Anastasia

Chapter 4: the prey and the predator

Emilia was seething with anger as she paced in her room. It ran through her body and clouded her brain. Her conscious was not aiding her to calm down, but to carry on. She had one person in mind and she was about to get her out of her way and life once and for all.

Emilia has always looked at what others have, then what she has in her life. She was pretty there was someone more beautiful than her. She could dance classical ballet well someone saw her and wanted to try it. She had a crush on a guy she was betrothed to him and so on and so forth. Emilia hated Anastasia.

Emilia didn't necessarily hate Anastasia. She did have love for her one time, but with her excelling at everything that was her's. That love turned into envy until she was green in the face. She just wanted everything back the way it was.

Emilia was the only female born between the three families in this generation. Till she was 8 she was showered with love, attention, kindness. When Anastasia showed up when she was 6 years old, she was happy to have another girl in her life. Until all that attention was stripped away from her and given to Anastasia. Emilia was ignored for Anastasia with only her mom remembering her.

What really fueled that hate is when she told Anastasia that she loved Dante. She begged Anastasia to help him notice her. What it did was only make Dante notice Anastasia more, not that she was aware, and when they got close she was forgotten again. Emilia's heart broke from the betrayal when the betrothal agreement was announced. That was supposed to be her with the man that she loves not Anastasia. Anastasia could easily tell Grandpa Leonardo and Stefano to cancel the agreement, but like always she had to take what's her. From then on she swore that she will make Anastasia pay.

Emilia was a pretty girl with no unique physical features. Brown hair that shined with how healthy it is till it reached the top of her breast. Deep chocolate doe brown eyes that captured anyone's attention.She had a button nose with thin lips that framed her face. She was about 5'8 with olive skin that shined with a golden hue. Her figure was slim but lithe from ballet. It's true that she didn't have the crystal blue eyes of the Ricci family, but she was pretty in her own right. She got most of her features from her mother who was an outsider that married into her father's family and world.

Emilia walked into her walk in closet and picked her outfit. She put on Black leather pants and jacket. Then put on her louis vuitton killer Stilleto heels.

She grabbed the gun from the secret compartment in her room and then walked out of her room. She made her way out of the Ricci mansion towards the main gates. Not even stopping for her mother as she called out for her, when she saw her leaving. She got in her Maserati Ghibli SQ4 and sped away. Now she was ready.

Joanna was counting the money made today from the diner. Traffic was slow today that means that the tips she collected was not as high as usual she sighed. She closed the register and began to mop the floor behind the counter. Joanna heard the sound of the bell above the door ring, as someone made their way into the diner. She could hear the person's heel because of their steps, as soon as they walked in.

She didn't look up from the floor. It was werid for someone to come in this late, as she remembered that it was 9pm. She could hear the person's steps getting louder as they made their way towards her. When Joanna looked up she found Emilia with a gun towards her head.

"Where is Anastasia?" Said Emilia with a danger to her voice.

Joanna assessed the situation as she stared at Emilia. She chuckled at her and continued with her work ignoring her presence. If it was something Emilia hated more it was to be ignored.

"I have a gun to your head." Said Emilia "Now where is she?" Lashed Emilia

"Does it look that I give a f**k?" Joanna said with an indeffierece in her voice. Still looking at the floor, as it was more important than Emilia.

"Where is the b***h that slept with my fiance?" Emilia screamed out in anger. "Sera saw them coming out of the room from the other class. I won't say it again Where is she?" manic evident in her voice as a sinister smile made its way on her face. Joanna's head snapped up to look at Emilia

"Listen here b***h you don't even have the right to say my princess name much less curse at it. If your going to shoot then shoot." Joanna said while she stared straight into Emilia's eyes holding her ground.

Emilia not wanting to back down as she looked at Joanna. She put both hands on the gun put her finger on the trigger, parted her legs a little, and closed her eyes. Her breath shaking a little she pulled the trigger.

There was a loud bang she could hear, but only Joanna laughing at her. Emilia opened her to see Joanna clutching her stomach still laughing. The mop she was holding on the floor. Emilia looked at Joanna and at the gun in confusion. She tried again and again to shoot at her getting even more frustrated.

