“I’m not sure, he’s a kind man at times, but he’s involved with…” she paused. Does she tell him about the fact that Louis is part of the mafia, and that she has no other option but to go through with this, or does she just ditch this whole confession and get on with life?
“What is he involved with?” the priest asked.
“I like him, I just don’t know if I am ready to marry him,” she said instead.
“But there is no love?”
“I don’t know, it’s all so very complicated,” she started.
“I understand, but you know that God can give you guidance in situations like this, and I’m here to assist.”
She was silent for a moment. This was a mistake, not even God can help her, she was stuck in a situation with no way out.
“I’m sorry Father, I just need a prayer.”
“Of course my child,” he said quietly and then followed with a short prayer for guidance.
“Thank you Father,” she said biting back the sudden wave of nausea that hit her.
“Go in peace.”
Belinda exited the booth and rushed to the nearest bathroom and dry-heaved over the toilet bowl. All this stress was starting to impact her health and if she didn’t get a grip on life, she was going to end up in some mental hospital for severe depression.
She made her way out of the church and walked two blocks down to a café to get some coffee. The smell of freshly ground coffee assaulted her senses immediately but instead of liking it as she usually did, her stomach turned again and another wave of nausea hit her. This was not stress she thought and mentally calculated when she had her last period as she rushed out of the café. The tired spells, the nausea, everything pointed to one sure fact. She was pregnant!
As if her life wasn’t complicated already, this took the cake. With the certainty of expecting Louis’ child hanging heavily over her head, she slumped back against the concrete wall in the alley next to the café, and pressed her rosary against her lips. This cannot be happening, she kept telling herself as she fought the morning sickness. You asked for a sign, her thoughts echoed back at her.
“Impossible,” she whispered to herself, “how can this be happening?”
She made her way back to the Villa fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. She was going to have to raise her child in the mafia, exposing him or her to the dark world she now lives in against her will and how was Louis going to take the news?
“Bella, I was getting worried,” it was Louis voice that infiltrated her thoughts and her heart cramped painfully, “you’re so pale, are you feeling ill?” he asked worriedly.
“I-I’m fine,” she lied, plastering on a smile, “just tired, I think I need to go lay down.”
“Of course,” he said and immediately helped her to her room.
Her heart was racing and it felt as if something was squeezing the very air from her lungs as she walked up to her room. She had to tell him, but she didn’t know how or when. The words were on the tip of her tongue, when she felt her stomach cramp. Without a word, she rushed into her room shutting the door in Louis face, and rushed to the bathroom. This was an utter disaster, she thought as she hunched over the toilet.
Chapter 13
Louis knew instantly that Belinda was not well, she was nervous and pale, and the way she bolted into her room had him worried. Concerned about her health he called their family doctor to see to her.
“Thank you for coming around Doctor, I’m quite concerned about my fiancé, she doesn’t seem well. It could very well just be stress, but I’d prefer if you could take a look,” he said as he walked alongside the doctor taking him upstairs.
“What are her symptoms?” the doctor asked.
“Tired, pale, overall she seems quite edgy. She recently lost her father as you know, and with the wedding drawing close, I think it might just be stress,” he said quietly as they stood outside the room.
“Well that could very well be the case, but I’ll take a look and run a few tests to make sure all is in order.”
Louis opened the door for the doctor and then waited outside. This entire arrangement was handled incorrectly from day one, he thought as he paced in front of the door. He couldn’t help but feel guilty for allowing his father to influence his choices like this. He should have refused the arrangement and taken the brunt of his father’s rage instead of being such a coward. Now the woman he has slowly started to fall in love with is ill, and it was his fault. From the shy timid creature she was when he first met her, she now displayed the characteristics of a true Donna, unmoved and poker-faced. She even refused to attend her father’s funeral, who knows what was going on in her mind.
A little while later the doctor asked Louis to join him and he couldn’t help but feel the immense sense of sadness as he looked down at Belinda where she lay staring out the window, her skin pale against the dark hair that framed her face.
“How is she?” he asked tentatively, taking her hand in his, surprised that she didn’t pull away from him.
“She does show some signs of stress but it’s very normal when a woman’s body undergoes such extreme changes during pregnancy…” the doctor started.
“Scusami, pregnant?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yes, that is correct. She’s about four weeks now,” the doctor said and turned his attention to Belinda, “Signora, you would need to visit my rooms as soon as you feel up to it so that we can make sure everything is in order, but your blood pressure seems fine.”
Louis stood in shock as he looked down at Belinda. This was the last thing he expected, he had assumed she was on birth control like most women should be in this day and age. How could she possibly be pregnant?
He walked the doctor to the door and let him find his own way out then came to sit beside her.
“Did you know you were pregnant?” he asked trying not to sound accusing.
“No, I didn’t,” she said without looking his way.
“Belinda, look at me. Were you not on birth control?” he asked trying to control his impatience.
