Part 19

                                    

                                          
Pregnant.
Gabriella was fucking pregnant.
Niccolo had lost track of time. He didn't know how long he had been pacing in the gardens and at this point, he didn't give a shit. He wanted to rip everything apart. Tear the trees down, break the stone walls...
He needed an outlet.
He wasn't a fucking idiot. He knew how this could have happened. Niccolo had always been careful before her. He knew one of them could easily pull something and he wouldn't let them.
He was a little fucking stupid when it came to Gabriella. He wanted all of her, and he didn't want a barrier between them. He knew she didn't want to be stuck with him. She wouldn't do this on purpose.
He knew she was clean, he knew she was on birth control...
So safety took a back seat. Then shit hit the fan and he didn't even think about it. He didn't consider if they were safe, he never even let his mind wander to this possibility. Whenever he took her, it was to feel something.
She had tried to get him to leave. She protected her stomach. Was this why she had puked before? He thought it was because she had killed that fucker... it had made sense. He didn't think to question it.
She knew.
How long had she known?
Was she ever going to tell him?
No. She wasn't. It was an easy question to answer. Why else would she say the things she said? Why else would she push him away, force him toward one path and one path only?
Gabriella was never going to tell him about the baby. He didn't know what she planned to do. Keep it, not keep it. If she planned on keeping it, how did she think she would raise it? How did...
"I see you found out. My granddaughter is not skilled at keeping secrets from you."
At the sound of Isabella's voice, he froze where he stood. This bitch knew? How the fuck did she know when he didn't? Gabriella went to her to share something with her that she intended on keeping from him?
"I assure you, she kept this secret in order to allow you the life you want and deserve. This also lets her have the life we agreed she needs."
"We didn't agree on anything," he barked. Okay, yes. He said he would let her go. But when he made that call he obviously didn't have all the information.
"Trust me, you agreed to it."
His tongue clicked against his teeth. "Is that a threat?" Maybe she forgot he was part of this world and he knew a threat when he heard one.
Though, this was a strange thought. Even if it hurt his ego to admit it, Isabella had all the power. She could have five of her men hold him down and they could finish him off in a second. Shit. She could kill him herself in that scenario.
So what was the purpose of threatening him into submission? She could understand keeping him alive initially - she wanted Gabriella's trust and killing him would not help achieve this goal.
But what about now?
Did she need him now?
Gabriella trusted her with this secret. Gabriella didn't want him to know about it. So was there a point in keeping him around?
"My late husband, Gabriella's grandfather... He was a good man. He was good at what he did."
"I've heard his reputation. I don't need the sappy recap. It doesn't answer my question."