Page 23 of Lured By the Cartel

"Not much,"he mumbled softly, avoiding eye contact. Typical. He'd been employing avoidance tactics lately whenever a conversation veered towards sensitive topics. Well, not today. Today, shit hit the fan.

I rose abruptly, chair scraping against the hardwood floor. Startled, he jerked upright, spilling hot liquid onto the countertop, scalding his fingers. But I barely registered his discomfort, consumed instead by anger surging, heating my blood, and pounding in my ears.

"Marco..."He started uncertainly, wiping away some drops carelessly with a nearby cloth. Good. Let him try to clean up his mess first; maybe he'd understand the hidden meaning behind that.

"No more games, Lucas,"I snapped sharply, advancing until mere inches separated us. Close enough to see the fear flash briefly across those expressive features, close enough to smell the sweetness permeating his skin, and also close enough to feel the heat radiating off him, drawing me closer still.

His breath hitched, surprise widening his dark irises. Guess he hadn't expected confrontation so soon. Too bad. Expectation only delayed his inevitable reckoning, and it also made things worse.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?"I growled low, my voice dropping menacingly, resonating within the confined space. Shock flashed briefly before acceptance replaced it, realization dawning slowly yet undeniably. Bingo, not that it was much of an achievement. I was just happy that we were dealing with our current situation.

"Yes,"he whispered, his gaze flickering downward. There it was—confirmation straight from the source itself. No more hiding behind lies, evasions, or half-truths. Just raw honesty laid bare.

Rage ignited, burning white-hot behind my eyelids, threatening explosion. Pregnant. Unplanned. Unexpected. Scary. All rolled into one terrifying revelation threatening stability. Everything we built since...

Since... well, forever really. Since becoming mine. Since claiming him fully, binding ourselves for the rest of our lives. And now this—an unexpected variable shattering my carefully laid plans.

But most importantly, fear clawed at my insides—fear of failure, loss, or rejection. Fear of losing someone precious. Fear of letting go, letting slip something fragile, fleeting, and precious.

Yet, despite the turmoil raging internally, externally, calmness descended swiftly, settling upon my features, and masking my emotions. Control returned steadily, reasserting dominance. Here stood Marco Rossi, alpha cartel leader, feared by enemies, respected by allies, loved by few. Not some weak-willed fool crumbling under pressure, unable to face challenges head-on.

"Sit,"I ordered, gesturing towards the table tucked neatly beside a window. Without protest, he complied, lowering himself onto a seat. Smart boy. He obeyed me most of the time, a trait I admired deeply, and secretly envied too.

Once situated comfortably, I leaned against the opposite counter, arms crossed defensively across my chest. Power stance, dominant posture. A reminder of who held authority here. Who commanded respect, obedience, and loyalty. Until proven otherwise, anyway.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"I began, watching intently as he squirmed beneath my intense scrutiny.

"I-I don't know,"he admitted softly, looking away shamefaced."Scared, maybe?"

My brow furrowed, confusion flashing briefly before comprehension dawned. Scared? Of what exactly? Me? My reaction? Our future together?

"Why scared?"I pressed further, needing clarification. Needing reassurance. Needing answers."What did you think would happen if you told me the truth?"

He shrugged, picking at non-existent lint on his pants leg. Damned nervous habit surfacing now, huh? How long had he been suppressing his anxiety, bottling up his fears?

"That you wouldn't want-"

"Want what?"I cut in right away, impatience flaring brighter than anger ever could. Enough dancing around issues. Time for a more direct approach.

"A child,"he blurted out, meeting my gaze for a brief moment before averting his eyes again. Cowardice masked as bravery sometimes. Clever, though.

"And why wouldn't I?"I challenged while keeping my tone calm, feigning ignorance. At the same time, thoughts raced in my mind, scenarios played out rapidly, and consequences weighed heavily in my thoughts already. Yet none reflected poorly on him. None hinted at doubt lingering deep inside. Only certainty remained solid.

Because despite everything else, regardless of circumstances surrounding our lives, one fact remained unchanged—I wantedhim. Wanted us. Wanted whatever came between two people bound intimately.

"Lucas,"I said softly, stepping forward suddenly, catching him off guard. His eyes widened, shock flashing before yielding swiftly to surprise.

I grasped his chin gently but firmly, tilting his head back slightly, forcing eye contact once more. Up close, changes became evident—darker circles etched underneath his lids, pale pallor replacing usual rosiness, subtle fullness accentuating his lips. Evidence piled high, concrete proof stacked steadily against denial. Yet still, I needed verbal admission, spoken words confirming the suspicions looming large and ominous over us both.

"What do you want, Lucas Chen?"I demanded, searching deep into those dark depths, seeking answers. Answers only he possessed.

"I..." he began, faltering immediately, taken aback by the intensity glowing in my gaze. It was fair; confronting an alpha's will was never simple, particularly one fueled by determination, resolve, and love. Yes, love, damn it. The emotion that had driven every action, every choice made so far. Love. For him. It couldn't be any different.

"I want you," he whispered, leaning in to touch me, seeking solace exclusively within my arms. Damn, who could resist such trust and openness? It was indeed an impossible task.

"But?" I urged roughly, sensing hesitation lurking behind his superficial acceptance. An unresolved issue, an unbeaten challenge—both of which needed immediate attention.

"But nothing," he rebuffed, shaking his head vigorously. But it was too late. His denial was unconvincing, sounding insincere amid the unpreserved sincerity, and ruthless honesty I was seeking.

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