Page 102 of The Devil's Pawn

Too serious.

The table suddenly goes quiet.

“Babe?” Dom’s eyes swell.

But Chiara avoids him too.

“Oh my God!” I blurt out. “You’re really pregnant?”

“Ugh!” she grunts, throwing her palm over her face. “Yes.”

“What?!” I practically jump off my seat.

Everyone else is silent, their faces clouded with disbelief—including Dom, whose mouth is set to a tight line, his awestruck eyes still glued to her.

“Chiara, you serious?” he finally asks.

Her fingers drift slowly down her face as she turns toward him.

“Are you mad?” Her face knits into a frown. “I’m sorry, I just found ou—”

He gets off his seat so fast, circling his arms around her and lifting her off the chair and into his arms.

“Mad? You thought I’d be mad, baby girl?” His lips meet hers in a quick, deep kiss as her thighs come around his middle. “Do I look mad?”

He grins, kissing her again and pulling her closer while her palms rest on his shoulders.

“God, Chiara,” he whispers as they pull apart an inch. “You know how much I love you?”

“I have some idea.” A wide smile tugs at her lips.

“A little you and me. Can you imagine that?”

The way he says those words, there’s so much endearment in his voice. It’s touching to see how much he loves her so obviously. It spills from his eyes. I’m happy for her, insanely happy that she found him. Again. He lifts her up in the air, kissing her stomach as his eyes flutter to a close.

We all needed this. Something good. Something positive to cling to.

“Shit, should I be picking you up like this?” he flusters as he pulls back, sliding her down onto the ground.

“What do I know?” She shrugs with a laugh.

“You’re really going to be a mom,” I add.

I’m still in shock. She’s pregnant. I’m going to be an aunt. Happiness interlaces with disbelief.

She tries to sit back down on her chair, but Dom whips out his hand.

“Where you think you’re going?” he asks, gently pulling her onto his lap as he takes his seat.

He nuzzles her neck as she leans into his embrace, kissing the top of his head.

“This is wonderful, Chiara,” Joelle adds.

A smile is on her face, but it carries a hint of sadness. I can only guess why.

She was robbed of the experience of being a mother. She never got to see her son grow up. Dante said he’s around eight now.

My uncles, my father…they’re all animals. How could they do this?

---