Page 84 of Wretched Choices

With the wedding done, nothing is going on, but it feels like the calm before the storm.

Federico has gone MIA since all his associates, at least the ones known about, have been caught in the last few months. And since moving into our new house, we have settled into a pretty mundane routine. One that doesn’t scream here lives a mafia don. If you ignore the soldiers across the property and family members coming in and out of our home.

I work from home a few days a week, and so does Salvatore. The days I go into the office or I’m in the field, I always have someone with me. Salvatore always follows me when I’m in the field, which sometimes pisses me off. Other times, I thrive on it. Especially when he takes his time to show me his favorite places afterwards.

After our first agreement before our wedding when he forced me to choose and I set my conditions, we never discussed how this marriage was going to be. We never talked about having children because who wants to bring children into a marriage that isn’t going to last?

Salvatore has never mentioned what my father said when we were in Italy again. Because he doesn’t want my father’s empire. He wants Federico dead and the attempt for a war over.

That’s why when I stare at the pregnancy test with two pink lines, my heart flutters and a lump forms in my throat. I don’t know what to do next.

The only thing that comes to my mind is I need to make a doctor's appointment. I need to be sure and to find out how long I have been pregnant. It can’t be more than a month since I had my period last month. It could be a false alarm, or maybe something is wrong with my hormones.

I flush the toilet and wash my hands before I make my way back to my desk and call my doctor. Today I’m working from my office in the Hall Media and I want to go directly after work to my OBGYN. Just as I end the call, a tall, lean figure with a grin on his face leans on my desk. I lean back in my chair and return a smile at my friend.

“Mr. Caine, to what do I own this honor?”

His grin spreads even more. “I have a big story for you, but it’s important that it’s only you who knows about it.”

“Why?”

He leans down and lowers his voice. “You are the only one I can trust.”

I raise a skeptical brow. “Trust? When did we reach that point?”

His lips twitch. “I thought us going on two dates before you married was us reaching some level of trust.”

I laugh sarcastically. “There weren’tactualdates. They were beneficial dates.”

“Well, they could have been.”

“Cut to the chase, Ethan. We both know we will never be on that page.”

“True.” He looks around the office before he speaks. “I have a story for you. And if everything goes as planned, you will have a chain of stories.”

“About?”

“It’s not me who will give it to you. For that, you need to come with me.”

“Where?”

“To the person who will give it to you.”

When Ethan said he had a story for me, I never thought the story would be given to me by Weston Caine.

As I leave his office, I still can’t comprehend the reality of what I’ve got in my hand. He practically did my job for me. I just need to write the story. Publish it and broadcast it. That, however, will depend on Mr. Hall, but since I don’t need to hide anymore, I want it under my name.

I go directly to my OBGYN, well aware of Valentino in the driver’s seat. He isn’t fond of driving me here. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t have much of a choice. Either that or I drove in my car, which I haven’t driven much since I married Salvatore. Before we went to Italy and I once again became Isabella Ruggeri, I had some kind of privacy, but since my father made an alliance with Salvatore and my appearance is known, I’m constantly followed by one of Salvatore’s men, or by the man himself.

When Valentino parks in the underground garage, we take the elevator up to the doctor’s office. With Valentino in the waiting room, I get the checkup I need.

I lie on the examination table with my legs up, while the doctor does a transvaginal ultrasound, checking my reproductive organs. They took my vitals and blood earlier, and I can barely concentrate on what the doctor is doing because of the beating of my heart.

“You said you had your period.”

“Yes. Just three weeks ago.” I made sure I checked my tracker.

“Are the periods normal or different from usual?”

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