She whipped her head around and glared at him, “No I was not. What seems to be the problem Louis, are you afraid that I might trick you into marrying me?” she bit out harshly.
“You know it’s not like that,” he countered.
“Do you think this is what I wanted, a baby born into the mafia!?” she said raising her voice.
“Calmati,” he said and took a deep breath, “I’m sorry for upsetting you. I just didn’t expect this,” he said quietly.
“Well neither did I, so here we are. Getting married in a few days, and I’m having your baby. Instant family isn’t that just brilliant,” she bit out sarcastically.
“Bella, please don’t stress yourself out, we can hold off with the wedding…”
“No, I will not walk down the aisle looking like a house or give anyone reason to think I am a promiscuous gold digger,” she said bitterly, “we will wed as planned.”
She had a point, everyone will think he is marrying her because she is with child, and the gossipmongers will have a field day. He just wished she could show more compassion, he wanted her the way she was when he first met her.
“As you will, mio cara, we will continue as planned.”
“I’m tired,” she said quietly turning her back on him.
“Get some rest, I’ll bring you some food later, and we can talk about the wedding then.”
He stood looking at her for a brief moment and then quietly left her to rest, closing the door behind him.
Although he didn’t expect this to happen he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride knowing he was going to be a father. Maybe in time she would grow to love him and they would become a true family.
Chapter 14
Four weeks later…
With the passing of her father, the wedding was postponed but finally the inevitable day had arrived. She stood looking at herself in the mirror, the wedding dress was even more beautiful than she expected.
Thankfully there were no signs of pregnancy as yet. Although her breasts were tender, she had gotten over most of her morning sickness which was a relief. To her surprise, Louis went out of his way to give her whatever her heart desired to make this day as perfect as it could possibly be. He even got Natalie to attend the wedding so that she could be the maid of honor.
“You look amazing Bee,” Natalie said as she tucked some of the stray strands of hair back in place, “I still can’t believe this is all happening so fast.”
“It was love at first sight,” she said quietly and stepped off the pedestal.
“You’re so damn lucky.”
You have no idea, she thought.
A slight knock on the door drew her attention but before Natalie could inquire who it was, Louis stepped into the room.
“Hey! You’re not allowed to see the bride before the wedding!” she cried and tried to shove him back out the door.
“I have to see Belinda, it is of utmost importance.”
Belinda looked at him and noticed the serious look on his face, then nodded at Natalie, “It’s okay Nat, will you give us a moment?”
“Ugh, this is such bad luck,” her friend mumbled and walked out of the room.
Louis could hardly take his eyes of Belinda, she was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen, and although he would want nothing more but to have her promise her entire life to him, he had a pressing matter to discuss. And this could very well be the end of this fairytale wedding.
“I had some of my men investigate an issue that has been on my mind for some time now,” he started and walked to the window, “Remember when you mentioned the accountant?”
“Yes?” she said curiously.
“We’ll I never made that arrangement, my father did. So I had him investigated.”
He turned to her and took both her hands in his.
“It is true that our parents promised us to each other when we were just children, but my father had ulterior motives. You see, El Pescore has been a front for my father, it was the only way he could invest his money in the United States…” Louis started to explain. He told her how he found out about his father’s business, and how he used El Pescore’s Italian food supplier as a front to legitimize the movement of money from Italy to America.
Belinda was shocked to the core. All this time her pride and joy was a sham. She slowly sat down on the bed with a hundred and one questions flooding her mind.
“I want you to listen to me. I have already moved my father’s assets away from your restaurant, and signed the business over into my name,” Louis said as he stood on his haunches in front of her, “but my father will soon find out, and when he does all hell will break lose. The only way I can secure your safety is if you were my wife.”
For a moment her mind went blank, but clarity soon descended on her and she looked at Louis with both determination and admiration. She knew that what he had done was dangerous but the fact that he did this for her must mean that he cared.
“Is El Pescore in danger of being closed down or destroyed?” she asked.
“No, with El Pescore no longer the front, it will be meaningless for him to pursue it and I will ensure that nothing happens to your restaurant or to your staff.”
“Good, then I will marry you,” she said quietly.
Louis stood up and dragged his hands through his hair, “That’s just it. I don’t want you to just marry me. I want you to want to marry me. I want our child to know that his parents care for each other.”
That took her for a loop, and she wasn’t quite sure she understood what he wanted. Over the past few weeks after her father’s death, Louis was compassionate and understanding and somewhere between, I hate you and I forgive you, she fell in love with him, not to mention that she now carried his child. But it was a realization she opted to bury forever. It took her weeks to come to terms with the fact her love for him would be unrequited.
“You want me to want to marry you?” she asked tilting her head.
“Si, marriage without love is nothing but a business transaction,” he said and kissed the palm of her hand. “I want our child to have a happy home.”
When he did things like that she could not fault him. She wanted him and from his declaration he wanted her too. She sat for a moment and contemplated her future.
