Page 121 of The Don's Soulmate

The car swerves violently, and I grab onto the seat to steady myself. I have no idea what’s happening now, nor do I have the courage to ask.

"Ettore!" I scream as another contraction rips through me. The pressure is unbearable, and I feel like I'm being split in two.

"I'm here, cara," Ettore says, his voice steady despite the chaos around us. His blue eyes lock onto mine, fierce and determined. "The baby's crowning. You're so close."

I bear down, pushing with all my might. The sound of horns blaring and tires screeching fills the air, but Ettore's voice cuts through it all.

"That's it, Carlotta. You're doing beautifully. One more big push."

Tears stream down my face as I gather my remaining strength. "I can't," I sob, overwhelmed by the pain and fear.

Ettore's hand cups my face, his touch gentle yet firm. "You can, amore. You're the strongest woman I know. Our baby needs you now."

His words ignite something within me. With a guttural cry, I push again, feeling the baby slip from my body. The relief is instant, followed by the most beautiful sound I've ever heard – the acknowledgment of new life.

"He's here," Ettore whispers, his voice thick with emotion. "Our son is here, Carlotta."

Suddenly, a piercing cry fills the air, cutting through the chaos of screeching tires and blaring horns. My eyes fly open, meeting Ettore's gaze. His eyes, usually so calculating, now swim with an emotion I've never seen before – pure, unbridled joy.

"He's here," I breathe, my heart swelling with love as Ettore shows him to me. I look down at our son. His tiny face is scrunched up, wailing his arrival to the world. Despite the danger surrounding us, a bubble of laughter escapes my lips.

Ettore bends down, cradling our baby boy in his strong arms. His voice, usually so commanding, is soft as he whispers, "I love you both so much."

I drink in the sight of our child – a perfect miniature of Ettore and me, from his shock of dark hair resembling mine to the determined set of his tiny jaw inspired by his father. Tears blur my vision as overwhelming joy courses through me.

"He's beautiful," I murmur, reaching out to touch his velvet cheek. "Just like his papa."

Ettore's lips brush my forehead, tender despite the calluses on his scarred hands. "You did it, cara. You were so brave." His praise washes over me, soothing the aches of labor and fear.

"We did it," I correct him, my voice thick with emotion. "Together."

As I gaze at Ettore holding our son, I see a new side of this dangerous man – a protector, a father. In this moment, surrounded by chaos yet cocooned in love, I know that no matter what comes next, we'll face it as a family.

The tender moment shatters as a bullet whizzes past, embedding itself in the headrest inches from my face. I instinctively curl around our newborn, shielding him with my body.

"Sofia, hard left!" Ettore barks, his arm bracing against the door to keep us steady. The car lurches violently, tires squealing as we careen around a corner.

My heart pounds, and adrenaline surges. "Ettore, he’s getting closer!"

His eyes meet mine, fierce determination blazing in their depths. "We're not letting him take our son, Carlotta. I swear it."

Another shot rings out. I flinch, clutching our baby tighter as he wails in distress. "Shh, tesoro," I whisper, trying to keep my voice steady. "Mama's here. You're safe."

Sofia's knuckles are white on the steering wheel. "There's a tunnel ahead. If we can lose him there—"

"Do it," Ettore commands. He turns to me, his hand cupping my cheek. "Hold on tight, cara. This might get rough."

As we plunge into darkness, I close my eyes and pray.To whatever gods might be listening, to the universe itself – please, let us escape. Let our family survive this nightmare.

The tunnel seems endless, a blur of flickering lights and loud echoes. I'm hyper-aware of every jolt, every swerve, my arms instinctively tightening around our son.

"We're losing him!" Sofia's voice is breathless with hope.

Ettore leans forward, eyes scanning the road ahead. "There's an exit coming up. Take it, but be ready to double back if we need to."

"Ettore," I whisper, "what if—"

He cuts me off gently. "No 'what ifs,' cara. We're getting out of this. All of us."

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