Page 31 of Alessio

She grabs my phone and types a message. I check it and read as the dot bubbles come up.

Bribe her with the kittens. She loves kittens too.

She might toss one of them at me.

June grabs the phone and types her reply while giggling, and I’m getting jealous. A minute ago Enrico’s bad actions were my fault, and now she’s on his side.She’d never hurt them.

Good idea.

Talk to your woman, not mine. Alessio.I turn off my phone, refusing to deal with anyone else for the rest of the day. I selfishly want my woman to myself.

Chapter Sixteen

June

It’s been a month since I accidentally walked into Dario’s kitchen and saw more than I should, and gladly less than I needed to witness, and now I’m married to the man I love. We’re in the middle of his birthday party with the summer sun starting to kick up heat over us.

This morning I woke up feeling less than great, but I wasn’t going to ruin my husband’s special day. The party is in full swing and we are having fun, but I need to get away from the party.

I have a feeling that I’m pregnant since I’ve been waking up with a mild stomachache whether or not I eat early or late, and whether it’s light or a heavier meal.

Most mornings, Alessio’s gone on business, so I’m grateful that I’m ill when he’s not around. Still, I’m not feeling too hot right now. I barely make it into my bathroom when I get sick.

Once I’m sure the vomiting is over, I rinse my mouth and brush my teeth. Pulling out a pregnancy test, I take it and wait. Since we married, I leave the house a little more often than Alessio likes, hanging out with my sister on the regular as well as January.

Within a matter of thirty seconds, the two lines appear clear as day. We’re adding to our new family. “He’s going to love his birthday present,” I mutter to myself.

I’m smiling the entire time I’m cleaning myself up and checking my reflection to see if I look pale. Finally, I exit our bathroom and the lights in our bedroom are off. I’m shocked at how dark my bedroom is with the drapes closed in the daylight. I’m about to reach for the light when I feel hands creep around my waist. Instantly, I know they’re not my husband’s.

“I knew I’d find you alone up here.” It’s Michael, who has worked for my husband for years. He spends a lot of time at our home watching over me. Alessio didn’t need all the security at home until I arrived in his life, but he wants me protected.

“Oh my God. Get away from me right now. My husband will kill you.” I try to pull away, but he’s so much stronger than me. I’m quickly pinned to our dresser, my stomach hitting the surface hard. My hand reaches back to grab his hair to pull and fight back. “Let me go.”

“Not a chance. I know how much you like getting fucked rough. I watched him fuck you like this by the pool. You’re a naughty little thing.” This can’t fucking be happening.

I stomp on his foot, and then I’m moving out of his grasp when I feel him being yanked backward.

The lights flick on. “What the fuck are you thinking putting your hands on my wife?” I spin around and find my husband and Dario both seething. The violence in my husband’s eyes is palpable. Michael’s on the bedroom floor with the men standing over him.

“She’s been my lover for months. Even with that sexy little birthmark under her breast.” I gasp, hearing the lie fall from his lips and look at my husband, hoping that he won’t believe that nonsense.

Alessio’s nostril flare with rage. He looks at me and then back at the bastard on the ground. I’ve barely greeted the man, thanking him at times for doing his job, but that’s it. “You disrespect my wife and me in my home and then lie in front of the family.”

“I’ll take him away. Tend to your wife,” Dario says. I nearly crumble to the floor when Alessio catches me.

“Amore, my sweet rose.” He scoops me up and carries me to our bed. It feels wonderful to be in his arms, but my stomach churns from my riled-up emotions. I push off him and rush to the bathroom, throwing up again.

I heard Alessio’s on my heels, and then he runs the water in the sink and then let out a puff of air. “You’re pregnant?” he asks. I nervously look up at him from my perch next to the toilet.

Standing up, I move to the sink and rinse my mouth again. When I finished, I say, “I wasn’t feeling good, so I came up here and after getting sick I took a test. I had no idea he was waiting in our bedroom.” I try to explain myself, wanting him to understand that I wouldn’t betray him.

He growls, “Don’t. Don’t bring that motherfucker up at this moment. You’re having my baby.” A smile spreads over my husband’s face, and for a moment all the awful shit that just happened fades. He doesn’t believe that bastard. That crooked, devious smile is tossed my way, and I remember how excited I was to tell him.

“Yes. I’m having your baby.”

“Can I touch you?” he asks as if I’m fragile all of a sudden.

“Always.” He pulls me in and holds me. We don’t say a word as we absorb the news that we’re going to be parents. The sound of his racing heart is musically soothing. I press my head to his chest, snuggling close, burying myself until I can’t get any deeper into his embrace.

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