Page 18 of Kidnapped By the Mafia

Her reassurance is enough to get me moving, and I nod, swallowing hard as I slide out of the booth and make my way to the dingy bathroom at the back of the diner. The fluorescent light buzzes overhead as I lock the door behind me, the noise grating on my already frazzled nerves.

I lean against the sink, staring at the box in my hands, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts—Lucas, my job situation, the fact that I’m barely keeping it together as it is.

But there’s no turning back now. With trembling hands, I open the box and follow the instructions, my heart pounding in my chest as I wait for the result.

The seconds drag by like hours, each one stretching out in agonizing slowness. I can hear the faint murmur of voices outside the bathroom door, the clatter of dishes in the diner, the hum of the city beyond these walls.

But all of it feels distant, muted, as if the world has shrunk down to just this moment, just this tiny test in my hand.

Finally, the result appears, and I force myself to look at it, even though I already seem to know what it’s going to say.

Positive.

My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, I feel like the floor has dropped out from under me. Pregnant. I’m pregnant with Lucas’s child. The realization hits me like a tidal wave, a mix of fear, shock, and something else—something I don’t want to admit to myself.

I’m terrified, completely and utterly terrified. But beneath the fear, there’s a flicker of something else. Hope. The idea of having a child, of not being alone, of maybe, just maybe, finding some sort of happiness in this chaotic world—it’s a terrifying thought, but it’s also strangely comforting.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I slip the test back into my pocket. My hands are still shaking as I unlock the door and step out of the bathroom, making my way back to the booth where Mia is waiting. One look at my face, and she knows the answer.

“Well?” Mia asks, her voice gentle, but I can hear the tension underneath.

I nod. “I’m pregnant.”

Mia’s eyes widen, and she immediately pulls me into a tight hug, her arms warm and comforting around me. “Oh, Emily… what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice trembling. “But I can’t keep this from him. Lucas deserves to know.”

Mia gives me a concerned look, her hand still resting on my arm. “And what about you? How do you feel about him?”

I hesitate, the words catching in my throat. But there’s no point in denying it anymore, not to myself and certainly not to Mia. “The reason I left his place so early… it wasn’t because I didn’t want to stay. I was bullshitting. It’s because I was afraid.

“I was already starting to feel something for him, and I didn’t want to let it get any stronger. I’m not in a place for a relationship right now, Mia. I’m broke, I’m a mess, and he’s… he’s Lucas Caprione. He’s worth a fortune and he’s gorgeous. He probably sleeps with a different woman every night of the week.”

Mia’s expression softens, and she squeezes my hand again. “You’re not a mess, Emily. You’re just going through a rough time. And as for Lucas… I don’t know him, but I do know that people can surprise you. Maybe he’s not as heartless as you think.”

“I don’t know,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t know what to think anymore. But I do know that I can’t make this decision without telling him first. He deserves to know, and I need to know how he feels about it.”

Mia nods, her eyes full of understanding. “You’re right. He does deserve to know. And no matter what happens, I’ll be here for you. You’re not alone in this.”

As we finish our drinks and get ready to leave the diner, my mind is already racing with thoughts of what I’ll say to Lucas, how I’ll approach him, and what this new reality means for both of us.

I’m scared—more scared than I’ve ever been—but I know there’s no turning back now.

12

EMILY

Istand outside the building where I used to work, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. The air is crisp, the kind that cuts through your jacket and makes your breath visible.

I’ve been here before but today is different. Today, I’m not here for a paycheck—I’m here because I have no other choice. I have to find Lucas.

I tried going to his penthouse. I even worked up the nerve to walk up to those gleaming glass doors, my heart in my throat as I approached the doorman.

But the moment I mentioned Lucas’s name, he shut me down, his expression turning from polite indifference to thinly veiled disdain.

He didn’t believe me, of course. The whole encounter left me feeling foolish, like a child trying to claim she knows the king, only to be laughed out of the castle.

So now I’m here, back in this drab, depressing building that I swore I’d never return to. The walls have been painted, the floor looks new, and the smell of coffee and desperation has gone.

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