Page 64 of The Mafia’s Fiancee

Chapter 24

Emma

I waited, sitting onthe edge of the tub, for Luke to walk away. He heard me rush in here and moan, but I don’t think he caught the sounds of me puking.

If this isn’t because of something I ate, I have to be pregnant. I told him that all the stress could be getting to me, and it seemed like he bought that line. Which was bogus. Stress, making me sick? As if.

I was well aware that stress had many effects on the human body. Some people could be so distressed to the point they became ill or vomited. But not me.

I’d grown up with an unhealthy amount of stress and trauma. I had been hardened by a hard life too early to be so susceptible to an upset stomach now. I’d seen things that would traumatize an adult. I heard screams and cries of men being tortured. For fuck’s sake, I had been chained up in my room for weeks when I ran away.

No, it wasn’t stress. I was surprised Luke believed that, actually. It was the first thing I could think of other than something I ate. I almost—almost—told the truth. That maybe I was sick to my stomach because I was pregnant, but I didn’t want to share that news or that theory when I was hunched over in the bathroom and still wiping spit from my mouth.

More than anything, I wanted to know. I would feel better if I took a test and then spilled the news to him, and that was my plan. Luke was a man of strategy. He liked to take charge, and I admired that about him. However, knowing he preferred hearing facts rather than speculation or guesswork, I wanted to be able to say, yes, I’m pregnant instead of, oh, I might be pregnant. Those statements sounded different, and I wanted to have all my info straight before I told him.

Because if it was a false alarm, if I was coming down with something and not pregnant, I didn’t want to suffer the lost hope and disappointment. I woke up several times through the night, almost giddy with the thought I could be carrying his baby.

I’d never let myself think about starting a family mainly because I dreaded being married to Antonio and having to give birth to his children. With Luke, with my future husband, it would be a blessing to cherish.

I sighed, waiting for more sounds of him out there. After a while, he knocked gently on the door again.

“Emma? I’m going to make some coffee and start us some breakfast. It’s early yet, so maybe it might be better to just sleep in some more? I’ll make something else for you if you want.”

I smiled, touched by his concern. If I was carrying his child, he would dote on me like this, only more. He’d be the sweetest protector, and I wasn’t sure what I’d done in life to deserve him.

“Shit.” He groaned lightly. “I think we’re out of creamer.”

I perked up. “I’ll place an order for one of the guards to pick up.” I could add the test to that order and no one would be the wiser.

“Okay. Sounds good.”

“I think I might take a shower. Maybe that’ll help.”

“I’ll be out here if you need me.”

I swore, he was too damn good to me.

A shower did help. The steam soothed me, and I felt much better when I got out.

He wasn’t in the room, likely out in the kitchen or elsewhere. I hadn’t taken so long that the guard would be back with the grocery order, so I had time to dress and meet him with the others.

I found them seated at the long dining room table. Jimmy and Luke were discussing the big fight against Ferris, which would be coming up soon. Sean was seeing the doctor out, the only person who ever checked in on Marlo upstairs. He was nothing but a vegetable, it seemed, but they would let him die naturally.

Nina wasn’t about, but that didn’t surprise me. She was terrified being kidnapped yesterday, and I bet she’d want a lot of rest to recover from the scare.

As the guard entered with the bags of necessities, I smiled at him and thanked him. “Over easy or scrambled?” I called out. He’d picked up the test, creamer and other food stuff that had been sitting in my online cart.

I got replies for half of each, and Frank, another guard I was recognizing easier the more I saw him, breezed through and chuckled. “She’s not a short order cook, people.”

I didn’t mind. It seemed like it was the least I could do and pull my weight here. Not too many guards were here even though Sean had assured us the perimeter of the property was secure. The few men who came through the house were beginning to treat me with more respect and familiarity.

Once made the eggs, some toast, and then coffee, I excused myself to take the test. The whole while I made food, Luke, Jimmy, and Sean talked. It sounded like they were describing more about what Marlo had let go of with his declining health. I didn’t want to interfere. And Luke had a lot to learn if he intended to take over the Rossini family.

I kissed his cheek as I walked by, telling him that I was going back to the room to change because I’d gotten butter on my shirt. I had, but I really only needed a reason to go to the room without him.

He snagged my hand, holding me back gently. “Are you feeling better?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I am.”