The Mafia Claim: His Unexpected Heir

Untitled Episode

CAROLINE'S POINT OF VIEW

The quiet market town did not stay peaceful for very long. The small whispers began at the vegetable stalls and spread like a wildfire through the community.

People gathered in tiny circles near the fresh bread display to share the latest news. They nodded their heads and pointed toward the edge of the street.

Did you hear about Caroline?

The lady in the blue apron leaned closer to her neighbor.

She is expecting a baby and there is no husband in sight.

The second woman shook her head and adjusted her heavy shopping basket.

She used to spend every single weekend helping out at the chapel. It is a massive shame for everyone involved.

The cruel words followed me down every single paved street. I tried to lift my chin and ignore the pointing fingers. It was far too difficult to pretend that the harsh comments did not hurt my feelings.

The local church had always been my safe place when life got too difficult to manage. Now the building felt cold and completely unwelcoming. Even the wife of the pastor turned her back when I walked down the aisle.

It took only two weeks of cold glares before I stopped attending the Sunday morning services.

Every single weekend the heavy bronze bells would ring out across the green hills. The deep sound made my chest ache with a profound sense of loneliness.

I had to remind myself that my path was different now. The approval of the townspeople did not matter anymore. My entire universe had to be about the tiny life growing inside my body.

The white walls of the medical clinic offered a small break from the constant gossip of the town. Doctor Lucaa adjusted the machine and smiled warmly as she adjusted the small plastic scanning device.

The little baby is growing perfectly well.

Doctor Lucaa pointed a finger at the glowing gray monitor on the desk.

The child is ten weeks along now and everything looks completely stable.

A genuine smile finally broke across my tired face. Seeing that tiny shape on the screen made all my secret worries melt away into the background. It made the entire situation feel real for the very first time.

Then the medical professional turned off the screen and her face became very serious.

Caroline it is still not too late to think about your current options in life. You can choose to end this pregnancy safely before you reach the twentieth week.

I pulled my gaze away from the monitor and fixed my eyes on the floor.

I have already made my final choice.

Doctor Lucaa let out a long and heavy sigh as she set her clipboard down on the metal table.

I know you are a very determined young woman. But you really need to think about reality. You do not possess a stable source of income right now. Your aunt Abigail has a very serious addiction problem that costs a lot of money. Your uncle Duncan is completely unreliable to put the situation kindly. This dark environment is simply not a good place to raise an innocent child.

I will figure out a way to make things work.

My voice sounded much stronger than I actually felt inside.

I am working every single day. I intend to save every single dollar so I can move into my own apartment very soon.

Doctor Lucaa shook her head back and forth with a worried frown.

You cannot keep riding that heavy delivery bicycle around the city streets. What is going to happen when your stomach grows much larger than it is today? Carrying heavy packages is not a safe job for a woman in your delicate condition.

I kept my mouth shut because there was nothing left to say to her. She was entirely right about the physical danger. But giving up on my baby was never going to be an option for me.

The very next afternoon started like any other busy workday. I collected a small cardboard package from the local corner pharmacy. The delivery address listed a location right down at the commercial boat harbor.

When my bicycle rolled to a stop I found myself looking at an incredible sight. A massive luxury yacht was tied to the wooden dock. It was the kind of beautiful boat that regular people only see in expensive Hollywood movies.

This address cannot possibly be correct.

I looked down at the paper slip in my hand and read the numbers twice.

The ink matched the side of the grand vessel perfectly. I hesitated for a long moment before pushing my bike stand down. I walked up the narrow wooden walkway and stepped onto the polished deck.

The entire boat suddenly gave a massive shudder beneath my sneakers. I spun around quickly and watched the heavy wooden dock slide away into the deep water. The distance grew wider by the second.

What on earth is happening right now?

My heart began to hammer against my ribs like a trapped bird.

A gentleman wearing an expensive tailored suit walked toward me from the upper deck. He held a crystal glass filled with amber liquid and smiled with his teeth but not his eyes.

Ah you must be the delivery girl we were waiting for.

Yes I am.

I gripped the pharmacy bag tightly against my chest.

But nobody informed me that this boat was going to leave the dock. I need to get back to the city immediately because I have more work to finish.

The man waved his hand in the air like my worries were completely silly.

You need to relax. This is just a very short cruise around the local bay area. You will be back at the harbor in no time at all.

