***
The next day, right on the dot at eleven a.m., Noah walked into the mansion. His presence was as impressive as ever, his sharp, menacing hazel gaze sweeping the room like a predator sizing up its prey.
His golden blonde hair was cropped short, styled neatly to match his sharp demeanor, and he wore a plain black T-shirt with bold red letters across the front:I AM THE KING.
His massive, sculpted arms and broad chest were unmistakable even beneath the fabric. Tattoos covered his hands up to his wrists, and I knew they didn’t stop there. His entire torso was a canvas of ink, intricate designs creeping up to the edge of his neck, a testament to the life he led.
Noah was the leader of a notorious motorcycle gang in Chicago that had been my ally for years. In the U.S., they called himthe King of Blood. A name he’d earned through violence, loyalty, and a trail of bodies no one dared to count. Right now, he was helping me track down Lucia.
I approached him and extended my hand. He took it with pride, his grip as firm and confident as ever. “It’s been a while, Carlo. Or should I say Don Carlo? Should I kiss your hand now?”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
He smiled, speaking with warmth this time. “You’ve been the Capo of this family for a long time. A title doesn’t change that. You were born a leader. Still, my condolences for your father’s passing…and congratulations on your coronation.”
“Thanks, man,” I replied sincerely.
He turned to Maxim, and instead of a handshake, they shared a quick, friendly hug. Noah dropped into the chair next to me while Maxim poured three glasses of scotch, handing them out before settling into the seat across from us. Noah took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at me.
“What’s up with your hair?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Before I could respond, Maxim jumped in with a mocking grin. “His ticket into some girl’s panties.”
I shot him a warning glare, but Noah only smirked. “She must be something special.”
“She is that,” I said firmly. “And she’s something else. Off-limits.”
Maxim’s grin stretched into a shark-like smile, while Noah chuckled softly and took another sip of his scotch. The room settled into a short silence before Noah leaned forward, his expression shifting, sharper, more deliberate.
“We’ve known each other a long time, Carlo,” he began. “If it weren’t for you, Giuliano would’ve gutted me in the street. I owe you everything, and I respect you for saving my life. But more than that, I respect you because I’ve seen what you’re capable of.”
He paused, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. Something twisted in my gut. Noah wasn’t one to talk this much unless the message was heavy. I met his gaze and gave a curt nod.
“If you know me, then you know you don’t need to sugarcoat bad news, Noah. I’m not weak.”
He returned the nod. “That’s not what I meant, Don Carlo. I wanted to remind you of my loyalty.”
“Message received. Now get to the point.”
Setting his glass down, Noah leaned back slightly before speaking. “I’ve been searching for any trace of Lucia and Tony for months, but they never showed up on my radar. Tony did a damn good job covering his tracks. Last night, I got a call from a hospital where the security guard and a few of the nurses happen to be on my payroll. I’d sent Lucia’s picture to all my men earlier, and they informed me that a woman matching her description had shown up at the ER, using a different name.”
My brows furrowed. Did Tony hurt her? But I kept quiet and let him talk.
“I rushed over,” he continued, “but they were already gone. As soon as she stabilized, they disappeared. The address and contact info they gave the hospital were fake.”
He went silent for a beat, his gaze heavy on me. I narrowed my eyes. “You came all this way to tell me you lost her?”
He exchanged a look with Maxim, then looked back at me. There was hesitation in his hazel eyes. I leaned forward, putting his mind at ease. “Maxim is my right hand. We don’t keep secrets.”
Noah glanced at Maxim, who was now watching him with a furrowed brow. “No offense. We’re all men of honor here.”
Then, turning back to me, he continued. “But I needed to be sure. What I came to tell you… it’s something you might not want anyone else to find out. The reason Lucia was hospitalized is that she’s pregnant. The medical records say she suffered severe spasms brought on by emotional trauma.”
“Pregnant?” The word hit me like a bullet. My blood boiled at the thought of Lucia and Tony together. He hadn’t wasted any time. He’d already knocked her up. But the real question gnawed at me. Why the hell did this information need such secrecy?
Noah answered before I could ask. “I talked to a nurse who was in the room during the exam. She’s sure, Carlo. The woman is eight months pregnant.”
My fists clenched, and a wave of fury shot through me. My pulse roared in my ears. Eight months! That meant she was already three months along when she ran from me. While living under my roof, eating my food, using my name, she was carrying that bastard’s child. If this got out, the damage would be way beyond humiliation.
