Page 42 of Betraying the Mafia Boss

“That is why you can’t bring yourself to do anything that will hurt him.” She huffs out a sigh, then looks at me. “I won’t talk you into doing something you don’t want to, but I won’t sit on my ass and watch you get hurt. I won’t watch you die.”

“What do we do? I don’t have many options.”

“There’s one option we haven’t explored.” She squeezes my hands. “We haven’t asked Vincent for his help.”

I pull my hand away from hers. “We can’t do that. He’ll know all of this was a setup and he’ll hate me.”

“He won’t if he’s in his right mind. Look at me, Isa.” I tilt my head to look at her teary eyes. If there’s anyone who can relate to me and feel my pain, it’s Naomi. I hate myself for putting her through this. “We have to try whatever option we have until there’s nothing else left.”

“What if he hates me after he finds out? What will I do then?” I sniffle back tears. My head is throbbing with a headache and my stomach keeps churning bitterly. I’ll throw up if I let the tears flow.

“We’ll worry about that when it happens, but we have to worry about keeping you alive and saving Nana for now.” She places the back of her hand on my forehead. “You’re burning up.”

“I’ll be fine.” I’ll take a few painkillers and get maybe a few hours of sleep for the first time in weeks. That should keep me going until this mess is sorted, if it ever gets sorted. Who knows? I may get lucky and die, then none of this will matter anymore.

Naomi gives me a disapproving look. “You’re not taking any painkillers. We need to get you to a doctor.”

“I’m too tired.”

“Do you feel like throwing up?” she asks, raising a brow.

I nod. “I feel this way every morning and most evenings.”

She brings her hand up to one of my breasts and pokes it. “Does this hurt?”

I wince from how tender pain that grips me. “Yes, it hurts. Very much.”

Her eyes narrow suspiciously. I know what she’s thinking. I’ve been thinking the same, but I’ve been trying to convince myself it isn’t possible. I’ve taken morning after pills each time Vincent and I slept together. I mean, I know they’re not completely effective but…I can’t be pregnant.

“Maybe you’re pregnant?”

“Absolutely not!” I don’t hate the idea of being pregnant and although I’ve never really thought of having kids. I love children. But Vincent? Every cell in my body is kicking against the thought of what his reaction would be.

He’ll never accept it.

“You’ve been having sex, Isa. You know what happens when people have sex? They get pregnant.” She sucks in a deep breath. “When was the last time you had your period.”

I think. A month? Two months? I can’t remember. “I’ve been too busy to keep track.”

“Right,” she replies with a sardonic tone. My best friend pushes up from the couch and angles over to grab my hand. She raises me to my feet. “I’m taking you to a doctor and that is final.”

***

An hour later, I’m sitting in a doctor’s office. Naomi suggested we go to another to hospital that isn’t LifePlus for the sake of my privacy and I didn’t protest the idea.

The last thing I want is the whole hospital gossiping about me. Panic doesn’t stop flaring in my chest as I wait for the doctor to read the result and she takes her sweet time in doing so.

I’m so impatient I’m barely holding back from shooting up to my feet and leaning over the table to snatch the paper from her.

Naomi must notice how anxious I am because she places a reassuring hand on mine and pats my hand. It’s enough to calm my nerves a little, but I’m still very nervous.

“Good morning, Ms. Sullivan,” the doctor says, adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”

I want to lose it and tell her to just read the damn result. But I don’t, instead I force a smile. “It’s fine. I didn’t have a problem waiting.”

She grins. “Have we met before? You look oddly familiar.”

“I’m a registered nurse at LifePlus. Maybe we’ve met at a conference for medical professionals.” Her face doesn’t ring a bell, and it’s hard to try and remember when I can’t even think straight. I’m not in the mood for small talk when my entire life is at stake. “About the result?” I prompt.

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