Page 49 of Surprise Pregnancy for Villain

I raise an eyebrow at him, but Gus looks certain. The move surprises me since I didn’t know that Giovanni Borelli actually had it in him. He’s a smart and cunning Don, no doubt, but to recklessly wage war againsteveryone? I highly doubt that it’s a smart move.

“They’re desperate,” Gus seems to answer my thoughts. “They would do anything to have her back. There’s already a price on her head on the black market. A million dollars for anyone who can provide any information. Double the amount for anyone who can actually bring her back alive.”

Damn.I seem to have underestimated Giovanni’s networks. I nod again and thank Gus for his time. He tips his hat to me, and he takes the briefcase and leaves first. He goes to one of the back exits while I head for another one exclusively reserved for VIPs. I get back to my car and turn on the engine. I still have a few errands to run before I head back to the cabin.

My thoughts return to my plan. War is imminent from the looks of it. The Borellis will declare war against the Rossis, and there will be hell to pay. Suddenly, a light bulb turns on in my head.This is it.

It’s the perfect cover-up. When the war starts, my father and his men will be too busy dealing with Giovanni’s men. Nicki and I can use this as a diversion and quickly slip away.

Yes. It’s perfect. We’ll go somewhere where no one can reach us.

But where? And how will I move my cash without arousing my father’s suspicions? There are still too many uncovered questions, but I’m confident that I’ll be able to fill them in until the time comes. All I need is to stall Stefano and his men a little longer, and soon, Nicki and I will be free.

ChapterTwenty

Nicoletta

I am a woman undone.

As my stuffy and archaic relatives would say. I broke my unspoken vow and allowed Ezio Rossi to wade into my secret chambers. I can only imagine Lucca’s furious face, turning purple with rage, at how his ex-bride-to-be now belongs to someone else.

Sorry, Lucca, you’re never going to have me. Over my dead body.

I have no doubt in my mind. I like Ezio a whole lot. It’s too early to admit, though. What I will admit is that I might have been hasty in my judgment of him. He’s obviously older and often speaks in inferences that I’m not updated to, but he treats me like a queen, and he makes my body react in ways I’ve never imagined.

I think about Lucca and how things would be if I married him. Submitting to him wouldn’t be pleasurable, not like it is with Ezio. Lucca would break my confidence, tear me down, reduce me to a shell of who I am. With Ezio, I still have the power. I just let him lead. It’s different in that way, and I’m loving every minute of it.

What has once been my prison is the very thing that sets me free. There’s no way I’m turning back now. Not to my father, not to my aunt, and definitely not to that D’Angelo monster. I’m staying with Ezio if he’ll have me.

I profess my feelings to the empty room and find myself blushing. I’m acting like a high schooler in love. In any other situation, I would have called up Katie by now, and she would want to know all about the details of my relationship. At the thought of my friend, I think about Joe and Simon. I wonder what they’re doing now. My father’s men probably rounded them up and interrogated them. I hope they weren’t too rough. I despise the idea of dragging them into this godforsaken mess. They don’t deserve it. Especially not Katie.

I try to think of happier things and how when I get out of this mess, I’ll catch up with Katie and tell her everything that she missed. I’ll tell her about Ezio. How he’s so tall, handsome, and not to mention, a god in bed. As I check off his traits in my head, I come to a depressing realization that I don’t know much about the man I’m sleeping with. I know his name, his family, and the circumstances that brought us together, but other than that, nothing.

I don’t know his favorite color, food, or if he has any hobbies. Now that I think of it, when we’re together, we don’t really talk much. In fact, we’ve never had a proper conversation. The only time we communicate is when we’re fighting or we’re fucking. I smile sheepishly to myself at the latter. Ezio is great in bed, that’s for sure, but I want to know more about him. I want to know how he feels. I highly doubt that he’s open to such conversations.

Yes, I want to know more about him. What motivates him, what his goals are. More than anything, I’m dying to know how he feels about me.

I don’t want to presume. I have no idea if we have the same definition of likeness. The only thought that comes to mind is that he probably likes me enough to have sex with me, but I do hope that’s not the only reason he’s putting up with me.

Earlier, he’d been so vague when I asked about his next plans. I can’t help wondering if they involve me at all. Maybe I’m the only one who feels deeply about us. He probably sees me as a temporary lay, nothing else.

I bury my face into the pillow with a sigh. I now regret letting him leave when I have such an important concern on my mind. I have no idea how to even bring up this topic to him or even if I should. But Ineedto know if Ezio has genuine feelings for me, if being with him is the right decision. I’m thinking of abandoning my family. This needs to be worth my while.

I dress myself and pace in front of the fireplace. Now that the sexual fever is gone, I can finally think clearly about what my next steps are and how I genuinely feel about this situation.

I like Ezio, and I’m confident about this. I just hope he feels the same. If not, I might as well go back to my father. I’d rather face his anger than suffer a broken heart.

My thoughts stop the moment I hear the sounds ofa car outside. I peek through the window, my heart leaping with happiness when I see Ezio emerge from his ride. He walks through the door, his hands laden with bags.

“I don’t just do this for anyone,” he says, dropping the bags to the floor with a weary huff.

I’ll save the questions for later.

***

We eat an early dinner in front of the television. Ironically enough, we’re watching a rerun ofGoodfellas. I’ve always rolled my eyes at mobster films because they are very far from the truth, but Ezio seems to enjoy it, so I force myself to watch.

As I dig into my fried rice, I scan the other bags he brought with him on the floor. It looks like he did some shopping while he’d been out. He’d already removed some of the things he bought and laid them on the bed. There are new clothes for the both of us, jackets included because it’s getting cold, groceries, including bread, canned goods, water bottles, and the like, and also a big pack of thin condoms. He winked at me when he placed it on the bed. In response, I took one of the condoms and tore it open with my mouth. I bet that got him hard.

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