“She’s been vomiting nonstop. Is it food poisoning, bad nerves, what?”
It could be a response to the trauma, but I believed the reason was much simpler and more obvious. “Do you know how long she’d been married?”
“A couple of months. Who the fuck cares? Can you help her or not?”
“Leo… I don’t think Nicole’s symptoms are psychological at all.”
“Then what is it? Speak, Ravenna. I don’t have all day.”
“I think she’s pregnant.”
CHAPTER 20
Ravenna
I punched a pregnant woman.
Of all the atrocious, horrendous things I’d done, punching a pregnant woman felt the worst. The urge to apologize bounced on my tongue, but it seemed mentioning the topic even remotely right now could lead Nicole to a psychotic break. She was on the verge of one when she regained consciousness and faced my assumption.
She swore at me at first, questioning my medical knowledge, but then she did the math and realized I might be right. The rage feat she exhibited made me worry about her—and I didn’t even like her.
The selfish part of me was grateful for what she’d perceived as a calamity; Leo didn’t trust Nicole’s ability to drive in her condition, neither did he trust his ability to take care of her during their escape, which meant I had to accompany them until further notice.
Under Leo’s captivating gaze—he’d devoured my body as I cleaned up the evidence of hiscrimeoff my flesh with my torn shirt and some water, licking his lip in arousal—I reclaimed my slacks and glasses. Then I was free…sort of. I was still cuffed in the backseat of the car.
We stopped at the drugstore so she could buy a pregnancy test. I suggested getting something for the nausea and morning sickness as well, but she, in denial, refused. Apparently, she believed the test would be negative evidence not a confirmation of the pregnancy.
“I’m fully capable of driving, by the way,” I said just to start a conversation. Leo hadn’t said anything to me since his return, and now that we were both alone in the car, it was a good opportunity to initiate contact. Any kind.
He just glanced at me over his shoulder, his concentration divided between me and the drugstore.
“Neither you nor her is in good condition to drive,” I continued. “I’ll be happy to help.”
“I’m not in the mood to chase when you run, Doc,” he mumbled.
Run? Who said I wished to run? He had no idea how happy I was to have the pleasure of his company again, even if it was as twisted and dangerous as it was now, even if it was going to break my heart and threaten my life. Again. “I have no intention of running from you, Leo.”
His gaze returned fully on me. “That makes you an idiot.”
My lips pursed. “I’m aware. Apparently, book smart doesn’t seem to erase that quality.”
He rolled his eyes, and his mouth gave a slight twitch that could be a stifled smile. Or simple scorn. “How did you cook the books in Filicudi? You work there?”
And we’re back to that.“Actually, I run the institution. That was the arrangement. In exchange for myservice, I was given the position and was released from my formerresponsibilitiestoward the Mob.”
“Hard to pass,” he mocked.
I leaned as forward as the cuffs allowed me. “I said no, Leo. I swear I told him anyone but you, but he threatened my mother, who has been in Filicudi since my brother was killed because of my refusal to help the Mob in the first place.” Tears jumped out of my eyes. “Enzio came to my house and threatened my father. Papa kept begging me to take his offer. What was I supposed to do?”
“Why didn’t you go to Tino to ask for help?”
Holy Mother of God. How deviously smart was he to ask me that? I might as well be dead now. “T-T-Tino?”
“You’re a Bellomo kid, Ravenna. My father has a direct line to each and every one of the students. He’s always helped them with anything they needed, and you know by now he has a thing forsavinglittle girls, so why the fuck didn’t you go and tell him how hisfriendwas going to betray him? In his own fucking son?”
I tried to swallow, but my throat had turned into a rock. “I should have. I know that now. But I was afraid.”
“Afraid of the Lanzas but not the Bellomos? You never thought about what was gonna happen to you when my father or I knew?”