“My condition?” I shook my head, dread immediately churning my insides. “I don’t understand. What’s wrong with me?”
She stared at me for a second and I wasn’t sure if she was stalling or uncertain what to tell me. “You’re pregnant, Lily.”
“What!” my eyes round in disbelief, I fell back against the wall. “How?”
“You didn’t know?” Her frown burrowed deeper into her brow. “You’re just over two months.”
Confusion swam in her eyes which I now noticed were a beautiful amber reflection of someone I knew. Someone who’d stolen my happiness and who now shared a child with me. I was carrying Zayne’s baby. And Salvatore...he...oh, my God. I slapped a hand to my mouth. The words stuck in my throat. He had to have known about the mess up at the airport...about the drugs. I told him about Zayne. What if...what if he was the one that planted those drugs? This was no honeymoon. This was punishment. It was an execution. I’d betrayed him. I hadn’t given him a virgin bride and he...he sent me to hell.
I burst out laughing. Laughing so hard that I had to clutch my stomach as I doubled over until I couldn’t...until...the tears took over. And I sobbed...cried for the love I’d lost...bawled for the mother who was taken from me...wailed over my misfortune of having Cassius as my father...wept over the irony of one killer sentencing me to death for loving another killer. My heart clenched...pushing against my ribs wanting to burst out of my chest as it bled tears with me.
“Come here, Lily.”
Dr. Rose embraced me, and I melted in her arms. Letting everything that had happened to me since my mother’s death, out. I shook and sobbed and ached, physically and mentally until exhaustion took over and the sobs dribbled into whimpers, tears burning my eyes. I’d die in here and no one would know. All the people who cared... were gone...resting in the soulless graves having had their lives ripped from them before their time and leaving me with what? Three arrogant assholes who deserved to die instead...who stole everything from me.
I pulled myself together and Dr. Rose stepped away from me. My eyes fell to my stomach, and I rubbed it, without thought. “A baby,” I whispered. “This wasn’t how I’d imagined bringing my first child into the world. I shouldn’t be carrying his child,” the words rolled out absentmindedly.
“Your baby is innocent, Lily, even if the father isn’t.” Dr. Rose patted my hand lightly.
I lifted heavy eyes to her, and my smile wouldn’t form, not because I didn’t have the strength to, but how do you smile at your pregnancy in a place like this. I’d dreamt of light gray walls and lemon trimmings and white lace curtains. Not dark, dank walls that would kill my baby on his or her first breath. I twisted the tunic in my fist, every inch of me in pain for a baby I knew nothing about until a moment ago.
The door opened, and the captain walked in followed by the ugly scar man, forcing me to drag in a deep breath. He looked at me, his eyes turning murderous before he muttered a word that made him sound angry then he walked out. The captain gave me a quick once over then looked at the doctor. In that quick look I gathered that like the doctor, the captain was also a victim of this place. Unlike the doctor who’d chosen a field where she could help, the captain probably chose a field where she could punish.
She walked over to the table and picked up the file, read it then glanced at me, this time a slight smile curved the corners of her mouth. “So, you’re pregnant, Lily?” she asked, her lilting accent a dire contrast to her stern façade. “You’ve come bearing gifts. How nice.” My confusion must’ve reflected on my face because she added, “don’t worry, you’ll get the lay of the land soon enough.”
I didn’t know what that meant, and I didn’t bother asking because she turned and left the room. A second later, Rabbit Teeth appeared and gestured for me to follow her. Just as I walked out the doctor stopped me.
“Lily.” I turned to look at her and couldn’t fathom her expression before she said the same word the man had used, without the vehemence. At my frown, she added, this time in English. “Untouchable.” She pointed at my clothes. “Red means you’re safe. Go.” She nodded at Rabbit Teeth.
I didn’t know what the doctor meant and as I walked, I grasped the tunic tight in my hands. Red means safe.
38
Vincenzo (35 years)
An indistinct whistling penetrated my phone call and I stopped speaking to look at the device in my hand. Frowning, I put the phone back to my ear. “Where the fuck is she, Dino, it’s been two weeks past the fucking deadline,” I roared.
