Chapter Forty-One Drea
After Leo left, I made it to my office before I truly lost it. Collapsing down on the couch, I wept until I didn’t think I had any more moisture in my body.
When a knock came at my door, Romano stood in the doorway. “Let me get you home, Mrs. Neretti.”
“Just leave me.”
To my surprise, he ignored my command and crossed the room to me. “Mrs. Neretti, I’ve got two daughters. I know what you’re doing can’t be good for your baby.”
Just the mention of Luca caused me to sob harder. I’d already been so selfish when it came to him.
“All right. Let’s go,” Romano urged as he placed an arm around my waist. After lifting me effortlessly onto my feet, he started leading me out of my office.
“You’ve really got some balls,” I muttered.
“It’s from being a girl dad.”
I hiccuped a laugh. “How old are your daughters?”
“Fifteen and thirteen.” Shuddering, he added, “The hormones will kill me long before the underworld.
I didn’t even bother entering the alarm code. Instead, I let Romano lead me outside and help me into the SUV. Once he got inside and cranked up, he met my gaze in the rearview mirror.
“Let’s get you home.”
Shaking my head miserably, I replied, “I don’t think I can go back there.”
“Would you like me to take you to your parents?”
“God no.”
“Do you want to come home with me? At this point, one more female won’t matter.”
I hiccuped a laugh. “That’s very kind of you, Romano, but I can’t. Please don’t think I won’t forget this kindness.”
“Whatever you need, Mrs. Neretti.”
There was only one other place I could think of to escape. “I need to go to New York.”
***
After calling Bianca on the drive, I discovered she was in the Hamptons. She instructed me to go to her brownstone. I guess she didn’t want to try explaining to Yuri what her pregnant cousin was doing sobbing hysterically in their house.
Romano insisted on seeing me all the way inside. I would be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate him being fatherly towards me. I wanted to tell his daughters how lucky they were to have a father like him.
The moment I took in the familiar kitchen along with the chair where I first sketched Leo, I power-walked as fast as I could to the bedroom. As much as I wanted to dramatically collapse onto the bed in tears, my pregnant belly wouldn’t allow it.
Instead, I gently eased down on the mattress. When I started to cry, Luca began to move. The more I sobbed, the more he kicked and twisted. With a mirthless laugh, I cupped my belly. “Listen up, little man. You need to chill out and let your mom have a good sobfest, okay?”
His response was to jab my bladder.
At that moment, I realized this wasn’t just about me. I had a baby to think about. I couldn’t just have a breakdown. I had to think about our future.
That meant conquering my past in the kitchen, so I could cook a healthy dinner for the two of us. This time it was chicken parm. I was making a salad when my phone rang.
It was Vittoria. “Cara, what has happened with you and Leo?”
“Apparently both good and bad news travels fast,” I replied miserably.
“Oh my love. How did he find out?”
“He’s been in this bidding war for land for his casino. A man was blackmailing him into silence.”
“Did he not believe you about your father forcing you to lie?”
“No. He did believe me. He just couldn’t get over the betrayal.”
“God, I wish I could be there for you right now.”
“I know. I wish you could too. Bianca’s in the Hamptons so I’m here at her place alone.”
“I would try and pretend that I was taking the twins shopping, but now that your father knows, he won’t let us near New York.”
My chest clenched. “Father knows?”
Vittoria’s sigh echoed through the phone. “He’s been on a rampage in his study for the last half hour. He’s threatening Leo if he files for an annulment.”
“Oh God,” I murmured.
“I was afraid he’d already called you.”
“Not yet, thank God.”
“Just don’t answer if he does, and don’t let him know where you are.”
“I won’t.”
“If you need me day or night, just let me know. I’ll find a way to come to you.”
“I know, and I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Just as I started to hang up, Vittoria said, “Just have faith, mia cara. This can all turn around.”
“I wish I believed that.”
“You have to. Sometimes all you have to hold on to is hope. Leandro was meant for you. Too much has happened to bring you together for it all to be for nothing.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Aren’t I always?”
“Pretty much.”
“Your mother is calling me. I have to go.”
“Bye, Vittoria.”
After hanging up, I managed to get a few bites of chicken parm and salad down before I headed back to the bedroom to crawl under the covers. It wasn’t long before I nodded off. The next thing I knew, the bedroom door was flying open.
When I raised my head off the pillow, Bianca stood in the doorway. One look at me and she grimaced. “Oh fuck. It’s worse than I imagined.”
With a grunt, I pushed myself up in the bed. “Thanks for the support.”
