"Not that we're aware of. We just lost our mother and if he wasn't feeling well physically we would have known." Xavier spoke softly.
"Well, we're going to run some tests, do an MRI and a cat scan to see if we can figure out what made this happen. He's in ICU and has been touch and go in regards to being conscious. He is slightly awake and aware right now and continues to ask for Maria."
"I'm his daughter." I told the doctor quietly.
"Come with me, please." I handed Anna to Pierre and followed the doctor. We walked for a bit and finally stopped in front of a large door. The doctor opened the door and walked in with me. "Don't be surprised if it takes him a few minutes to respond to you. If you need anything, please hit the nurse button." I smiled through the tears and walked over to my father's bedside.
"Mia figlia, I haven't been honest with everyone." My father spoke slowly and softly.
"What do you mean, papa?" I took his hand, it was freezing cold. I moved my hands over it softly to try to warm him.
"I have been sick for a month. Mama and I didn't want to tell you or your brothers. Mama was getting better but I was getting worse. I have been watching your brother Xavier very closely but he doesn't want to become Don when I am gone. Marco is no longer fit for the position or the honor and Pierre doesn't belong to this life anymore..."
"Papa, you are going to get better. The doctors will find out what's wrong and they'll fix it." A few tears escaped my eyes and papa smiled at me.
"They aren't going to be able to fix it, my love. I have stage four brain cancer and there is nothing they can do but give me pain medication and make my last days comfortable. I need you to be strong. You are so much like your mother and I hate to rely on you for everything. I never have deserved you as my daughter, Maria. You are my only hope. I know you will make changes and take charge in my stead. Mia figlia amorevole, sei la nuova donna." I gasped.
"Papa, no. I'm not strong enough. I can't do it." I felt more tears fall from my eyes. My father is dying and he just handed the entire Italian mafia over to me....
Chapter Twelve
Nikolay
Rumors always spread like wildfires and this rumor was good for me but only if it was true. Yesterday was a bad day. I had planned on seeing Maria and telling her that I would do anything to be with her and that I was falling in love with her but she had to cancel. I began to wonder why. It worried me that she was crying when she called me.
So, naturally I had Demitry start to snoop and dig into what could be going on. There was an ambulance called to the Salvatore Mansion and her father was taken to the hospital. Natalia had used her connections to ask about what was going on and she was told that the bastard had stage four cancer.
My heart broke for Maria but it didn't change the fact that I was the Russian boss and I needed to prepare to take over the Italians while they were at their most vulnerable. Demitry and I had spent days in my office working on plans and scenarios that would work in our favor of a takeover. It wasn't until my father walked in a few moments after we had started to finalize plans that my day became a bright ball of sunshine.
"What do you want, father?" I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair.
"There's been a new Italian boss appointed." I stood up immediately and stared him down.
"WHO?!?!" I screamed.
"We don't know. All we know is that the person who gives us our intel on the Italians says that there was someone very close to the boss that was appointed. It's probably one of his sons, that wouldn't surprise me. It would be kept hush hush for their safety until the one that was chosen is sworn in." My father sat in the chair across from my desk.
"We need to find out who it is and take them out. I want to own each one of them. I want to unite under one rule. I want to destroy the legacy of the Italians." I was fuming over my plans crumbling to pieces.
"I'll try to get some more intel but for now that's all we have, Nikolay." My father stood up and walked out of my office.
"We have to get something, Demitry. I can't stage a takeover with a rising Italian. I can't force them under my rule with this rumor going around. I need to find out who it is and kill them before they gain the strength that the last Don had." I slammed my hands on my desk.
"I'll work on it, top priority." Demitry silently walked out of my office. I picked up my phone and texted Angelika. I was falling in love with Maria but I couldn't help the urges I needed satisfied. I had been messing around with her for years. It was just a casual friends with benefits kind of thing. I fucked her brains out and then she would leave. We wouldn't talk about our problems. I hadn't done this with her in a long time.
Me: Come over. Now.
Ang: I'll be there in 5 minutes.
I went to shower quickly before she got here. It was nice to know that I could be with someone and not have to worry about who they're related to and if they're my enemy or not. I finished in the shower and I got a text from Demitry. It better be news that I wanted to hear or something important.
D: Got some more intel. It's been confirmed that it's one of his children. Don't know which one. Will keep digging and trying to find out.
That's exactly what I wanted to hear. I would have to threaten an Italian to do it so that it didn't come back on me. If Maria found out anything, she would kill me herself. She was my weakness besides Anya. If anything happened to her I would kill anyone or anything that moved. Angelika walked into my room as I walked out of the bathroom only wrapped in a towel. She was wearing a tight and short black dress with red heels.
"Well hello there gorgeous," I smirked at her.
"It's been a while, Niko." She smirked back and sat on my bed. I walked over to her and caressed her face.
"It's been too long, krasivaya devushka." I kissed her hard.
"Since when did you start speaking Russian again?" She paused after kissing me back.
"I've been relearning and trying to reteach myself how to deal with the members in the family that only speak our language and not English." I kissed her again and she pulled off my towel. I yanked her dress off to find that she wore nothing underneath. I pushed her back on my bed and had my wicked way with her.
