Page 67 of Surprise Pregnancy for Villain

Good. It’s better to leave them clueless.

The meeting ended without a hitch, and I was about to leave when my father called me back into the room. I stood there with my hands behind my back, posing like an obedient soldier, while Stefano talked things over with Eduardo. After much deliberation, he beckoned me and offered me an assignment. I groaned inside but hid my disappointment. I didn’t have time for any other errands. I still had some money hidden in my room I needed to retrieve so that Nicki and I could escape. But I couldn’t say no without raising suspicions.

Stefano dumped his cigarette in the ashtray and folded his arms as he looked at me. He then gave me his instructions. I was to escort Eduardo to another part of the city while he checked the books. Checking the books meant collecting money from several businesses that owed us. War cost money, and this war was costing my father plenty. This was a simple enough assignment, and from what I know about Eduardo, he didn’t need my help or protection. However, I still obliged. I was the Don’s son, and it was my duty to serve the family.

At least for the next few hours.

Eduardo bid my father goodbye, and I followed him out before giving my father one last look.

“Got a lot on your mind?”

I turn around to look at Eduardo sitting in the passenger seat.

“What?”

His eyes calmly search my face. “I remember that time when you were sixteen and lost that gun. You didn’t want your old man finding out.”

“What’s your point?”

“You had that same look when your father queried its whereabouts. That guilty look.”

Fuck! Did I let myself slip?I straighten my shoulders and regain my composure while I press the start button.

“Let’s just get this over with,” I answer, trying to change the subject. He gives me an amused look and cracks his knuckles. We only have one more store to go, but it feels like this chore is taking forever. I’m itching to get back to Nicki and to take her far away from this wretched place.

“Young people are all the same,” Eduardo says. “You’re all in a hurry to get somewhere, do something,besomeone. Back in my days, nothing was handed to us. Your father and I built this empire with our bare hands, did he tell you that?”

“Yes.” I fight the urge to roll my eyes. I’m not interested in hearing some old man’s story. Eduardo looks at me from the corner of his eye and laughs, “You not only look guilty, but you seem agitated, Ezio. Having lady problems, I presume?”

None of your fucking business,I want to snap at him. Instead, I keep my mouth shut and my eyes on the road.

“Tell me about this girl,” he says. “Is she pretty?”

Silence. It doesn’t seem like he minds because he continues, “Sounds like she is. The pretty ones are always like that. They tend to drive you crazy. But they’re usually worth it. My wife, Rita, used to drive me crazy all over the place. It doesn’t get easier when you have children, that’s for sure.”

I slam on the brakes hard, and my heart’s pounding in my chest.

“What the hell?” Eduardo sputters.

“We’re here,” I announce.

He grabs his hat, muttering, “Kids these days.”

I watch Eduardo as he exits the car and enters the laundromat. Ten minutes tops, and then we’ll be heading back to the mansion. Once I’m there, I can excuse myself from my father’s cohorts and retreat to my suite. I can picture it now. The safe is hidden behind a false wall in my closet. The code is the date of the last day I spent with my mother. When I open that safe, I’ll stash the money into a bag. There’s thousands in cash, most of it from the inheritance I got from my mother, enough to buy us a small house in the middle of nowhere.

Away from everything — blood, violence, and the Rossis’ vengeful hands.

***

I walk alongside Eduardo until we reach the stairs leading down to the den. “I’ll take it from here,” he tells me. Without hesitation—and a little relief, I hand over the briefcase containing the money we collected. Still, I find it odd that he’s making this gesture, considering I always present the fruits of our labor to my father. I can’t dwell on that now. I’ve got bigger problems to take care of. As Eduardo disappears down the dark hallway, I make my way upstairs to my suite.

Whenever I’d visit, I make the space look like it’s been lived in. The bedsheets are messy, the towels are used, and I even leave some of my laundry around so as not to arouse suspicion. I head straight to the closet to search for the false wall that I installed. I tap around until I hear a hollow sound. I then pry the fake cover with my fingers and slide it open. I open the safe and just like I imagined, my money is there, piled in neat stacks. I grab a bag and start stuffing the bills in. I also grab most of my Rolex watches in case we need to sell them later. I zip up the bag, and as I’m heading out, Alessandro walks into my room.

“I don’t think you’re going anywhere,” he says.

“What the fuck are you doing –” Alessandro delivers a blow to my stomach before I can finish the sentence. I choke out the remaining air from my lungs as I drop the bag.

“You’re fucking dead,” I growl, then barrel into him. We land on the floor with a sickening thud, Alessandro’s head banging hard. I raise my fist to slug him, then I hear a familiar click.

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