by Ashley Jade
I would run, but that would only make it seem like I'm purposely running away to one of DeLuca's men.
I would call Ricardo back, but seeing as DeLuca tracks my phone, that would be a bad move.
I already know it would seem awfully strange if I'm suddenly reaching out to Ricardo because I'm scared of DeLuca.
I have to play this smart and I have to be one step ahead of DeLuca. It's the only way to survive this.
Dammit. I really regret not telling Ricardo about the baby now. I almost did last night after we made love, considering he didn't use a condom and all, but the moment between us was so perfect.
Not to mention, I fell asleep right after.
Either way, I made up my mind to tell him today. Well, before this happened anyway.
The SUV is still following me closely but I'm only a block away from the apartment now.
And of course, this is the tricky part. I have to cross the street but the other side of said street is partially hidden by a large building.
So, if it is one of DeLuca's men...this is where they're going to make their move.
However, if I run like a bat out of hell...I can cut through an alley which the SUV won't be able to fit through and jet to the apartment.
I quickly scan my surroundings one last time before I make my move. I briefly contemplate staying out here in the open where there are people, but going back to the complex and back to Ricardo is the best plan.
The person in the SUV is toying with me now...but that won't stop them from becoming brazen and taking me in broad daylight.
And since DeLuca has the entire city eating out of his pocket...he'll get away with it.
I reach into my purse and toss another ginger snap in my mouth, hoping to calm the baby down.
I also dig out my keys because— fuck this. I'm not letting them hurt me or my baby...not without one hell of a fight.
I draw in another deep breath, finish the last cookie and toss the box into the nearest garbage can.
Don't worry, Thumper— I won't let anything happen to you. Mommy's got this.
I start running faster than I ever have in my life. Behind me, I hear the sound of a car door opening and slamming shut.
Then I hear heavy footsteps behind me.
I'm almost through the alley but a hand wraps around my mouth and an arm wraps around my waist.
The arm around my waist is what sends me into overdrive.
I dig my nails into their arm and I bite down hard on their hand, so hard that I know without a doubt they're bleeding.
"Fuck. Stop, Lucianna. I'm not going to hurt the baby."
The voice sounds vaguely familiar but I can't worry about that now...because all I can concentrate on is that another person working for DeLuca knows about the baby.
He grabs my arm this time and turns me around.
"Emilio?" I question, feeling relieved and yet still a bit nervous.
Ricardo told me they're close and if I could trust any of DeLuca's men...it was him.
"H-how do you know?"
His shoulders slump and his green eyes fill with sadness. "Luke."
I close my eyes and fight the urge to collapse on the floor because if he knows, then DeLuca definitely knows.
And that explains why Emilio's following me in an SUV...he's here to kill me.
He takes in my expression and shakes his head. "DeLuca doesn't know about the baby." He pauses. "Yet."
I open my mouth but he holds up a hand, silencing me. "I don't have a lot of time. I can talk to you about everything after, but right now DeLuca needs to talk to you. He needs you to do something for him...he'll explain when you get inside the car and turn on the laptop."
I open my mouth to protest but he gives me a look that stops me in my tracks. "You're going to go along with whatever he says...because if you don't; he will hurt you."
He puts his hands on his hips and sighs. "However, there's something you need to know first." He pinches the bridge of his nose, his expression solemn. "He doesn't know about the baby— but Luke did tell DeLuca that you're cheating on him. He told him yesterday afternoon, right after Ricardo beat him up in the dressing room."
My hand flies to my mouth but his eyes turn hard. "Don't freak out. This is not the time to have a goddamn meltdown."
I stand up straight and try to relax...he's right. DeLuca might think I cheated but he still doesn't know about the baby.
That's what really matters.
"Anyway," Emilio says. "I told DeLuca that Luke was full of shit and I covered for you the best I could. I'm pretty sure he believes me. In other words, do not admit or apologize for anything. Pretend like everything is honky dory. And for fuck's sake...do whatever he says without protest. Got it?"
I nod and he leads me to the SUV.
I'm not sure if I can trust Emilio, but I don't see why he would go through all the trouble of warning me that Luke told DeLuca I was cheating on him if he wasn't on my side.
I climb in the backseat and flip open the laptop. It's strange that he didn't just call me on the phone but I know better than to question him about it right now.
Emilio presses a few buttons and a moment later, DeLuca's face appears before me.
I barely manage to suppress my shudder.
"Why the fuck were you running from one of my men, Bambina?" he barks.
I decide my best bet is to play it safe and act like I always have. If I start crying and shaking...he'll know something's up.
I gesture around the SUV. "Seriously, Mio Amore? I've been with you for how many years now? I know that black SUV's with tinted windows are used when you want to kill someone."
His expression turns callous but I fold my arms across my chest and stare him down. "You gonna kill me, mio amore? After all the years I spent loving you with my entire heart and soul, giving you all of me...you're gonna get rid of me like this?"
His eyes soften and I know what I said hit a nerve. "No, Bambina. I'm not going to kill you."