“Do you love me?” she asked.
“I didn’t believe this to be possible, but you’ve changed me somehow. And knowing that I might marry a woman who does not love me made me reconsider…” he started and then came to sit next to her, “I am in love with you, which is why I don’t want you to marry me if there is any doubt in your heart or mind.”
She could feel the tears prick her eyes and she quickly blinked them away. For weeks she tried to be strong, harden her heart and show everyone that she was a force to be reckoned with. A woman who refused to let circumstance and tragedy weaken her, but now she could barely keep it together.
“I am in love with you too,” she whispered.
“Mio dolce amore, then we shall marry and take this world by storm. I will protect you and our child all of my days.”
Suddenly her walls crumbled down and a sob ripped through her chest. All her pent up emotions like a raging river, broke the walls that she fought so hard to keep erected.
“Once we are married, I will go with you to New York, and we will start afresh there,” he said as he cupped her face in his hands.
“What will happen when your father finds out about El Pescore?” she asked searching his eyes.
“Let me worry about that, mio caro, I’m his son, and you are now his daughter-in-law, he will find other ways to manage his business. I will help him set up a shelf company in the United States, one that will have no strings to El Pescore or the Benedetti’s,” he reassured her and then pressed his lips against her, kissing her softly.
After the wedding, they both left for New York to start their own family. Belinda accepted the fact that her life will never be the same, but with Louis by her side and their child on the way, she knew she could face any circumstance. After her father passed away, she assumed the position as the Donna Benedetti in the largest Mafia Family in the United States.
Louis earned his father’s respect, despite the fact that he created a shelf company for his family, withdrawing El Pescore as the front for the mafia.
THE END
Enjoyed this book?
Click Here to join Our Romance Connoisseurs’ Club and receive a FREE copy of Her Fake Fiancé Billionaire Boss.
Wrangling the Cowboy: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance
Chapter 1
Clara
“You got this girl. You’re the best chef on either side of the Mason-Dixon and if that cowboy doesn’t know it, he’s dumber than a box of rocks.”
I had to laugh at my cousin Boone’s pep talk because no one could calm my nerves the way he could.
“Thanks Cuz, I appreciate that. But now I need to go. I’ll call you again in a few days.” I blew out a long breath and stepped from the car, climbing yellow painted wooden steps that lead to a giant farm-style home.
“Where the hell is the new girl anyway?” A deep, annoyed voice sounded from the other side of the door.
If the long drive up to the Hawkeye Ranch in Rogue, Texas hadn’t been intimidating enough for me, the gruff voice of the man inside—inquiring about me—left me shaking like a leaf. Not that I was scared of him, not really, because I didn’t know him, but working for someone like that could make life difficult. I’d already accepted the job and made the move to Texas, and by move, I mean that all of my worldly possessions worth carting from Atlanta to Texas, were in my beat up old VW van.
Still, I was here and ready to work. But the words announcing my arrival wouldn’t come. You’ve got this. Usually giving myself a pep talk helped but this time, not so much.
“She was supposed to be here at ten,” he bellowed to someone inside with him.
I glanced at my pho
ne screen. Nine fifty-seven. I knocked again. “She’s out here knockin’ and wonderin’ if it’s alright to come in without an invitation,” I called through the screen door because I still had no clue if it was cool to enter without an invite.
At first, all I saw was a giant of a man lumbering my way, his cowboy boots the only sound between us. Then he pushed the door open, forcing me to step back. Despite the scowl on his gorgeous face and the annoyance radiating from his broad shoulders, hands fisted at his hips just to punctuate his bad mood, the man was still the best-looking thing I had seen in a while.
“You’re late,” he barked unnecessarily.
It’s only for six months, I told myself as I kept my smile fixed in place. By the time September comes, I’d be just a distant memory to this man. But today, I needed this job, even though it was temporary. I figured if I did a good job, maybe Mr. Hawthorne might recommend me to another ranch once his regular cook returns.
“I’m not actually late, and I have been here. Knocking.” And listening to him rant, but I thought it best to keep that to myself.
He stepped in close and I took another step back before I could think better of it. He frowned. “I won’t hurt you.”
I swallowed, hit with the power of a stunning pair of baby blue eyes looking at me like I was a warm stew on a cold night.
“I know that but goodness you’re a big one, aren’t you?” The man was large and beautiful and when that small smile played around his lips I knew I might be in danger of crushing on my boss. Considering what happened in Atlanta and the reason I’m in Texas, that would be bad.
“Right well, don’t just stand there. Come on in.” He held the door open for me but he didn’t look happy about it. Come to think of it he didn’t seem happy in general.
But I followed him in and, hand to heart, looked at his scrumptious backside the whole way to the kitchen. I barely noticed the house except for a lot of pine. I could see the house anytime, who knew how many chances I’d get to stare at that booty without getting caught?
Sinful Takeover_An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 32
