But being by Enzo's side is too intoxicating, and the guilt's starting to eat me alive. He's been so attentive, so caring, that I feel like I'm betraying his trust by doing this.
After the initial missed appointment, Enzo made it a priority not to miss any of the others.
Currently, at thirty-six weeks pregnant, I feel like a whale.
"It's all your fault," I grumble as we head home from the latest checkup. "You're feeding me too much cake."
He'd really become a master pastry chef. I'd always joke with him that he could quit his life of crime and just get a job as a chef at one of his restaurants.
"My boy needs his strength," he jokes, pulling me to his chest and kissing the top of my head. "Now tell me honestly," he talks in between small kisses, "what do you want for your birthday? You can haveanythingyou want."
"Anything?" I raise an eyebrow jokingly.
"Anything, so shoot."
"Hmm…"your love, "nothing. I have everything I want. Or I will, once this little one decides it's time to come into the world."
"Just a couple more weeks until your due date, little tigress, and we'll meet our baby boy." He leans forward to kiss my enormous bump.
"Luca, can you stop by the gas station? I need to get some cigarettes," Enzo instructs our driver.
I look back and see the other car still behind us.
"Do we really need that many bodyguards when we go out?" I ask, mostly out of curiosity.
"I'm never taking chances with your life, little tigress. Besides, they always keep a distance so they don't bother you too much."
I nod absentmindedly, knowing his overprotective tendencies might only get worse after the birth.
41
ALLEGRA
We pullinto a gas station and Enzo runs inside to get his cigarettes. I take out my phone and start browsing baby names. We'd talked about our choices, but we'd decided to hold off on choosing a name until we meet our little boy.
I'm scrolling down a list of names when a sudden noise startles me. Raising my gaze, I see Luca being held at gunpoint as he gets out of the car.
At the same time, the door to my right is ripped open and I'm dragged out. I start screaming, my hands immediately going to protect my belly.
The man pushes me to the ground and I fall to my knees, the cold of winter hitting me suddenly, the freezing snow beneath my body somewhat cushioning my fall.
"Shut the fuck up, bitch!" he curses, and the back of his hand catches my jaw, snapping my face to the side with a strength that makes me see stars.
No… my baby.
My arms are wound around my body as I try to shield him.
The other man brings Luca forward, and their movementsare so swift I can't follow them, but suddenly Luca is in front of me, taking a bullet to the chest.
A bullet meant for me.
My eyes widen, my mouth opening on a scream that won't come out.
Another slap and I feel myself slipping away.
"This bitch got nothing on her. No cash, no valuables," I hear one man say just before another gunshot rings out. And another.
I open my eyes to see both men on the ground, bleeding profusely.