"Then why the SUV?"
His lips turn up in a snarl. "Just because I'm not going to kill you...doesn't mean I won't hurt you," he replies icily.
I sit back against the seat and rub my palms on my jeans. "W-why would you do that?"
My heart pounds in my chest as I wait for him to answer. I know he's going to accuse me of cheating on him. I open my mouth, ready to deny everything.
"Because I need you to do something for me. I also need you to understand what will happen if you don't."
Emilio was right after all.
"Why couldn't you just ask me? You know I've always done whatever you wanted me to."
"Because once I tell you what it is...you'll feel like I was keeping something from you again." He pins me with an evil smile that goes right through me. "And you remember what happened the last time you felt betrayed by me...don't you, Bambina?"
I swallow the lump in my throat and force myself to breathe as I give him a nod.
Then he holds a picture up.
My breath vanishes and my heart falls to my stomach when I notice the picture he's holding is a picture of my father—during what I can only assume was when he was running for mayor.
And as disturbing as seeing that is...there's something else equally disturbing.
He's holding some woman's hand...and although the woman has the unmistakable hint of fear in her eyes...it's not my mother. It's a woman I've never seen before.
That's when I see it and my blood fucking simmers.
Because the other girl standing beside him? Yeah, I've seen her before.
It's that girl, Alyssa—she looks pristine and perfect. She's waving to the crowd while wearing a pretty, pastel dress and smiling.
What the actual fuck? How come I've never seen this before?
Oh, that's right.
I clench my teeth and it takes everything in me not to lose my shit.
Because after that day in the conference room, DeLuca forbid me from using the internet and watching t
elevision.
It wasn't until very recently that I got those privileges back. And the only information the internet gave me about him is older stuff that I already knew.
In other words...there's a reason I've never seen my father with these women before.
"You lied to me," I whisper. "He's still alive." I glare at him and my voice cracks. "You fucking bastard."
Emilio sighs and gives me a look but I pay him no mind.
DeLuca's face grows red with anger and he moves closer to the screen. "Don't you dare sit there and accuse me of lying to you, you little ungrateful bitch," he sneers. "That photo was from a few years ago. He's dead, Bambina. I killed him for you, remember? I saved your sorry ass when no one else gave a fuck about you."
I avert my gaze away from him, hating the small part of me that knows he's right.
"Lucianna," he snaps, his tone even harsher than before.
I have no choice but to look at him. "Why was that girl down at the club working as a ring girl? What is she doing with him in that picture? What the hell is going on?"
He clears his throat. "That is—or rather was your father's new family. And believe it or not, I sent Alyssa to the club for you," he tells me.
That makes no sense. "I don't understand."
"I wanted you to meet the girl who had the life you should have had."
I rub my temples, still not registering at all what he means.
Until he says, "Your father never touched her, Lucianna. He loved her the way a father should love a daughter."
I feel my entire body tense as he continues, "He allowed her to have friends. He allowed her to go to school dances and on dates. He allowed her to go to college. Hell, he even paid for it. She was his pride and joy, not his little plaything night after night."
I bat away the tears starting to form but it's no use. He's just managed to rip the scab off of the biggest wound that scars my soul.
My mind can't help but wonder the questions it so desperately wants the answers to.
Why did my father do all these heinous things to me and not to her?
Why was she protected from the monster....and I wasn't?
Why did I have to suffer time and time again, enduring the most horrible things night after night...while she got to smile, wear pretty dresses, go on dates, and go to college.
Why did he choose to make me his victim?
Why did he make me dirty and ugly inside—while she was made to feel special and beautiful?
The tears start falling faster and I have to bring my sleeve up to my face to wipe them away.
"You see now why I'm enlisting your help for the favor I need?"
I shrug because I really don't. All I know, is that I don't like her even more now. In fact, I downright hate her.
Good thing she's gone for good.
"I need you to issue a warning," he says.
"I haven't seen her since that night but...fine. What do you want me to tell her?"
He gives me a sinister laugh. "You're not going to tell her anything. The warning isn't for her. You're just going to play a little video tape in front of Jackson and my son."
I want to ask what in the world Ricardo has to do with this, but that will only make him suspect something.
So, I go with the next best question. Or rather, questions.
"Why? What kind of warning is it if she's not there to witness it? What did she ever do to you?"
"None of your goddamn business."
I open my mouth to protest but slam it shut. I'm not going to waste my time defending her.
Hell, she has enough people doing that for her as it is.
But I am curious. "Can you at least tell me what's on the tape?"
He wiggles his eyebrows. "Well, during her stay at NYU—she managed to cause quite a stir with a sex tape she starred in."
I'm flabbergasted. "No way. She's not the type."
"Things aren't always what they seem," he says. "But that doesn't matter—the point is, I need you to play that tape."
"Okay. But she hasn't shown up in weeks, though. Jackson's not seeing her." I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "I just don't understand what the point of this whole thing is when she's not in his life anymore."