I looked past his shoulder at the rest of the ship. The main deck was packed with wealthy people wearing fancy silk clothes. They were laughing loudly and drinking from tall glasses. This was not a regular transportation boat. It was a massive wild party.

Who exactly placed this order?

I held the small paper bag up between us.

Just hand the package over to me.

The man reached out a hand to grab the strap.

I pulled the bag back toward my body before his fingers could touch the paper.

I really need to confirm the exact name on the order form first.

The gentleman raised one eyebrow and his smile became incredibly tight and angry.

There is absolutely no need for that kind of behavior. I am the person who ordered it.

Before I could find the words to argue another figure joined us on the deck. He was much taller and had an incredibly mean look on his face. He leaned down and whispered a few quiet words into the ear of the first man. Both of them turned their eyes toward me at the exact same time.

A cold shiver ran straight down my spine.

You know what?

The first man spoke again and his voice was suddenly filled with fake joy.

Why don't you come inside and have a cold drink with us? It is the absolute least we can do to thank you for bringing our items out to the water.

I really cannot stay here.

I took a large step backward toward the edge of the boat.

I have five more deliveries waiting for me back on the mainland.

The man stepped forward and placed a very heavy hand directly onto my bare shoulder.

That is complete nonsense. You are going to stay here and enjoy at least one drink with the group.

My heart was beating so fast I could barely breathe. I looked around the open water for any possible escape route. The land was far away now and the heavy grip on my shoulder meant I was completely trapped.

I am pregnant.

The words burst out of my mouth before I could stop them. I hoped the news would make him let go of my arm.

His dark eyes dropped down to look at my flat stomach for a second. I thought he might actually show some kindness and let me walk away. Instead a nasty grin spread across his face.

That means you have even more reason to sit down and take a rest.

I squeezed my hands into tight fists because I felt a mixture of deep anger and terrifying fear. This situation was not a normal social gathering at all. Something very bad was happening on this boat. I knew I was in way over my head.

A very loud and booming voice suddenly cut through the loud music and laughter.

What exactly is going on over here?

I turned my head toward the sound and saw a new man standing on the wooden deck. He was much older than the others and carried himself with an air of absolute authority. His sharp eyes seemed to notice every single detail around him.

The two men who were crowding me immediately stood up straight and dropped their hands.

We are just entertaining one of our many guests.

The first man spoke smoothly and tried to look completely innocent.

The older newcomer turned his gaze directly toward me and his strict face softened just a tiny bit.

Are you the person who rides the delivery bicycle?

Yes sir.

I spoke up as fast as I could while holding up the brown pharmacy package.

Let the young woman go right now.

The older man fixed his eyes on the two troublemakers.

But sir we were just—

I said you need to let her go this instant!

The older man roared the words with a fierce snarl.

The heavy hand immediately dropped off my shoulder. I took three quick steps away from them and clutched the medicine bag against my ribs. The older gentleman walked closer to me. His expensive cologne was so strong that the scent reached me before he did.

This is a medicine delivery from the town pharmacy.

I held the package out toward him.

He looked at my face and then looked down at my simple clothes before letting out a small chuckle.

Ah you must be the special package that was sent for Matthew.

I do not have any idea who Matthew is.

I knitted my eyebrows together in complete confusion.

I am just a delivery worker who needs to drop this package off.

The older man waved his hand to dismiss my words.

Sure you are. Just follow my lead.

I wanted to protest but he didn't give me a chance. He grabbed my elbow and led me through the crowded areas of the boat. We walked past groups of people who were drinking heavily and down into a quiet hallway below the deck.

Look sir I really just need to leave this package on a table and go home.

I tried to stop walking but he twisted a brass door handle.

He pushed the door open and gave me a firm shove that sent me straight into the private room.

The space was very dark because thick velvet curtains blocked out the afternoon sun. A single small lamp on a side table provided the only light in the entire area. The air felt thick and smelled heavily of expensive cigar smoke.

At first my eyes could not adjust to the darkness. Then I noticed a large figure sitting right on the edge of the mattress.

The man was incredibly tall and had very broad shoulders. His dark hair was messy like he had been running his fingers through it for hours. His fancy suit jacket was tossed on the floor and his white button shirt was completely open at the collar.

My breath caught in my throat when I saw what he was holding. A heavy black handgun was resting right in his large palm.

Who exactly sent you into this room?