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After about two hours of absolute fun and stress relief, we both got dressed and decided to have lunch. I was famished and I'm sure she was too. Before we walked down the stairs I pulled her into me and kissed her. I heard a glass shatter and looked at the bottom of the stairs. I saw her standing there. Maria was standing there in my house. What the fuck was she doing here? I ran down the stairs to her as she just stood there, fists at her side and tears streaming down her face. I royally fucked this one up.
I got to her and she landed a mean right hook to my face. I was shocked that she had that reaction. Maria wasn't like that. "You are the biggest asshole I've ever met in my life and I've met a whole shit ton of them!" I gasped as she cursed. I had heard her do it before when she was frustrated with me but it didn't sound right coming out of her mouth. "I came to talk to you. I just came here since I didn't really want to have this talk in public."
"We can talk in my office." I placed my hand out and she timidly placed her hand in mine. We walked into my office and she sat down on the couch that was on the opposite side of the room from my desk. "Okay, so let's talk..." She looked at me with tear filled eyes.
Chapter Thirteen
Maria
I was sitting there on the couch in his office, crying like a baby. I was terrified to tell him because I didn't know how he would react. He just sat at his desk and stared at me, waiting for me to talk. I stood up and started to pace. I didn't know how to say it.
"Are you going to say something or are you just going to continue wasting my time?" He tapped his fingers on the desk.
"Um, okay. I never planned this. I never went to that party to sleep with someone. I never meant to sleep with the boss of my enemy. I never meant to cheat on my fiance. I didn't mean for an
y of this to happen. You are this amazing man that I can't be with. It's like the universe gave me everything I wanted and tore it all away within a matter of a couple of months. I don't know how to feel about us. God, there isn't even an ‘us’. There isn't anything between us. I wish there was or that there could be. I have to be realistic and think of what's best for us. God, I keep saying ‘us’ and it's not ever going to happen! I just wish that we could be this big happy family like I always dreamed of. I didn't dream that our child would be shuffled back and forth between my house and yours. I didn't dream of our child growing up in two different homes. I didn't dream of our child not having both of his or her parents there when they were tucked into bed at night. I just want us to be a family! I can't do this on my own and I know that if we could be together I wouldn't be on my own but I feel absolutely alone. I mean I couldn't even tell you I was pregnant a month ago and I can't even tell you now..." I slapped my hand to my mouth as I realized that I had spilled my guts to him.
I didn't even have a chance to look up before he had his hand around my throat and pushed me against the wall. I gasped for air and tried to claw at his hand. I looked into his eyes and saw cold emptiness. "You're a liar. It's not possible. It's not mine." He threw me onto the couch and I gasped for air.
"I am not a liar. It is yours. You're the only man I've ever been with and you know it!" I screamed at him.
"You'll take care of the problem. I'll see to it that your doctor takes care of this problem." His eyes were so cold and distant. I was terrified.
"If you don't want this child then fine but you will not kill my child. This is not just yours! This child is mine!" I stood up and placed a hand on my belly.
"You will do as I say. You aren't going to keep MY child!" He shouted back at me.
"It really is true. You are a monster. I thought the things that my father and brother did were awful but you want to kill a child. Not just any child...your child." I walked towards the door and opened it. The tears were falling like floods from my eyes. He followed me and grabbed my arms.
"You will not turn your back on me, Maria. You did this. You wanted this. I never wanted this. I don't want a child with an Italian whore." He spat the words as if I was some disgusting thing. He released my arms and pushed me away. Demitry came around the corner and stared at us. I stood up and wiped the tears from my eyes.
"You are a coward and I am a fool. You used me. You got what you wanted. You got to fuck me! You can rot in hell! You are a monster and that's where you belong. I will NEVER let you see this child!" I screamed at him. I ran down the stairs and out the front door to my car. I was an idiot. I should have never told him. I should have gotten Marco in bed and lied to him. I should have told him the child was his. I was doomed. The whole house must have heard it. The Russian boss knocked up the Italian boss' daughter. I got in the car and drove back to the hospital to be with my father.
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I got back to the hospital after stopping at the condo to get a few things for Anna and I. I needed some new clothes and a few other things. I wasn't planning to leave his side unless it was absolutely necessary. My phone started to ring as soon as I parked the car. Caller ID said it was a blocked unknown caller. I didn't answer. It was probably the asshole father of my child. I was royally screwed. How could he tell me to kill my child? I got out of the car, locked the doors after grabbing my bag, and walked into the hospital.
My brothers were in the room and Anna was laying in the bed with Papa. Belle was sitting in the corner, my uncle was standing beside her. Paolo was standing by the door. Marco was nowhere to be found, again. I sat my bag down and walked over to Papa, kissing his forehead and hugging him gently. "Do you mind if I take Paolo and Belle to get some tea with me, Papa? We won't be gone long, I promise."
"You and Anna should really go home and rest, my darling daughter. I won't wither away and die while you're gone for ten hours. You're brothers said they weren't leaving at all so I've got company. Please, I need you to be at your best and well rested." His eyes pleaded for me to go back to the condo and sleep. It would be easier to talk to Belle and Paolo there.
