Page 17 of Knocked up by the Mafia

I sigh, staring into the little flames that have started crackling. I pile on more wood. “I don’t know why I’m doing this. I don’t even know whatthisis.”

I blow on the fire gently, and the wood starts to catch alight. I rest back on my haunches and watch it for a moment before I get up and sit on the armchair to her right.

I look at her grimly. “I’ve always preferred being alone, even when I was a child. My mother always wanted me to make friends like my brothers did. I was a black sheep in the family. Irish people are very sociable, I’ll have you know. Aye, nothing like a pint and chat at the local pub. But I wasn’t like that. I didn’t want to play soccer with the other children, and I didn’t want a girlfriend. I got laid plenty and broke many hearts, luckily didn’t get anyone pregnant.”

She snorts, and I smile at her softly. “Being around you confuses me. I don’t like emotion. I like knowing what I’m doing, where I’m going, why, and how much I’m getting paid to do it. I don’t take time to get to know my hits personally. I don’t care if they beg for their lives.”

“I didn’t beg for mine.”

“Yeah, but before that, at the bar, I knew you were different. Your whole, I don’t know, vibe is what they call it? Your energy, or whatever, just drew me in, and I knew you’d be good for some fun. So when I saw you there, I just… I got confused, and since then, you have made me feel awkward and weird. No one has ever made me feel that way, lass.”

I fidget in my seat and look at the fire, now roaring and filling the room with cozy warmth. “I feel like it’s my place to protect you from everything and everyone. I’ve felt that way since the moment I walked into the warehouse and they pulled that sack off your head. Something about you ignites this primal urge to keep you safe, to keep you near me. I don’t want others to have you or hurt you. I will kill to keep you safe, at no additional charge, may I add.”

I look at her finally and see her looking at me with disbelief.

I’ve definitely said too much.

Chapter 11 - Natalia

I cannot remember a time that I’ve ever needed to be saved, and when this all started, I thought, well, this is the first time I’m going to need to be saved from the consequences of my choices. But listening to Daniel talk about his feelings makes me wonder if I haven’t already been saved. When he pulled me into his arms earlier, the world righted itself, and I felt safe and calm. It was the right place to be.

Then he opened himself up to me, and I sat there, staring at him. I feel like an idiot for not saying anything and letting him go to bed without me acknowledging his feelings or my own. Because there are feelings. I’m attracted to him, and maybe he doesn’t want a relationship, but I feel like being together right now is the right thing too.

He saved me, and that complicated my already complicated feelings about this situation.

The days pass by in a peaceful, almost otherworldly existence. I message Evgenii to let him know that we are away for our honeymoon since no one will let us be and that I will be back in touch when we return. I then shut my phone off completely, and we simply live. The days turn into weeks, and I feel like I am in a dream. Daniel takes me to a safe section of the woods for target practice together. He seems to have an endless supply of beer cans that he says is courtesy of his brother running a pub. He has also painted one of the rooms for the baby. I intend to tell my family about the pregnancy when we’re ‘back’ from our extended honeymoon. Daniel has been sending Evgenii photos of us together, all of them photoshopped, and Evgenii keeps replying that he wants me to call him or else.

I have asked Daniel to stop giving me Evgenii’s messages because they worry me. He has complied so far.

Spending these days with Daniel has made it clear to me. I’ve fallen for him…completely. The man I and everyone else have always assumed was a heartless killer, never to be challenged, is quite sweet. I don’t think he was an outcast because he was born to kill. I think he was an outcast growing up because he didn’t know how to socialize.

I wake up from my latest nap when I hear cursing. I sit up quickly and hear the knocking sound coming from what Daniel calls the baby’s bedroom. It’s cute.

I get up and walk that way, stopping at the door. He’s busy putting together the crib and doesn’t notice me standing there. I watch as he reads over the instructions and then uses a mallet to hammer the pieces together. He hits his hand and curses, and I let out a little giggle.

His head swings around, and he frowns. “Aye, laugh if you will, but just know this was made for people with fancy engineering degrees and shit.”

I lean against the door frame and watch him with a smile. “I’m sure it is because most of the time, people order them and get the guys to build them at the house.”

“I think the instructions are in Turkish.” He sighs and tosses them to the side, and grins at me. “I’m sorry, did my cursing wake ya?”

I move into the room, looking around at Daniel’s efforts in making a safe place for our child. “Yes, but it’s fine. You know, it just dawned on me. I think I need to go for a scan at the doctor's. I remember everyone in my family saying how important they were, especially the older you were.”

Daniel stands up and dusts his hands on his jeans. “I’d prefer people don’t know where we are.”

“I know, which is why we should drive into the city and meet the doctor there.” I look up into his eyes.

“Not a chance. I don’t fucking trust any of them.” He moves to pass me, but I stand in front of him.

“It’s important that I go for the baby's health. We need to make sure everything is okay. What if something is wrong, and we could prevent it from getting worse?” I put my hands on my hips. “I mean it.”

“Fine.” He sighs and rubs the stubble forming on his chin. “But we make it quick, to the doctor and out again, no stopping anywhere.”

“Deal.” I smile. “I made the appointment for tomorrow.”

“Natalia,” he groans. “You put us in danger. Did you use your real name?”

“You do remember why you were looking for me in the first place? I’m not an idiot. No, I used an alias, and it’s a doctor I know is very discreet.” I smile and take his rough hands in mine. “You must learn to trust me like I’ve learned to trust you, Daniel.”

---