Sono Tuo
if mafia bad, why hot?
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The sound of the needle rattling seemed louder than the melody it drew from the record spinning across the room, despite the ceiling fan spinning right above her head, her face felt hot, her fingers were tense, she did not want to touch anything, felt everything was restrictive, had taken off the dress she'd been wearing for half the day and was now sat anxiously on the bed in her underwear, for some reason still felt too warm as she waited, impatient, on edge.
It wasn't the initial panic the morning after that had pushed her over the edge, not the strange sensation in her abdomen, not the craving of food Alexander had had that she usually did not need him to share, not even the irregular change in cycle. But less than an hour had passed since she had returned from the bathroom, glad Alexander had already gone that morning and not witnessed anything. She'd brushed her teeth now, but the tears of discomfort and fear had not stopped coming every now and then, even now she was still on the verge, checked her phone again for an update from Miles. The consideration of who to ask had been brief, she knew that no member of security would make sense, she could not safely assume that not everything she required would somehow, soon, reach Alexander. And, as she had already guessed, no one would see or suspect anything if she merely called Miles, even if he had to go to a pharmacy, though it'd turned out he kept an abundance of tests at his apartment. She did, however, not feel like she could go there now, though was starting to regret that decision, as the waiting was slowly driving her mad, at least a short journey would have been a distraction.
She jumped when the door clicked open, Helders coming into view, though diverting his gaze. "Kane's here."
"Fookin'ell, she's expectin' me."
"I am..." Jade said, her voice quieter than anticipated, and she only dropped the tension in her shoulder when the door fell shut again. "He's going to tell him."
"Tell him wha'?" Miles asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That I'm fucking crying," Jade snapped, rising from the bed and holding her hand out impatiently in front of him.
"'e didn't see..."
Her eyes darkened and she watched as he reached into the inside pocket of his white suit jacket.
"I didn't fink tha' ya..."
Her fingers closed around the box, but she waited, kept her eyes on his. "That I what?"
"Be... so... I mean... ya dun't want... a famileh?"
"When have I ever said that?"
His eyes widened. "Jade, I thought you'd 'ave spoken teh 'im about this. 'e won't want ya not teh go thr-..."
Jade tilted her head to the side, staring back at him in disbelief. "He won't want what?" she huffed, shaking her head and passing him on her way into the bathroom, cursing under her breath.
"Sorreh?"
"I got what I need, you can go."
"Wha'? Nah, I'll wait wif ya. I'm 'ere for ya."
"Clearly," she huffed, sarcasm lacing her voice, her desperation replaced by anger instantly. "I don't need that kind of support. I do whatever the fuck I want. You can be whoever you want, he can be Alexander Turner all he wants." She closed the door, locked it before his hand could even touch the handle. "Out."
"Tha' is not wha' I meant, bella..." he sighed, staying close on the other side as she shuffled out of her thong and sunk down. "I joost thought yeh was worried 'bout 'is reaction 'n all..." He cleared his throat. "I can't believe ya 'aven't spoken t'im 'bout it. Trust meh, I know 'im. 'e wants this."
She huffed. "And isn't that all that matters."
"No, Al just-..."
"This isn't up to him," she stated, standing back up, the instructions simple enough and she adjusted her underwear, placed down the test out of immediate sight, though staying as she was, not unlocking the door.
"So wha'? Ya gunna get rid of it?"
"I don't even know if there's anything to get rid of yet." She swallowed hard, biting her lip. She couldn't say she'd given the idea of Alexander as father much thought, much less her as a mother. But she knew him too. If not for the sake of his own family, he would want an heir to his empire, more power. And no child would ever be safer than his. Her voice was quieter when she spoke again. "He wants this?"
"I thought 'e would've told ya before marryin' ya."
"Fuck you."
"Wha-...? Bella..."
She dried her hands, stepping away from the sink and slowly unlocking the door, staring right back into Kane's eyes on the other side. "You're ridiculous." She walked past him, pulling on her silk dressing gown.
"D'ya not want a famileh wif 'im?" he asked, his own voice now tenser.
"Is that any of your business?" She couldn't help but remember his instructions, his threats concerning her treatment of Alexander. She ran her fingers through her hair. "One time I forget," she muttered, shaking her head. "Fucking one."