Bianca strode across the room before dropping down beside me. “Hey, I just cut short my Hampton’s trip where I was going to be a model in the closing fashion show.”
My lips quirked. “You really do care.”
“You bet your ass I do.”
“Thanks, B.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about getting pregnant.”
“I couldn’t tell anyone. I was too afraid of it getting out.”
“Am I that big of a gossiper?”
“It’s not about gossip. It’s about accidentally slipping up.”
“I suppose you’re right. I guess I can’t be mad at you then.”
“You don’t know how many times I wanted to tell you. How I was desperate to have someone else to talk about it besides Vittoria.”
“Well, I’m here now. You know I’d do anything in the world for you, including face your father’s wrath.”
I gasped. “He called you? Vittoria was afraid he was going to call me.”
“I’m sure if you check your phone since your little nap, you’ll find he has.”
“Great. What did he say?”
She rolled her eyes before lowering her voice to sound like Father. “I expect you to get her ass to the airfield ASAP and on our plane back home!”
“Like he actually gives two shits about me. He just wants me in Philly to try to get Leo back.” With a mirthless laugh, I added, “Like that’s ever going to happen unless he holds a gun to Leo’s head.”
“Well, this is your father we’re talking about,” Bianca mused.
“Very true.”
Tilting her head at me, Bianca’s expression grew serious. “How bad was it?”
As Leo’s reaction played like a loop in my head, I shuddered. “Devastating. But how can I blame him? I deceived him, B. And in a way that is completely unforgivable.”
“Like you had a fucking choice!” Bianca protested.
“Yeah, that didn’t seem to matter to him.”
“Well, it probably will once he’s had a chance to cool off and really think about the situation. He knows what your father is capable of.”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure he can ever get over it.”
Bianca stood up. “All right. That’s enough self-wallowing for the moment. You’re going to get your ass in the shower and get dressed.”
“I’m already dressed,” I argued.
She shook her head. “Like a hobo.”
“Well, excuse me for not stopping to dress like a million after my husband told me to get the fuck out of his sight and to never speak to him again.”
“Jesus, he said that?”
“Yeah, he did.”
Shaking her head, she mused, “That’s some cold shit.”
“If this is your idea of a pep talk or comfort, you suck.”
Bianca laughed. “I’m sorry, but I’m just surprised. Leo never impressed me as someone who could be that cold.”
“What do you expect, B? The man just found out the baby his wife is carrying isn’t his. And his wife didn’t even have the decency to tell him–he had to find it out through blackmail.”
“Yeah, you’re right. You deserved it.”
“Once again, you suck.”
“I’m just trying to get you to see how ridiculous you sound.” She flung the cover off of me. “Shower. Now.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
As I got off the bed, she gasped. “Jesus, you’ve gotten huge.”
“You know, maybe I’ll just try my luck with Father.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not like you’re big anywhere other than your belly.” She held up her right hand. “I swear.”
“You’re going to owe me something chocolatey after this.”
“It’ll be my pleasure.”
***
The shower made me feel slightly human again. Since I hadn’t brought any clothes with me, I had to put on my hobo clothes until we could go shopping. Then Bianca made me change at the first store we found, which thankfully had a maternity section.
I thought being out of the apartment might raise my spirits, but it didn’t. My pain went with me wherever I went, which included five women’s clothing stores and three baby stores.
As we were walking down the sidewalk, the couple in front of us were holding hands. When he leaned over to kiss her cheek, tears stung my eyes.
“Drea, don’t,” Bianca said.
“It’s fine,” I replied, as I swiped my eyes. When she continued eyeing me with a cross of worry and pity, I held up my hand. “Serious, B. I’m fine.”
“One might argue by definition that getting weepy over two strangers smooching on a street corner doesn’t equal being okay.”
“It’s the hormones. They’re a living hell.”
Her upper lip curled in disgust. “Yuri wants us to start the IUI process next year.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “I told him maybe we could pretend I was infertile, and he could use a surrogate.”
“You’re terrible.”
“I want kids…I just don’t want to have to be pregnant.” Taking me by the arm, she said, “Come on. Since I can’t ply you with alcohol, let me get you something slathered in chocolate.
I hiccuped a laugh. “That sounds amazing.”
As we started down the street, Bianca pointed to a high-end bistro. “What about that place?”
“Looks good to me.”
When she started to open the door, the sight of another baby boutique across the street caught my attention. Pulling against Bianca’s arm, I motioned to the store. “Before I succumb to a sugar coma and want a nap, I wanna hit that place.”
With a groan, Bianca whined, “Seriously D, I can’t take any more cutesy baby stores.”
