Page 62 of Always Meant To Be

We had a checkup last week, Romeo demanding it, and so far, the baby is at its expected size. No, we don't know what we're having.

My choice, much to my husband's dismay. He withheld orgasms for over an hour in punishment for my not wanting to know, but he understood. I want to be able to enjoy my pregnancy and not have people talking about how our son will be the future heir to the Italian Mafia, and whether he'll stay in New York or decide to move to Italy and run things from there. I certainly don't want to discuss the man my daughter will marry to strengthen the organization.

I mean, I get it. If we're having a boy, he will be the heir and take over from Rome one day, but a girl….

I shake my head and grab my bag, happy it's the weekend.

If we have a daughter, I need to discuss the expectations with Rome because I won't marry her off to someone she doesn't love.

My father sold me, and yes it turned out okay, but that's not always the case.

I look around the room and ensure its tidy when I hear footsteps. I begin to smile, thinking maybe Rome got off work early today, but my smile drops at seeing Damian. He smirks, running a hand through his slicked back hair.

"Hey, Elly," he says, trying to be seductive as he bites his bottom lip, and I shudder.

Elly, again, seriously?

I silently curse as I ask impatiently, "What can I help you with, Damian?"

He grins wide, putting his hands in his slacks. "I wanted to see if you wanted to grab a bite," he says looking down my black wrap dress, ignoring my bump before looking up again.

I raise a brow at him. "That sounds like a date…."

He shrugs. "Would that be so bad?"

I snort and say sarcastically, "Well, considering I'm twenty-three weeks pregnant and, oh yeah, married, I'd say it would be."

He smirks. "You're not happily married, Elly. I heard you are sleeping separately and that the baby won't stay with you when it's born."

What the? How could he even know…. I narrow my eyes at him, looking over him, my eyes going to his neck, noticing the signature “L” hickey, and I laugh in his face, causing it to go red with anger.

I try to calm down, but the image of Liliya whispering in his ear hits me, making my laughter go louder.

He's such a gullible idiot.

Did he think I'd leave my husband for him just because she said I would? I've never even given him one reason to believe I wanted him that way. Jeez….

"Let m-me guess," I stammer, trying to get my breath back after a few minutes, "my sister managed to get out from under my father’s thumb for a little while, and fuckedyou, of all people, to achieve what exactly?" His nostrils flare. "Not only is she after my husband, has been for years, but you fell for whatever lies she's told you in hopes of getting him." I smirk at him. "My husband and I are very much in love and happy, and we'redefinitelysharing a bed…."

Growling to hide the embarrassment I can see clearly from here, he sneers, "She's a better fuck than you are anyway."

I laugh again. "And how did you find that out exactly, when I've only ever slept with my husband?" He takes a menacing step forward. I ignore the panic building, raise a brow, and beg, "Oh please, raise a hand to me; I mean, you being in this room is all the ammunition Rome needs to kill you, and being the Don of the Italian Mafia means he'd get away with it." His face pales. He steps back while I take a step forward and sneer, "You propositioning me, while I'm pregnant at that, then insultingme, is enough for you to be suspended, so please do me a favor and try and hurt me, I'm begging you. Because at least then everyone will believe you've just left town when you go missing."

He tenses, and I furrow my brows as I look down to see he's pissed himself, and I laugh again as he runs away.

"I guess he had no idea who Rome was," I mutter, picking my phone up before walking out of my classroom, locking the door just in case, not trusting Damian not to do something.

If he's involved with my sister, then he's dangerous. I may have sounded brave back there, but really, I was shaking like a leaf that he may hurt my unborn child like my sister was probably hoping for.

She failed once at poisoning me, so why not try again with someone she thought was a friend when, in reality, I saw him as a pest? I was just too nice to ask him to leave me alone. Plus, I loved how jealous Rome got.

I walk to the other side of the school, where the entrance is, out the double doors, and smile when I see Aldo. He raises a brow, crossing his arms over his broad chest, and I groan.

"Let me guess, you didn't like how long I was taking and decided to check the camera feed Rome has no idea I know about."

He smirks. "It doesn't surprise me you know about that, but yeah, I did, and right now, I'm trying my hardest not to go in that school and kill the fucker."

I grin. "Does it help that I made him piss himself with threats of Rome?"

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