Page 68 of Kidnapped By the Mafia

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EMILY

Four months later…

The mansion is quiet, the afternoon sun streaming through the large windows of the sunroom where I’m sitting.

My laptop is open in front of me, the cursor blinking patiently as I try to focus on my latest assignment. But my mind keeps drifting to the baby, to the tiny life growing inside me.

It’s strange to think that any day now, Lucas and I will be parents. I place a hand on my belly, feeling the gentle movements, the reminders that she’s almost here.

Across from me, Lucas is sitting with a book in hand, his presence a comforting constant. He’s been spending more time at home lately, always close by, always ready to support me in whatever way I need.

I glance up at him, feeling a rush of warmth at how far we’ve come. There’s a lightness between us now, a sense of ease and comfort that makes me smile.

“Are you sure you’re not overworking yourself?” Lucas asks, looking up from his book with a raised eyebrow, his voice tinged with concern.

I smirk, not missing a beat. “I’m pregnant, not fragile, Lucas. Besides, if I don’t finish this, I’ll have to ask you to do it for me.”

He chuckles, closing his book and leaning back in his chair. “I might surprise you with my knowledge of 18th-century literature experts being interviewed for The Times.”

I roll my eyes, laughing softly. “I’m sure you would, but I’d rather finish it myself, thank you.”

As I type, a sudden, sharp pain grips my abdomen, causing me to wince. It’s not the first time I’ve felt discomfort, but this is different—more intense, more urgent. I try to brush it off, but the pain doesn’t subside, and I can feel my breath hitching.

“Emily?” Lucas’s voice immediately shifts from playful to concerned, and he’s at my side in an instant, his hand warm and steady on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

I breathe through the pain, trying to stay calm even as panic starts to bubble up inside me. “I think it’s time.”

His eyes widen, and for a brief moment, I see a flash of panic that mirrors my own. But then, just as quickly, he’s all focus, all determination. He’s been preparing for this, even if it’s coming a bit sooner than we expected. “Okay, we’ve got this,” he says, more to himself than to me. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”

He helps me to my feet, his arm securely around my waist as we make our way out of the sunroom. The familiar surroundings of the mansion feel surreal, like I’m moving through a dream.

Everything looks the same, but nothing feels the same. My heart is racing, my mind spinning with the realization that this is really happening.

As we reach the front door, Mia rushes over, her eyes wide with excitement and a touch of nerves. “Oh my God, it’s happening!” she exclaims, practically bouncing on her toes.

“Yeah, it looks like it,” I manage to say, trying to smile through the pain.

Mia grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly. “Don’t worry about anything, okay? I’ll be here when you get back. You just focus on having that baby.”

“Thanks, Mia,” I whisper, grateful for her presence, even as another contraction makes me gasp.

Lucas is all business, gently but firmly guiding me to the car. He helps me into the passenger seat, his movements careful and precise, like he’s trying to protect me from anything and everything.

Once I’m settled, he’s behind the wheel, and we’re off, the tires screeching slightly as we pull away from the mansion.

The drive to the hospital is a blur of pain and breathless anticipation. Lucas keeps talking to me, his voice a steady anchor in the chaos of the moment. I can hear the concern in his tone, but there’s also something else—an underlying excitement, a thrill that we’re finally here, at the edge of this new chapter.

“You’re doing great, Emily,” he says, his eyes flicking over to me every few seconds. “We’re almost there.”

I try to focus on his words, on the sound of his voice. “Just… keep talking to me. It helps.”

“Alright,” he agrees, his tone lightening slightly as he searches for something to say. “Did I ever tell you about the time Jake tried to teach me how to cook? It ended with the fire department showing up.”

Despite the pain, I laugh, the image of Lucas and Jake in a smoke-filled kitchen almost enough to distract me from the contractions. “I think… I need to hear that story in full… later.”

“You got it,” he promises, glancing over at me with a smile that makes my heart swell. Even now, in the midst of all this, he can make me feel safe, loved.

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