Page 101 of Savage King

"She's been throwing up a lot lately," I contradict.

"Hmm, might be a side effect from all the pills and shock," Doc mumbles. He takes her temperature, blood pressure, and all the nonsense doctors like to do. He palpates her stomach, asking if it hurts or makes her sick, and she says no.

Sick? Vomiting?

Her pills….

I remember grabbing her pills…

A few days late… actually a week or more…

I like where my mind is taking me.

Now her guilty expression makes sense to me, too. If she suspects she might be pregnant and is trying to keep it from me… why would she do that?

Because she wants to be sure!

I feel an idiotic grin spread over my face and turn my head. I'm not going to take the joy from her of telling me, but I need to be sure.

As soon as Doc is done with his examination, including drawing blood, I corner him outside, away from Scarlet's attention.

"I want you to do a pregnancy test," I demand.

He arches one of his grey, bushy eyebrows. "I appreciate you trying to help me do my job, Toni, but I've already plan?—"

I stare him down, "And you will tell no one, including her. You will call me the minute you know. Understood?"

He pushes his glasses up his nose, where a small indent is left from where they dug into his flesh. Irritation emanates from every one of his pores. "I might not be a professional doctor anymore, but I still have certain principles, and I won't?—"

"Cut the crap." I glare him down.

"Fine, yes, alright." He nods.

"Good." I pat him on the shoulder. "Good man."

He gives an irritated huff before he collects his composure and walks down the hallway to the stairs. I grin. Not even thecantankerous Doc can dim my mood now. I'm going to be a father. I feel the truth of it in my bones.

A few hours later, I call Igio and Vito into my office. "I've got the list," I wave my phone in the air. "Sending it to you now."

Both of their phones ding simultaneously as my text arrives.

They open it and stare at the names of the four jurors Don Carlos has in his pocket.

"How do we get to them?" Igio asks, making me rethink my decision to elevate his status. I don't need people without initiative or thinking skills on my team.

"They're in a hotel. Get into the heads of the cleaning staff, the cooks, anybody who might be able to get word to them." Vito glares at Igio. It was his idea to promote him.

"What word is that? You said you're not gonna kill innocent people." Igio wants to know. Yeah, he's definitely not going to cut it.

"Move their fucking families to safety, their cats, their dogs, whatever. Let them know I will protect them as long as they play ball. Also, find out what each one needs the most, credit cardspaid off, a job, a fucking doctor for their cat. I. Want. To. Know." I spell it out for him.

"Yes, boss," he nods. I glare at Vito, who throws an apologetic look at me. If Gigi is clouding his judgment, this charade of a hidden relationship needs to end now.

"Good, get to work." I kick them out of the office. We don't have much time to set this in motion. Private shit needs to be dealt with later. The defense will call their last witnesses today, and depending on how that goes, the lawyers will deliver their closing statements tomorrow or the day after. Following that, the jury will start deliberations.

This is going to cost me a shitload of money. I stare at my laptop. But even if it costs millions, it'll be worth it. Seeing Carlos go to jail and having him shanked inside will be as close to my revenge as I can get. Later, Edoardo will pay, too. But that is a more complicated, longer plan.

I drum my fingers on my desk.

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