Page 85 of Captive Vows
It would just have to merge withmydreams, too.
32
GABRIELLA
Igrew bigger and clumsier every day, almost startled by how my skin would stretch to accommodate this little one. This marvel of meeting my son or daughter was the only saving grace from the turmoil of being mad at Luka.
No matter what, I would do my best to protect this baby. Even if it meant running. Even if it meant fighting Luka and his family for the rest of my life.
While it would’ve been nice to share this experience with Luka, I’d be damned if I’d heel to his desire that I apologize and make amends first.
It didn’t help that the house staff treated me even worse. When it started, well before I even knew I was pregnant, it was just those side eyes and mean stares. Or they’d whisper about me as they dusted, belittling me as a cheap whore who’d never be a suitable partner for their leader.
In the beginning, I let it in one ear and out the other. As my pregnancy progressed, though, they only increased their wrath.
Still, it made no difference. With all these months I was stuck here and ignored by Luka, my desire to stand up to anyone—except him—and fight back waned.
Until I wasn’t the only one to realize how catty they’d become.
As I got up from reading a book that didn’t even hold my interest in the study, I was immediately cornered by a maid.
Older than me and bearing the signs of a hard, weathered life, she scowled and pointed at me. “It’s all your fault, bitch.”
I raised my brows, surprised she’d put so much energy into criticizing me or accusing me of something. I was a nobody here. It was almost like a full circle. A nobody before I was kidnapped and relegated to a nobody as a breeding vessel for a Mafia boss.
“You got Susanna killed.”
I shook my head, not necessarily to correct her but also to reject it. I hadn’t done anything. Ever. That was the story of my life. I never did anything to warrant hardships and headaches to this degree. Calling myself the victim got old, but it was true.
“You did!” she snarled. “You got her killed. I heard the guards talking. Mr. Dubinin had her killed because she saw your pregnancy test.”
“Ha!” I crossed my arms. A flare of a fight lit me up. “She did not. She went snooping for it. I hid that test in the trash. It wasn’t lying out.”
“Whatever. It’s all your fault she’s dead!”
I almost wanted to roll my eyes. I wasn’t soulless, but they’d get no compassion out of me. Fuck around and find out. That was the name of this game. “It’s her own damn fault. She had no right to snoop. And she had no right to sell that intel to the man who calls himself my dad.”
Because of that maid, I’d almost been taken by the Rivera Family. All due to Miguel Lopez’s greed and loathing for me.
“You bitch!” The maid lunged at me.
I covered my belly, nervous that she’d escalate to trying to harm me.
But she didn’t reach me. Alexsei and a boy were walking down the hallway and happened to see me in the study.
“Hey! Don’t hurt that lady!” The young boy darted out, smacking the maid’s hand away from reaching me.
“Misha!” Alexsei rushed in too, taking over the incident. He grabbed the woman and pulled her back as he called out for the guards.
I breathed hard, stunned, but deep inside, I was still so numb.
Heartache could do that to a person.
Grateful for the save, I watched the young boy. In the almost year that I’d been here, I’d never encountered a child. I was under the impression mine would be the only infant or youthful person here.
Alexsei handed the quarreling maid off to the guards and returned to me. “Misha. That’s not what I’ve taught you,” he scolded lightly.
“Thanks, Misha,” I said, countering Alexsei. He shot me a wry look.