His voice was deep and filled with pure anger.

I froze completely still and held the pharmacy bag in front of my chest like a shield.

I am just the delivery girl from the pharmacy.

My voice shook violently as I tried to speak.

There is medicine inside this bag. I am going to set it down on the table and leave you alone.

The man possessed cold dark eyes that narrowed into tiny slits.

Do not try to act innocent with me.

I am not acting at all.

A tear almost slipped down my cheek because I was so frightened.

Look I will just put the bag right here—

Sit down on the chair.

He barked the command out and cut off my words completely.

I glanced around the dark room to find an exit or a window.

You have the wrong idea about this situation.

I spoke very rapidly to save myself.

I am absolutely not your special gift for the evening.

His lips twisted into a very bitter and angry smile.

Do you honestly think that I am a foolish man? Nobody ever gets inside this private room without a specific reason.

He stood up to his full height and my body instinctively jumped backward. My heart was pounding against my ribs. My eyes searched the dark room for anything I could use to protect myself. They landed on a heavy glass ashtray sitting on a small wooden table.

The man took another large step toward me and the black gun was still gripped in his hand.

Do you have any actual idea who you are dealing with right now? You really do not want to tell lies to the Delancey family.

Wait a minute. Did he just say the name Delancey? The famous mafia Delancey family?

Was this dangerous man standing in front of me actually a member of that powerful family? Could he be connected to the father of the baby growing inside me?

I already told you that I am just here to deliver some medicine!

I screamed the words out loud because the terror was becoming too much to handle.

The man moved another step closer to my position. I knew I had to take my chance right now. I reached out and grabbed the heavy glass ashtray with my right hand. I swung my arm with every single bit of strength in my body.

The thick glass connected directly with the side of his head with a loud thud.

The large man stumbled backward from the force of the blow. He let out a deep groan and fell flat onto the mattress.

Oh no this cannot be happening.

I muttered the words to myself and let the glass ashtray drop to the floor.

Had I just taken the life of a powerful mafia member?

I walked toward the bed very slowly and my legs were shaking like jelly.

Are you still alive in there?

I whispered the question into the darkness as I leaned over his body to check for breath.

His large hand suddenly shot out of the dark and wrapped around my wrist. I let out a loud shriek of pure surprise.

His dark eyes fluttered open and he looked straight up at my face. But the intense anger from before was completely gone. His expression looked much softer now. He took a deep breath of the air and then leaned closer to sniff my hand. His entire muscular body suddenly relaxed against the pillows.

Please stay right here.

He murmured the words so quietly I could barely hear them.

Before I could even think of an answer he pulled my body down onto the bed beside him. He wrapped a massive arm tightly around my waist. His deep breathing became slow and steady as his eyes closed.

I assumed he had passed out from the injury to his head. But the way he held me made it seem like he had finally found some peace in the world.

I stayed completely frozen in his grip for what felt like hours. In reality it was probably only a few short minutes. His strong hold on my waist finally loosened as he fell into a deep sleep. I carefully wriggled my body free from his arm.

My hands shook uncontrollably as I dropped the brown pharmacy bag on the floor. I tiptoed out of the dark room on my toes. My heart raced at a dangerous speed as I ran down the quiet hallway and burst onto the open deck.

I could not understand what had just taken place. I kept waiting for a security guard to grab my arm but nobody tried to stop me. I reached the wooden dock and found my delivery bicycle. I jumped onto the seat and pedaled away from the harbor as fast as my legs could move.

When I finally pushed open the front door of my house my body was still shivering. My palms felt completely sweaty and my knees were weak. I wanted nothing more than to lay down on my own bed and pretend the entire afternoon was a bad dream.

But the moment I stepped inside the hallway I knew something was terribly wrong.

Caroline you need to run away right now!

My aunt Abigail screamed the warning from the center of the living room.

My uncle Duncan was standing right next to her with a disgusting smile on his face. His mean eyes moved slowly up and down my body and a wave of intense nausea hit my stomach.

You are starting to look very beautiful these days Caroline.

He took a slow step toward me.

I tried to back out of the front door but my body would not cooperate. Before I could make a single movement a heavy object hit the back of my head and everything went completely black.

The very last thing I could remember before losing consciousness was the sound of my aunt screaming and the echo of my uncle laughing.

Will Caroline survive the darkness that is waiting for her at home or has she run straight into a trap she can never escape?