Jackson and I don't exactly get along but it doesn't mean I'm going to sell him down the river. He's a jerk, but he's important to Ricardo, which means I need to try and protect him when I can.
He clicks his tongue. "That all changed last night. She spent the night at his place."
Dammit Jackson. "So, that's all you need me to do? Just play the tape and nothing else?"
DeLuca nods. "Yes. That's all for now."
Seems easy enough. I'm getting ready to leave....but then guilt snags me.
This is a really fucked up thing to do to someone...even by my standards.
Granted, she was the one who made the sex tape in the first place, but having someone set your new boyfriend up to watch it is just plain mean.
I don't like her...but I don't really want to do this to her, either. "I don't want to do it," I whisper.
Emilio shoots me a warning glance and DeLuca pounds his fist on the table.
"I'm sorry, mio amore. I think it's wrong—" my voice trails off.
On second thought, it's not my problem. It doesn't matter what I think.
I have a baby to protect.
"Never mind, I'll do it," I say quickly. "I'll do it for you."
He looks pleased. "Good. Emilio will hand you the disk."
"Okay. Talk to you later." I signal for Emilio to turn the laptop off but DeLuca barks, "Not so fast."
I'm about to ask what's wrong but then the computer screen goes black before some kind of video starts playing.
I have to fight the urge to piss my pants.
How? What? This can't be happening.
Oh, my god.
I look away and put my head in my lap. Hate isn't even the word for what's playing on the screen currently.
Unfortunately, I'm still able to hear every word.
"Come on, Princess," his voice says. "Do it for Daddy."
"No! I don't want to," a child-like version of me says. Then I start sobbing hysterically.
Both on the video and in real life.
I cover my ears and squeeze my eyes shut. Then a bone chilling scream escapes from my mouth. "Stop!" I shriek so loud my ears ring.
I can't believe the monster filmed the first time he violated me.
Why would DeLuca have this?
That's easy. To torment me.
God, I feel sick. So fucking sick.
Emilio nudges me and I finally realize the video isn't playing anymore.
"Why would you do that to me?" I wail when DeLuca pops back up on the screen.
He smiles darkly. "Because I can. You needed to be reminded that you are mine and only mine...and if you ever think you're not. I swear on your pathetic, miserable life—the very same life I chose to save—that I'll make you suffer far worse than he ever did. Now go and do what you're supposed to," he sneers before the screen cuts out.
Clearly, that was my warning.
Emilio hands me a tissue and gestures for me to step outside of the car.
After we're outside he says, "I know this isn't the best time—especially after what just happened. But you can't have that baby, Lucianna."
I step back, torn between thinking I misunderstood what he said and wanting to punch him.
"You have no right—" I start to say.
"Look, if you actually love Ricardo...then you need to terminate the pregnancy."
He stares at me in shock when my hand connects with his cheek. "How dare you. I'm not getting rid of my baby."
I go to slap him again but this time, he catches my wrist. "Then you'll be responsible for Ricardo's death—because make no mistake about it—DeLuca will kill him over this shit. He's been looking for a reason to take him out without getting in trouble with the DeLuca Council and you just gave him a damn good reason."
My heart stammers and it feels like the world around me stops. "What?" I gasp. "W-what did you just say?"
I can't believe DeLuca wants to kill his own son.
"You heard me. What the hell do you think he's been doing in Italy this whole time? He's been looking for a way to break the curse and kill his son. You just provided the perfect solution."
My eyes fill with tears. "No."
His expression softens. He tries to put an arm around me, but I turn away. "I'm sorry. God, I'm so fucking sorry, Lucianna. Believe me, I don't like this any more than you do."
He runs a hand through his hair. "Ricardo still doesn't know about the baby, right?"
I shake my head because I'm too torn up to speak. I feel like my soul is being shredded in the cruelest way possible.
The birth of my baby will be the death of the other love of my life.
I start dry heaving and collapse on the ground because I can't lose either of them.
"No, Emilio. There has to be a way around this."
He helps me up off the ground. "There isn't."
Yes, there is.
I can't believe I'm even considering it...but this is the only way.
It's the only way to keep both of them alive.
"I'll make DeLuca think he's the father."
"That won't work," he says. "He'll still kill Ricardo." He looks uncomfortable."And I hate to point out the obvious but you haven't been with DeLuca in months. Don't you think he'll catch on?"
"If he comes back soon—or if I make an impromptu trip to Italy to visit him—I can pretend the baby is premature."
He rubs his chin, appearing to consider this. "You'll have to find a doctor willing to cover for you. That's going to be near impossible."
"Do you know any?"
His expression turns pained. "Last time I helped someone out...the doctor ended up dead and she ended up dying anyway."
My mouth opens in shock. "You were the one who helped Ricardo's mom?"
He nods and his jaw works. "Yeah. Hell of a lot of good it did me. Look what he ended up doing to her."
"One good thing came out of it," I whisper.
His eyes connect with mine. "I know."
"Please," I say, my voice cracking. "Please, help me. I won't end up like her...because this time...it's the opposite."