"You know b***h that fucker didn't sleep with princess. He r***d her." Joanna said as she had an arm on the counter and the other on her cheek as she looked at Emilia. "But I gotta admit I didn't know you had the balls to do it. Let me show you how's it done." amusement shining through her voice.

Joanna grabbed the gun the was still in her face and outmaneuvered it from Emilia's hands. Emilia was still shocked by what happened still not registering that she didn't have the gun in her hands.

Emilia's focus came through as she began to realize the dangerous arua that was coming from Joanna. She wasn't the predator here she way the prey. Joanna was only playing with her. Emilia flushed in embarrassment as she gathered her thoughts. She returned her focus to Joanna, as fear set in now the gun was pointed at her.

"If you're gonna shoot someone. Learn how to hold a gun rat." Said Joanna switching the safety switch from on to off. Without any hesitation Joanna shot at the ceiling above Joanna. Emilia's dived to safety not even looking where Joanna was pointing the gun at. When Emilia looked up as moment passed to see Joanna glaring at her gun still in her hand.

"I suggest you leave rat before I get trigger happy again and tell that fucker he hurts princesses again. I'll cut his d**k with a rusty knife. You got that." Joanna said and Emilia believed that she wasn't being sarcastic.

Emilia can only nod her head, as she rushed out of the diner to get to her car. Emilia's plan backfired as she sped home.

Joanna made her way home to the apartment. She opened the door to see Marco on the sofa with Anastasia's head on her lap petting her hair. Her princess was exhausted now more than ever she didn't look that much better than yesterday when she was throwing up. She had bags under eyes, her pale skin looked even more pale and pasty, as she curled into herself. She didn't have that much energy to move. It was miracle that she was sleeping peacefully now.

"How was work devil?" Said Marco as he saw her at the door taking the keys out of door then closing it.

"The usual I'm gonna change and get ready to take her to Matthew at block 4." Said Joanna heading for the bedroom.

"Yeah okay devil. I'll get the blanket." Replied Marco. He wrapped the blanket around Anastasia and hid her face, even though he knew what was wrong with Angel. Her stomach was beginning to bulge a bit.

After Joanna changed her outfit. Both of them left the apartment to go to Matthew. Both Marco and Joanna walked through the seedy streets, as they could hear fights and gunshots everywhere they went. With Anastasia in Marco's arms as he supported her neck and an arm under her knees.

They walked for about 10 minutes until they stopped at a run down buliding. That was the best your gonna get on the south side.

They went down the stairs that led to the basement under the building and knocked on the steel metal door. The small window that was imbedded in the door slid open. Eyes peered through it as it looked at the two occupants outside the door. The window slid close shut again as they heard the locks being opened.

There stood a Middle aged man that looked he had seen better days. He had shaggy black hair with brown eyes. He wore glasses and a dirty doctor's coat. He had dark brown skin and a bruise on the side of his face.

"Come in!" Matthew said hurriedly "Joanna told me you where coming I already have a gang on my ass and since I owe her a favor. What do you guys need?" As he pushed them through the door and locked it again as they entered.

They looked at the best clinic around in the south side. That meant that you won't die from an infection other than your wounds. It was too dangerous to go to the normal hospital, as it belonged to the Romano family. The walls have ears and eyes there, so this was the second best they could do for Anastasia.

"Look Matthew tell us what's wrong with princess and we'll be out of your hair." Joanna said to Matthew as he made his way to Anastasia, as she was place on the medical bed. The moment he looked at her he was shocked by how beautiful she is.

"Joanna the devil cares about someone. Isn't that a surprise" Said matthew in a fake surprised voice. "Where were you hiding this beauty. The gangs would go crazy over her." He finished as began to check over Anastasia

"Why do you think I'm hiding her?" Said Joanna irratated as she had enough of his chatter.

"Well that's easy beauty over here is pregnant." Matthew said "We'll do an ultrasound but I don't have a BPM so we'll have to make one."

"f**k I KNEW IT!!" Screamed Joanna, as she grabbed Marco's forearm and squeezed in anger.

She wanted to make sure that all the signs where pointing at the right direction. She hoped that the symptoms were wrong,but she was right. She hated the baby's father even more know.

"You know the rules. You break anything you leave and pay for it." Said Matthew as he looked at Joanna with a neutral gaze.

