Page 115 of His Tesoro

At least her silence should buy me some time to figure things out. I released her arm. I’d left crescent-shaped indentations in her skin.

“Is the baby okay?” I whispered.

“I’m not sure. Your body has gone through a lot of stress.” At my panicked expression, she put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “That doesn’t mean the baby isn’t okay. Do you know how far along you might be?”

I tried to remember how long it had been since Matteo and I first had sex, but my mind was racing too quickly to think clearly. “It can’t be more than a couple of weeks.”

Dr. Amato nodded. “It’s been just over two weeks since you asked me about pregnancy.”

God, it felt like a lifetime ago. Our first time having sex had been so magical, so perfect.

It was all a lie.

“Blood tests can show pregnancy more quickly than urine tests,” she continued. “Do you remember when your last period was?”

“I haven’t had one since before the wedding,” I said, running my hand down my face. “I should have suspected something. But my periods can be unpredictable.”

Dr. Amato clasped my hand between hers and gave me a gentle squeeze. “You’ve been through a lot lately. It doesn’t surprise me you didn’t notice.”

Noodle nudged my stomach again. My entire world had shifted in the last few minutes.

“Can’t you do an ultrasound to see if the baby’s okay?”

Dr. Amato shook her head. “It’s really too early to see anything on an ultrasound. Generally, you have to wait until at least six weeks to see anything.”

My heart sank. I wanted to see my baby now, wanted to know that I hadn’t already failed them. How could my body be a safe home to my baby when I wasn’t safe?

Tears filled my eyes and I let them come. I had been ready to give up, to let myself fade away from this life filled only with pain and suffering. But now I had a reason to keep going. I would give this baby all the love I’d dreamed of and never gotten, no matter what it cost.

60

SOFIYA

Dr. Amato brought me dinner on a tray along with a large mug of hot chocolate. Before she left for the night, I asked her to send Angelo in.

I’d spent the last hour thinking things through and had come up with a plan. It was crazy, risky, and would require me to trust at least one person.

Angelo stood at the foot of my bed, his shoulders set, hands clasped in front of him.

“Did you mean what you said?” I asked. I was proud that my voice had regained some strength. I needed to be strong for my baby. “That you’ll do anything to protect me?”

“Yes,” Angelo said without hesitation.

“You’ll help me? Not Matteo?” It physically hurt to speak his name.

“My loyalty is to you, Sofiya. I swear it.”

“Okay.” I fidgeted with the blanket, wishing I had the strength to stand. It was hard to exude power and confidence while bundled up in bed.

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. “Then you will help me escape.”

His eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“We need to leave. I’m not safe here. And…” I looked at him closely, desperately hoping I wasn’t making a mistake. I wanted to trust Angelo. I needed to believe I still had someone on my side. “And I need to protect my baby.”

Angelo grew pale, and his eyes flitted between me and the door. He took a hesitant step towards me, waiting to see if I would protest or if Noodle would growl. When we were both quiet, he sat down gently beside me.

“You’re pregnant, bella?” He placed his hand gently on top of mine.

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