CHAPTER NINE
Three days later
– LUELLA –
The muscles in my arms are screaming at me when I slowly move my legs down from the handstand while my upper body stays locked in the upside-down position in the rings.Pulling my knees up to my upper body, I let go of the rings and jump down.
I roll my shoulders and grab the jump rope.I’ve been working out ever since I peed on a stick.My mind is a jumbled mess and the only sanity I can grasp onto is working out.It’s a routine.Simple.No thinking, just tire my body and keep going.
At least Macsen left early this morning before my life went into another tailspin.They needed him back at the clubhouse for some kind of meeting.The package with the pregnancy tests arrived two days ago, but I couldn’t get a private moment by myself until now.
To be honest?I didn’t need the pregnancy test.I should have known all along with the stupid hormones throwing me off-kilter.Making my gut instinct spike, the doubt, second-guessing everything, not to mention sappy feelings.I’ve never done those, let alone have bile rise up or become nauseous during an assignment.Things were always clear; do my job, return home, train...rinse and repeat.
My hormones are probably what caused me to turn to Macsen a few days ago.The man who made me the center of his world for one single night.My emotions were in turmoil after getting engaged, killing my fiancé, and letting the past memories of killing my first husband cloud my head.It’s the only reasonable explanation.Shit.I still can’t believe we managed to create life two months ago in one single night.
We even used condoms...except for the anal part and then he came all over my back and started to play with his...ugh.Pregnant.
“Lu.”My father’s voice halts my movement and I turn to face him.“I have an appointment with a new client within the hour and need you to come with us.”
“New client?Why am I only now hearing about this?”I wonder.
Being a diamond dealer, new clients are a potential risk and appointments are always scheduled in advance.I always accompany my father and Taddeo, and not as a bodyguard.Neatly dressed to seem like brainless arm candy, instead of the assassin he raised me to be.
My father rubs the back of his neck and releases a deep sigh.“I accepted the new client when I was in a meeting with Bosco, he asked it as a favor to him, and at Dudley’s request when we were discussing daughters.”He clears his throat and adds, “Arranged marriages.”
“Discussing daughters,” I muse.“Does this mean Bosco’s daughter Ludovica is promised to someone now?She is of age and...”
“No,” my father clips, a little too harsh and quick.
His reaction is strange and we keep staring at one another until he impatiently asks, “Will you join me?”
I drop the jump rope.“I’ll hit the shower and be ready in ten minutes.”
He nods and walks off.
The ten minutes are spent taking a shower, getting dressed, and most importantly hiding a handful of weapons.In the past there have been a few altercations during meetings with new clients.Three years ago, we lost one of my father’s soldiers when they pulled a gun and demanded the diamonds.
Hopefully this will be a normal new client, and yet the knowledge this appointment was made at Dudley’s request makes the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.It’s probably why I also put two thin knives in the bun on the top of my head.Extra weapons are always a good precaution.
