“What are you doing here?” I breathe out, glancing at my guards.
“When you didn’t show up for your dress fitting, Bri called me, concerned.”
Shit!I forgot about my dress fitting.
Matteo has a seat. “I tracked your location. Ian said you were safe, refusing to give me any more details. Apparently, you’ve earned their loyalty.” He smirks, but it’s lacking the playfulness it usually has. “But that didn’t stop me from coming to see you for myself. And I’m glad I did because, Sweetness, you’re looking a little rough.Beautiful but rough.”
His sweet, caring nature causes me to choke up once again, and tears slide down my face as I try—and fail—to imagine what my life would be like without Matteo in it. I only just got him, and now, I might lose him. The thought painfully squeezes my heart.
“Hey,” he says, pulling me into his arms.
I choke out another sob and nestle my face into his chest, inhaling his masculine scent.
“Talk to—” His words are cut off, and when I look up, I see why. The sonogram picture is still on my lap. “Dani,” he says, so much hope laced in that one word, “are you pregnant?”
Because I can’t speak past the lump of emotion clogging my throat, I nod.
Matteo laughs—the sound heartbreakingly beautiful—and then he drops to the ground, kneeling in front of me so he’s level with my belly.
“You’re pregnant?” he says again, his voice filled with awe. “We’re having a baby?”
He tilts my chin, and I meet his gaze, trying to blink away all the tears, but it’s no use.
“Sweetness,” he coos, “why are you crying? I thought this is what you wanted … what we wanted.” And then his smile drops. “Is something wrong with the baby?”
The immediate concern in his tone only makes me cry harder because I know Matteo would’ve been the best damn dad to our baby.
“The baby is perfect,” I whisper. “But …” More sobs rack my body, and I wish I didn’t have to say the next words, but I know I have to. “The baby isn’t yours.”
My cries get louder as my heart tears in two.
“Dani,” Matteo says, confusion in his tone, “I know damn well you would never cheat on me, so you’re going to have to explain what you mean by that.”
My cries turn into hiccups, and I have trouble breathing. He sits next to me, pulls me into his lap, and rocks me gently, which only causes my crying to strengthen, reminding me that no matter what I do or say, he’ll never be my baby’s father—and what a devastating thought that is.
When I’m finally calm enough to speak, I look him in the eyes—because he deserves that—and take a deep breath, mentally preparing to destroy him.
“The baby isn’t yours because he or she is Enrique’s. I’m fifteen and a half weeks along. Due February 15.” I release a harsh breath. “I’m sorry,” I tell him lamely. “I’m having another man’s baby. I know that probably changes everything. You wanted a baby that was part me and part you, and, well, fate had other plans.”
A mirthless laugh escapes me. I still can’t fathom how this is real. “And maybe I shouldn’t want the baby. I mean, there’s a chance he or she was conceived when I was …” I can’t finish my sentence, but we both know what I’m referring to—Enrique raping me. “But I already love my baby.”
Sobs pour out of me, and I don’t know what else to say. This is all so unfair. This should’ve been a happy moment between two people in love. Instead, it’s filled with heartbreak.
When Matteo doesn’t say anything, just stares at me with a mixture of pain and devastation, I nod once, suck back my sob, and start to climb off him.
But before I can get far, he tightens his hold on me. “So, you’ve just made the decision yourself? You’ve decided that I’m not the father. No conversation to be had. What are your plans? You’re going to end our engagement and move out, raise the baby by yourself? Am I not good enough to be the father?”
“What?” I shake my head, completely lost by his train of thought. “Of course you’re good enough to be the dad! You would be the best damn dad! But that’s not how it works. I can’t snap my fingers andmakeyou the dad,” I cry. “If I could, I would.”
“Do you love this baby?” he asks, lowering his hand to my belly. “Despite the baby sharing DNA with Enrique, do you still love him or her?”
“Of course!” I hiss. “I don’t care how they were conceived. The moment I knew the baby existed, I loved them. And I’m going to love them every day for the rest of my life.”
“Do you understand how much I loveyou?” Matteo says, framing my face with his strong hands. “You have quickly become my entire world. You’re the breath of fresh air I didn’t know I needed. Every morning, I wake up and thank whatever god there is that they brought you to me. I think about you all day. Your smiles, your laughter … they fill my dark world with light. And at night, I look forward to watching those stupid vampire shows with you, reading to you, cooking with you, or making love to you.”
He looks at me with glassy eyes, and my heart clenches in my chest.
“You are the best part of me, Dani. My best friend. You ownmy heart and soul. And if you think that I wouldn’t orcouldn’tlove a baby that’s part you, then you don’t know me at all.”
