Page 7 of Pretty Poison

I know Gabriel is a very straightforward man and hearing my terms couldn’t have been an easy thing, but he took it like the big boy he is, nonetheless. Kat is a harder nut to crack. I know her thoughts and beliefs on arrangements like this, but she has no say here. Her opinion holds no weight on my decision.

“Ciro,” I murmur in a quiet tone as we make our way to the SUV, “get a file on Liana. I need to know everything before she moves in with us to avoid unpleasant surprises.”

“The program’s already running,” he reassures me, lighting a cigarette. “It should be completed when we return home.”

Four

LIANA

Five days later

It’s been less than a week since I arrived here at Dario’s estate, and I feel so out of place. They’re such a tight-knit family that it’s impossible for me to be accepted as if I belong. That’s going to take some time, and apparently, I have plenty of it.

While I had no choice for the most part, my input has begun to make a difference in certain things. The wedding, for instance, I’ve managed to sweet talk Kat into getting Dario to postpone it for another two weeks so I can get settled.

Dario’s a stern man, and he’s made it clear that he wants no part in the preparations for the wedding. But he’s also contradicting himself and exercising full authority over the setting, colour scheme and seating arrangements. Everything else is my responsibility. Well, mine and Kat’s. She’s been by my side every step of the way to make this day memorable, but in all honesty, it’s not something I want to remember. It’s not real, it’s a marriage I’m being forced into, but she’s just so fixated on the thought of us being sisters-in-law that I can’t bear to reject her help in fear of hurting her feelings.

Knocking on my door twice with a delicate tap, Kat lets herself in and perches beside me. “Are you ready to go?” she asks in a chipper tone.

I tightly press my lips together and nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I breathe.

She places a comforting hand on mine that is pushed into the mattress as I prop myself up. I turn to face her, a defeated expression replacing my features, and watch as a soft smile appears on her lips. “I know visiting the clinic isn’t the most dignified thing, but I went through it too. It is nothing to worry about, Lia. The Vitale men take pride in continuing their family name and, in this case, legacy. Before Dario was Don, Maze ruled, and marrying me granted him access to the throne. He never wanted it and had a plan to hand it over to Rio. Those two years were gruelling as I yearned for a baby, but he refused. He didn’t want his child to be thrust into a role he himself didn’t even want—”

“Why are you telling me this?” I ask, interrupting her. I don’t mean to cut her off, but I already have so much running through my mind; I don’t need the additional information.

“Because I was in your shoes once,” she snaps, her tone devoid of any politeness. “Maze didn’t want the weight of prioritising their legacy weighing over their future. Yes, our baby might have wanted it, but he didn’t want that for them. Because of that, he always wore protection when we slept together. He wouldn’t relent in his decision to wait, no matter what I wanted. Now, seven years down the line and after fertility issues, we finally conceived. This baby,” she grabs my hand and gently places it on her stomach, “is our miracle. I used to hate how long we waited, but now that I’m pregnant, I appreciate his adamance because I don’t think I would’ve wanted a baby when he was Don. I would always fear for my safety and theirs.”

I swallow hard at her words. “But now it’s my responsibility to thrust an innocent child into this situation. Once Dario gets his way, an heir will be born and the throne will be theirs, won’t it?”

She sighs, “Call me selfish, but I would rather someone else’s child be in the hot seat than my own. If the roles were reversed, I know you’d feel the same.” She leans backward making her bump more prominent now. “The difference between Maze and Rio is that Rio is and always has been ready for this. He grew up wanting this life and will do anything to protect his family from the result of his actions. Now, that’s not to say Maze can’t do that too, but he’s never wanted to be the center of attention. I promise, you’re in good hands.”

That little overload of information doesn’t make me feel any better.

“We should get going,” I finally say, standing to my feet, the nausea in my gut swirling.

“Yeah, you’re right. I hope you don’t mind stopping to get breakfast first; this baby is stealing all my nutrients, and I’m starving.”

I offer a smile. “The joys of pregnancy, I presume?”

“This is just the beginning,” she laughs softly. “I’ve read that it only gets worse from here. So I’m doing what I can to preserve this feeling of pure bliss within me before I get chubby ankles and immense back pain.”

∞∞∞

The journey to the small clinic which is a few hours away from the Vitale estate was long and filled with an uncomfortablesilence. Remi and Cassian–Dario’s younger brothers–aren’t very talkative as is, but they really took it a step further, never speaking a word for the duration of our drive. I thought I’d at least have Kat to talk to, but she’s been out like a light since breakfast.

“You three head inside,” Remi finally says, breaking the uneasy tension in the air, as he approaches the clinic’s entrance. “I’ll park the car and join you in a minute.”

I shake Kat’s arm until her eyes flutter open and she groans out, “Five more minutes, baby.”

A soft chuckle leaves my lips. “Kat, it’s Lia. We’re at the clinic. C’mon, we need to head inside.”

Her eyes shoot open and she straightens her posture. “Alright, let’s go.”

Taking the lead, Cass exits first, opening the door for Kat and me before Remi speeds off, disappearing in the rather full parking lot.

Trying to offer me comfort, Kat links her arm through mine and directs us towards the glass double-doors. “Don’t overthink it,” she whispers. “The more you think about how invasive and absurd this all is, the more uncomfortable you’ll feel. The nurses here are nice and they’ll take good care of you, I promise.”

As we reach them, the doors automatically open and the smell of lavender reaches my nose, making me feel even more queasy.

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