"Talk to 'im about this, bella."
Her gaze snapped up. "You really don't know me, do you, Kane?"
"Oh, come on..."
"I told you I don’t need you here."
He swallowed, his eyes remaining on her, though spinning around when the door opened audibly, Alexander stepping inside.
Jade's heart skipped a beat when she saw him, tensing instantly, barely able to form a coherent thought when he was already right there, one look at her face all it took for him to rush and pull her in, his arms around her.
"Darlin'..." he drawled, the depth of his voice as unsettling as it was comforting. "Wha's wrong, eh?"
"Alexander..." she whispered, her lips against his neck, her fingers running through his hair at the back of his head. The blur of smoke and the spice of cologne was hopelessly overpowering. She heard movement, tilted her head and saw Kane cross the room and step into the bathroom.
"I were on me way teh the meetin' but Maffew told meh yeh seemed upset."
She swallowed hard, her eyes widening when Kane stepped back out of the bathroom, held up the test, she could just about make it out from the distance, the look on his face saying it all. He pressed his lips together, the softness in his eyes comforting despite before he was out the door.
Alexander drew back slightly, though kept his arms around her, aware of his friend's exit, yet she maintained his full attention. "Are yeh okeh?"
She realised only then that tears were pearling down her cheeks and she forced a smile, taking a deep breath. "I can't believe this..." She tried to compose herself, frustrated with the emotion overcoming her, leaving her powerless. "Fuck."
"Jade, darlin'..." he rasped, his forehead coming to rest against hers. "There ain't anehfin' yeh can't tell meh, no matter wha', eh?"
She could not take it any longer. "I'm pregnant, Alexander." Despite what Kane had said, she'd been convinced she knew what to prepare for. But she hadn't.
His eyes widened with evident shock, then his arm tightened around her, a smile tugging on the corners of his mouth. "Doll..." he said, his voice lowered. "Is tha' rehyt?"
She licked her lips, surprised by the confidence with which she met his gaze, unprepared for the softness in his eyes. "I think so," she said. "The other night after the opera I forgot to take..." She took another breath. "Alexander..."
He blinked slowly, fear creeping into his gaze. "No..." he whispered. "No, Jade..."
Her hands moved to smooth his shirt down over his chest, struggling to take even breaths. "You want this," she concluded, could read him effortlessly, knew him.
His hand came up to cup the side of her face, her skin warm against his palm. The unfiltered joy was slowly but surely facing growing panic, desperation. "Please," he whispered. "I do. 'course I do, sweet'eart." He realised her tears were not joy and his no longer were either now. "Talk t'meh."
"I just never-..." She stopped herself. "I did not see this coming. You... this is what you want?"
"Jade, y'kno' 'ow mooch me famileh means t'meh. I want me own, I alwehs 'ave. But I want you, doll. I want this wif you. Tell meh wha's on yehr mind."
She leaned forward, closing her eyes, her forehead against his chest as she tried to make sense of the chaos in her mind. "How things will change," she said.
He pulled her closer, pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I won't try teh persuade yeh if yeh've made up yehr mind," he whispered, his voice strained, barely audible with the last word. She was shaking in his arms and he hated being somewhat responsible. "But if yeh 'ave... worries... let meh ease 'em."
She knew what he would say, and she knew he would be right. His words brought fresh tears to her eyes. Nothing mattered more to him than she did. Being his meant being invincible. And apart from herself, there was one more person she wanted that for. He was Alexander Turner, and there were no worries she knew he couldn't ease for her, no worries that didn't stem from shock rather than actual insecurity and doubt. Slowly, she drew back to lift her head. "If it's a girl-..."
The smile that lit up the edges of his face drew uncontrollable tears of relief from the corners of her eyes, her giggle shaky when he nodded understandingly, knew effortlessly what she would say, spoke with her.
"Valentina."
He brushed her hair back from her face, chuckling. "Of course."
She sniffed, then wrapped her arms tightly around him, sobbing her relief into his chest. "Ti amo."
He smoothed his fingers through her hair, his other hand spread out on the small of her back to keep her as close as she was. "Jade, cara mia," he whispered into her hair. "Sono tuo."
