Page 73 of Warped

“Don’t talk about dying! I can’t do this alone.” Sudden panic filled me. “Oh, God. I can’t be a mother! I can barely look after myself. I’m a horrible person. I can’t possibly raise a child. All I’ll do is fuck him or her up. They’ll end up thinking of me the way I think of my father.”

He took my hand, squeezing my fingers tight. “Hey, stop that. It’s understandable to be worried, but you’ll be a great mom. Look at how you took care of your sister, even after everything she did.”

I shook my head. “You’re wrong. I abandoned her and left with you. If I’d stayed, she might not be with him right now.”

“No, if you’d stayed, both you and our unborn child would be dead. You did what you had to do.”

“I don’t—”

“Listen to me, Vee.” He stared hard into my eyes. “You might not give in to your feelings easily, but you know what? That’s a good thing. Because when you do, you do it fully and completely, and you would literally lay down your life for the person you love. I’ve seen that in you. You will take care of our baby like a lioness takes care of her cub. I know you will.”

I glanced back down at where our hands were joined. “I’m scared,” I admitted. “The idea of a baby terrifies me more than any crazy gangster chasing me down.”

“You can handle it, Vee. You’re the bravest person I know. And you’re not on your own. I’ll be with you every step of the way. I swear it.”

A painful lump caught in my throat, and I reached for him. He pulled me into a tight hug, and I buried my face against his neck, taking comfort in having him close. We loved each other, and we were going to have a child together. Suddenly, everything else paled in significance.

A gentle knock came at the door, and we let each other go, turning our attention toward the sound. The door cracked open, and a nurse I hadn’t seen before entered the room.

“Ms. Guerra?” In her hand she clutched flowers and a helium balloon with ‘Get Well Soon’ written on it. “Someone just dropped these off for you, and wanted me to make sure you get them. There’s a card attached.”

I stared at the balloon and flowers. Who would know I was here? The person who’d put me in the hospital in the first place? Tony was dead, so at least I knew it wasn’t him.

X reached out and took the gift. He yanked the card from the flowers and quickly read it before handing it to me.

My gaze scanned the letters and my heart crawled into my throat.

See you soon, D.

“They’re from my father,” I managed to say, my voice a whisper.

“Get them out of here,” X said, shoving them back toward the surprised looking nurse. “Give them to someone else.”

“Oh, okay. Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Yes, please. I never want to see them again.” I looked up at X. “He knows I’m here.”

“Then we’ll leave as soon as we can. I’ll get you to safety, Vee. I promise.”

I had time. My father could have killed me already, if he wanted to. He wanted to play this out for as long as possible, to torture me as punishment for betraying him.

My father was free. I no longer had my sister to care for. But I did have something. My hand instinctively went to my belly.

I had X, and I had our baby.

I just hoped we both lived long enough to see him or her born.

My father was the most feared mafia don in the city.

And he wanted me dead.

THE END

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