"As long as before I leave, you bring in four more enforcers and they don't leave the room unless you leave. They will be your shadow. It's not up for debate, Papa." I smiled as he laughed.
"Xavier can make the arrangements. I'll agree to that. You are already flourishing, daughter." He smiled and gave Anna a big hug and kissed her forehead. "Papa loves you sweet girl."
"I know Papa! I loves you too!" She giggled and planted a big kiss on his cheek. She climbed out of the bed and ran into my arms. I picked her up and held her tight. She never deserved to lose both of her parents before the age of four. Belle stood up and hugged her father. She and Paolo followed me to the car.
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Anna was in bed sound asleep as I softly shut the door to my room. I joined Belle and Paolo on the couch. I had to tell them everything that happened. I felt the tears falling for the millionth time today. "I told him."
"You told him about the baby? What did he say?" Belle grabbed my hands and held them in hers.
"He called me a whore and told me to get an abortion. He told me that he didn't want the baby." I broke down and sobbed as I fell into Belle's arms.
"I'm going to kill him for saying that about you." Paolo took my hand.
"I should have known that was the way he was going to react. I knew going into this that it wouldn't be a happy ending." I sobbed again.
"I have a crazy idea. I know you're both going to think I'm crazy but it would benefit both of you." Belle looked between Paolo and I.
"And what's that, Belle?" Paolo looked curiously at her. He felt something for her. I saw it from the day that they met.
"I'm only saying this because I care deeply for both of you. Maria needs saving and Paolo you need it too."
"Spit it out, Belle." I rushed her into saying whatever it was.
"You should get married. It would solve everything. You don't have to do the marriage stuff that people in love do but Maria would have a cover for the baby. Let's be honest, you're the only one that I would trust to raise my god son or daughter, Paolo. You would gain position and power too, that's something you've always wanted."
"That actually might work..." Paolo said softly. I didn't even think he would agree with the nonsense that was coming out of Belle's mouth.
"If Paolo and I got married, I would be okay with Belle moving into the condo permanently and you guys could be together. Paolo and I could be together until a couple months after the baby is born and then you guys could really be together." I was okay with that if they were.
"It's settled. We're getting married, baby." We all laughed as Paolo winked at me. I wasn't alone in this. I would have Belle and Paolo. I was going to protect my child at all costs. I didn't trust anyone more.
Chapter Fourteen
Nikolay
It'd been a month since I'd seen her face. I had hurt her but she had kept a great secret from me. She should have told me as soon as she had found out. I was going to be a father and I didn't have any choice in it. She was right, I don't have a say. We aren't married. We aren't together. Our child will never really be ours.
Our child will be hers. We have given this child the worst life possible. I won't be able to see him or her unless it's in secret or even at all after what I said to her. What kind of life for a child is that? Should I just walk away? Or should I just help her financially since that's all I can really do without physically seeing her or the child? I hadn't noticed that Anya had crawled into my lap until she wrapped her arms around my neck and put her head on my shoulders. "Hi Papa," she whispered. I softly smiled at her.
"Hi baby, what're you doing home? Did you not want to stay with Babushka and Ded?" I asked her as I gave her a hug.
"No, they aren't very fun like NaNa. They didn't make mac and cheese. They made gross sandwich
es." She made a funny face and stuck her tongue out.
"Things are different here, love. We talked about how different Babushka and Ded would be. They are serious people, little love."
"Was my mama serious like them?" She looked up at me.
She had never really asked about Anastasyia before. "Your mama was the most serious person I've ever met in my life but she was also the most fun person I've ever met too. She would be serious when she needed to be and fun when she wanted to be. She was the life of the party but still managed to take care of everyone else too." I poked her nose and kissed her forehead.
"Papa, is that girl like my mama?" She smiled.
"What girl, baby?" I looked at her confused.
"The girl that was in your office with you and then got sad and ran out of the door? Did you make her cry Papa?" I sighed and looked at the ground.
"What do you want to do now? I'll make some mac and cheese and we can play with the new dolls that your Babushka gave you." I tried to change the subject. She was a very smart girl and god knows she would only ask more questions if I didn't.
"Papa...." she sighed. She knew that I was trying to avoid answering her.
"It's complicated and not for pretty little girls to worry about." I kissed her forehead again. "Let's go talk to the cook about your birthday party, huh?" Anya sighed again, admitting defeat.
"Okie dokie, can I have a princess party?" I laughed at her.
"Of course you can, you're my princess aren't you?"
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Two weeks had gone by and it was finally Anya's birthday. My gorgeous little princess was turning seven years old. It was hard to believe that Anastasyia, Vladimir, and Raina had been gone for seven years. I hadn't thought much about how the void they left behind in my life was never really filled but the night that I had met Maria, she had somehow begun to fill the void that Raina had left. I was amazed and knew that if I was given the chance I could have been happy with her. We were never going to have that chance.
Dangerously In Love: Mafia In Love Series, Book One Page 6