“You don’t have to.” When she started to argue, I jerked my chin at the restaurant. “Go on and get a much-needed drink. I’ll only be there for ten minutes.”
“Are you sure?”
Nodding, I replied, “I’m pretty sure I’m capable of waddling across the street and back.”
Drea laughed. “Okay, I’ll have you something sweet waiting.”
“And pickles.”
Wrinkling her nose, Bianca said, “You’re seriously down for that old wives' tale of pickles and ice cream?”
I grinned. “Sadly, yes.”
“Chocolate and pickles is it.” Turning to the bodyguard, she said, “You stay with her, Bogdhan.”
“Yes, Ms. Bolyshek.”
Inwardly, I groaned. Even though I was used to being shadowed by bodyguards, there was something about this one that gave me the creeps. I think I would tell Bianca the next time she came not to bring him.
As Bianca went inside the restaurant, I walked to the edge of the street. After waiting for the crossing sign, I started walking on the white lines. I was halfway through when something hard poked into my lower back. “What the–”
A voice rasped in my ear. “Don’t make a sound.”
Fear ricocheted through me. Instinctively, I shielded my bump with my hand. I didn’t have to glance over my shoulder to know that it was Bianca’s creepy bodyguard. I’d been right all along about not trusting him.
When we reached the other side of the street, his hand gripped my upper arm painfully. “See that white van?”
Unable to speak, I merely nodded furiously.
“You’re going to get into it.”
“No,” I pleaded.
“If you care about your life and your baby’s life, you’ll do as you’re told.”
At the mention of the baby, a sob choked off in my throat. Just as we got to the van, someone stepped out from a storefront into our path. “Let her go,” the man snarled.
“I’ve got orders.”
“So do I,” the other man said as he reached for my arm.
“Let her go!” Bogdhan snarled.
As they started scuffling and jerking me around, I screamed. People on the sidewalk stopped to stare. “Help!”
When the man released my arm to punch Bogdhan, I took that opportunity to try and get away. If I could get to the people, I knew they wouldn’t shoot into a crowd.
I took two steps when the man grabbed me and spun me around in front of him. At that precise moment, Bogdhan fired his gun. Although it was meant for the man, it struck the top of my arm near my shoulder.
As blood sprayed against my neck and cheek, red-hot pain ricocheted through my body. At the sight of my gunshot, the man ran and started sprinting down the street while Bogdhan started to jump into the white van.
“Don’t leave her, you idiot!” the driver snarled.
“Just move!”
And as the van started squealing out of the parking lot, I collapsed to the ground. Some of the people from the sidewalk ran over to me. “Call 911,” someone shouted.
“I’m on the phone with them now,” another person responded.
“DREA!” Bianca screamed. Her voice sounded far away, but then it grew closer. She dropped down beside me in the street. “What happened?”
“Bogdhan…was…kidnapping me. Another man came… for me.”
Bianca ripped the Hermes scarf from her neck and brought it to my wound. When she pressed down hard, I screamed. “I’m sorry. I just need to try to stop the bleeding,” Bianca replied.
“B?”
“Don’t talk now, Drea. Everything is going to be fine.”
“I need to ask you something.”
She stared intently into my face. “Yes, you can pay me back for ruining my scarf.”
I knew then how scared Bianca was. She was just like Leo in using humor to try to deflect. “If I don’t make it–”
“Seriously, D? It’s barely a scratch. Stop acting like you’ve been gut-shot.”
“I want you to take Luca.”
Her eyes bulged in horror. “No, I’m the last person you should want to take your baby.”
“You’ll be an amazing mom.” Shaking my head, I added, “I can’t have him go to my parents.”
“God forbid.”
As the wail of an ambulance assaulted my ears, I gripped her arm. “Promise me.”
“Okay, I promise.”
Once the paramedics arrived, things began to be muted like I was underwater. Blue and red lights flashed around me while witnesses talked to the police. After working on me for a few minutes, a tall paramedic proclaimed, “All right, let’s go.”
As they loaded me into the ambulance, Bianca hopped in with me. Her face was the last thing I saw as I finally went under the surface.
***
When my eyes opened again, the hospital’s hallway lights were flying by over my head. I realized then the stretcher I was on was being guided by nurses running beside it.
We took a sharp curve before the double doors of an OR opened. “What’s…happening?” I croaked.
“We need to get your baby out,” a nurse relayed.
The room spun around me. This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t lose Luca after everything I’d been through to get him here. “Is he okay?”
“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure he is.”
I wanted to ask more questions, but another mask was put over my face. But this one made me so sleepy. I fought and fought to stay awake, but then I once again went under.