yes, yes, good, good.” Looking up at us again, she said, “How about we take a look at the baby?”
My heartbeat sped up at the suggestion. “Yeah, that would be great,” I wheezed.
Dr. Dunbar gave me a knowing smile. “First time father?”
I nodded. “First time in a gynecologist office.”
“Yes, it can be overwhelming even for the most hardcore men.” With a wink, she added, “Just wait until delivery.”
“Great,” I muttered.
After Drea lay back on the table, she put her legs in the stirrups. When the doctor picked up a probe-thing sheathed in a condom, I took a step back. “Wait, that’s not going on your stomach?”
Drea shook her head. “Transvaginal ultrasounds are used in early pregnancy.”
“That condom thing is going inside you?”
Dr. Dunbar chuckled. “Oh, I do hope I’m on schedule when you deliver. I just know he’s going to be a hoot.”
While Drea laughed, I scowled at the two of them. Suddenly, the room was filled with a bump, bump, bump sound. “Heartbeat sounds good.”
“Holy shit,” I murmured.
Then a greyish blob on the screen started to take more form. I don’t know why I expected it to look like a tiny version of a real baby with arms and legs already formed. It was more like a tadpole….or maybe a bean.
My little bean.
“Everything looks really good. The arm and leg pods are forming well. Gestational sac looks healthy.”
Drea had tears in her eyes. Looking up at me, she said, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Garbonzo sure is.”
She frowned at me. “Garbonzo?”
“Well, it kinda looks like a bean, and Garbonzo beans come from Italy.”
With a laugh, she shook her head. “You are not nicknaming this baby Garbonzo.”
“Fine. How about Gonzo for short?”
“Leo,” Drea huffed.
“It’s not like I’m suggesting we name him or her that.”
“Good. Because that sure as hell isn’t happening.”
“It’s just a nickname.”
Dr. Dunbar chuckled as she removed the probe. After Drea sat up, Dr. Dunbar handed her a sheet of pictures from the ultrasound. “I’ll see you for a regular checkup in a month.”
“Thanks, Dr. Dunbar.”
She pointed a finger at me. “You behave.”
I laughed. “I’m not making any promises, but I’ll try.”
When she got to the door, she turned around. “For what it’s worth, Garbanzo is a really cute nickname.”
After winking at us, she went out the door. “Ha! We even have the doctor’s blessing.”
Ignoring me, Drea said, “I’m going to go in the bathroom and clean this goo out of me. Then I want you to take me to lunch.”
I nodded. “I’ll just wait for you and Garbonzo in the hallway.
Drea’s response was to throw the wadded-up piece of paper towel at me.