Page 44 of Deadly Don's Baby Contract

“I’m pregnant, not dying,” I say to her. “There’s food in the fridge, so we can warm something up. I do not want to look like I ate for ten after this, so I will just eat like a normal person. Thanks.”

“Stress is bad for babies, and there’s been a lot of stress.” I can read between the lines; I know what she means, and it has worried me, too. “Do you want to do yoga or something with me?”

“Guilia, have you ever seen me do yoga? Or something—” I chuckle, and she shrugs. “I am fine. How is Franco?” I know she’s seen him, and I need to know he’s okay.

“He says he’s fine. The apartment looks like a bachelor pad. Takeout is the entire food pyramid, and he’s growing a beard.” He’s miserable. He hates staying in the city. He should be here. I can go somewhere else. This is not fair. “Maybe you should go see him,” she suggests.

“He said he wanted space. He hasn’t even called me. I don’t think he wants to see me,” I say with a heavy heart. “I’m not sure we are ready to face all of the stuff between us yet.”

“Stuff is a creative way to describe it.” She laughs at me. “He misses you, Aria, and he’s an idiot when it comes to feelings. Go and see him, take him a proper meal, talk to him.” Guilia is so naïve in many ways. She’s not been tainted by her family. Her heart is still golden.

“If he wanted to talk to me, he’d call,” I say.

“God, you two are both so fucking stubborn,” she says. “Aria, my brother loves you. He misses you, and he’s miserable without you. He is too proud, stubborn and stupid to admit all that, so he is hiding away.” Guilia is blunt now. “One of you has to cave and talk first. If you wait for him, your child will be graduating college.”

I know she is right about all of it. We are both stubborn and hiding from the truth. We’re miserable. “I don’t know.”

“It’s easy. You can go see him tonight. Have some nice food, and talk.” She smiles. “Maybe don’t talk. I don’t know, but the man is a wreck without you.” I’m a wreck without him, but together, we are something far worse, and I’m not sure that’s worth it.

“I can’t even go buy baby clothes, and you think a trip across the city is going to happen?” I’m not allowed to go anywhere. It’s not safe.

“I heard you killed three guys,” she says as if it’s not murder, just yoga or something. “I’ll take you to his apartment, and I’m pretty sure anyone who gets between you two will end up dead, so it’s fine.” Guilia is full of mischief and loves to meddle.

“Okay.” I give up, knowing he’ll not come to me. “But you have to help me,” I say. Guilia claps her hands and pulls out her phone.

“We will order from his favorite place, and I will get maid service in there today. The place looks like a pigsty.” She’s the sibling I never really had—my brother never cared enough to help me do anything. I have not just fallen in love with Franco but with his family, too. Well, not Marco. He isn’t very lovable. He’s a lot like my brother.

“You are presuming he will even let me in the door.”

“I have a key,” she says. “You know he can’t say no to you. But maybe another outfit, something sexier?”

“Nothing fits me.” I sigh; my changing body has somewhat killed my confidence. “This is as sexy as it gets right now.”

“It will not do.” She frowns. “I have a shopper who can fix this hot mess.” Guilia sends a text, then snaps a photo of me, and I’m sure it breaks the camera. “There, she’ll send some things over for you.”

“Thanks, I think.” She passes me a plate of reheated chicken and vegetables. “I’m scared that we can’t make this work,” I admit to her.

“You love him. He loves you.” I nod. “Then it already works. My parents were a train wreck, but they loved one another. It was enough.” I worry I am not enough to be a wife or a mom.

“There’s a whole lot more than just enough needed, though.”

“Why?” she asks. “Don’t make it complicated in your head.” Guilia pokes me in the chest. “Use that.” My dumbass heart got me into this tangle. I’m not about to trust it won’t fuck it up more now.

***

I have Giulia’s key in my hand, but I knock first. I am hoping that this wasn’t a huge mistake. My sweaty palms and the knot in my stomach are all signs I should just turn and leave.

Five more seconds, then I’ll just go. He’s probably not here anyway.

The door handle shakes, then it opens, and a rough-looking Franco greets me through the gap. “Aria,” he says, “what are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?” I ask, feeling exposed in the hallway. “I have ordered dinner for us, and I think we need to talk. Enough space and time. I miss you, Franco.” I’m honest with him. There’s nothing left to hide.

Franco opens the door for me to come inside. He looks exhausted. “I miss you too,” he says softly, but I hear it and my heart flutters. There’s hope for us. I turn around to face him, overwhelmed by how good it feels to be near him again. I can’t hold back—I don’t want to.

Before I can, Franco grabs me and pulls me into him, kissing me like it’s the first and last time all at once. “Franco,” I moan. His touch sets me on fire. It’s as if we were never apart, my body remembers his, and it craves more right away. We barely make it into the apartment before we pull each other’s clothing off.

There’s no talking, and words can’t express what is being said because we desperately need one another. Franco pulls the dress, I carefully chose, over my head. He tosses it to the floor before his lips find mine again.

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