"Its that Fucker's child so we should wait for princess decision." Said Joanna as she sat on the chair. Hair in her hand as she was worried for Anastasia. She could feel Marco behind her as a constant support.

"J." Said Anastasia as she woke up dizzy from sleep.

"Welcome back to the land of the living beauty." Said Matthew.

Anastasia looked at him warily, but calmed down as she saw Joanna and Marco.

"Princess we're at the doctor's I want you to calm down. He's gonna tell you some new." Joanna said with a teary voice as she began to cry.

"Look beauty." Matthew said as he took Anastasia's hand's in his and looked her in the eyes. "Your pregnant and I need to know your medical history to see what we can do for you okay." Matthew said gently.

"A baby. A baby. A baby" Anastasia began to mutter still shocked by the news.

"No No No princess I need you to focus with me your medical history."

Anastasia was on the verge of the full blown meltdown. This was too much of bad things that were happening to her. She wasn't ready to be a mom. She was just learning the world. In a tearful voice she answered the best she could.

"I get sick a lot and and I bleed really fast and I have anxiety and and I can't think of anything more. Oh and panic attacks." Said Anastasia in a rush feeling as if she can't breathe properly.

"Breath princess okay I got that, but it doesn't look good. From what you told me you have hemophilia and high blood pressure from anxiety. You're in a risk of damaging your uterus because of your age, height, and wight. Joanna told me that your 100lb that correct." Said Matthew

"Correct." Not fully understanding his medical terminology and Matthew could see that.

"You got that Joanna." As he looked at her.

"Yeah. Yeah. I got that." Said Joanna Still sitting in the chair.

"Its a risk either way but it's safer to keep the baby and not abort it." Matthew returned his focus on Anastasia. "You can carry on with the pregnancy and give it up for adoption Beauty. In the end it's still your choice."

"I'll keep it. I can't abort it maybe there's a family that can love him once he or she is born. Maybe I can love it after its born." Said Anastasia with uncertainty.

"Okay Beauty that's your choice." Said Matthew.

Anastasia looked uncertain as she look at Joanna and Marco through her white lashes. Afraid that the only support system she had would not accept her decision. Joanna and Marco caught her glance and both of their heart broke at the look of uncertainty.

"Princess no matter what happens I'll be there to support you. I'm going to be an aunt." Joanna said trying to lighten the situation as she put an arm around her shoulders as she sat next to her.

"Hey you didn't forget about me did you. I'm gonna be the favorite Uncle. As far as I'm concerned your the only parent this kid needs and you have us." Said Marco as he sat on the other side of her.

"Agreed." Firmness returning to Joanna's voice as relied back.

"I'm not leaving the Russo family. I'm gonna spy on them to give you a heads up about anything. You're gonna be safe angel you and the kid." Marco said even more protective of Angel than before.

They finished the appointment with everything they needed to know about the baby like nutrients, risks, and its needs before and after its born. Anastasia knew to keep the stress at a low and Matthew adviced for bed rest and no standing on her feet that much, and if anything ever happens to her to call Matthew as soon as possible.

When they returned home Anastasia went to bed get some much needed rest. While Marco and Joanna Where talking outside. They sat at the kitchen table talking in whispers as to not let Anastasia overhear them.

"Look Marco princess is not safe here she has to leave. Before the Roman's or Russo's get a word of this."

"You want her to leave. Just when we told her we'll stick by her. Are you f*****g kidding me Joanna." Said Marco getting angry at what she said.

"No you stupid asshole I meant the country." Replied Joanna with the same tone.

"Well to where? And who is gonna help us?" Said Marco as he leaned back until his neck hit the back of the chair. He pushed the hair out of his face. Nerves tense from this hole ordeal.

"I only know one person that will help us that is close to one of Anastasia's uncle's." Said Joanna slyly a smirk on her face. With her hand connected together resting her chin on them.

"Giovanni's. He loves that guy he won't betray him for anything devil." Said Marco in a surprised voice.

"No he's just gonna get him to listen to us." Replied Joanna calmly." And you know what they say. Born and raised in the South side will always come back to the South side."

Joanna said while she kept sipping her wine that she poured for both of them. With one leg over the other. Changing her tense position into a relaxed one.

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Opinions please

Who do you think is the uncle?

Will he listen?

Will he believe that Anastasia is innocent?

What will happen to Anastasia?

Chiki out~