THE DEVIL FINDS ME
1206 Words
LEAH'S POV
"You're seven weeks pregnant, Leah. The baby is healthy."
"What? How is that possible? I took the pills. You should run the test again..." I shook my head, my heart hammering. "I can't be."
Thirty minutes later, Doctor Bridget sat me down. "This is the fourth test, Leah. I can't run another one. It's positive."
"No, maybe another—"
Her voice was soft but firm. "I have other patients, Leah—"
"I can come back tomorrow."
"Leah..." She sighed, stepping toward me. "Sometimes, the pill isn't effective. I understand this is a shock, but you can't deny the fact that you're pregnant. If you don’t want the baby—"
My chair scraped against the floor as I shot to my feet, my chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. I grabbed my bag.
"You'll never understand me," I said, turning away before she could respond.
I barely made it outside before my knees buckled.
"You're seven weeks pregnant, Leah."
The words echoed in my mind as I collapsed, tears spilling down my cheeks.
What have I done?
I just wanted to quit dancing, to finally become a photographer. Pregnant? How am I supposed to finish my contract now?
My whole life was falling apart in front of me, and I was powerless to stop it.
Doctor Bridget’s voice haunted me.
"If you don’t want the baby—"
I wiped my face, pushed myself up, and headed back inside.
"Ma'am, you can't go in there!" a nurse called after me, but I didn’t stop. My hand gripped the handle, and I burst into the office.
Doctor Bridget was already with another patient—a heavily pregnant woman. Her eyes widened when she saw me.
"Leah?"
"If I don’t want the baby, what?" My voice cracked as I wiped my face.
Doctor Bridget glanced at the woman, then back at me.
"Excuse me, please," she said to her patient, rising from her seat. She gently closed the door before facing me.
"You can choose to abort or place the baby for adoption. Many parents are looking for a child." She hesitated, then grabbed a piece of paper from her desk and handed it to me. "Call this number when you decide."
I left without another word.
The club was buzzing when I arrived—staff cleaning, fixing things, moving around like it was just another night. I didn’t care what they were doing. I had only one destination.
Bino’s office. I pushed the door open and she looked up at me.
"Finally, how did the test go? Are you okay?" Bino asked as I closed the door gently behind me.
After making a mess on stage yesterday, I had to get checked out. When the nurse suggested a pregnancy test, I laughed and only agreed just to prove her wrong. But she was right.
"I'm pregnant." The words left my lips in a whisper, and I pressed them into a thin line.
Silence filled the room. Bino froze as if she'd seen a ghost. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Are you playing with me? What do you mean my top dancer is pregnant?" She reached for my hands, but I stepped back.
"The man. The VIP client you sent me to—the one I replaced Nicole for. Do you know him?"
Her jaw slackened. "Is it him?"
"Do you know him!" I screamed, tears blurring my vision.
She hesitated. "Him? Boss?" Her voice wavered slightly.
Frustration clawed at my chest. I shook my head. "Bino, for God's sake!"
Her expression shifted as she exhaled sharply. "Carlisle DeLuca. He owns the club. Carlisle—no, I mean Boss. Remember the rumours? The DeLuca family, the mafia—"
"What?" A cold shiver ran down my spine. My baby’s father is a mafia boss? A deadly one? I had heard whispers, but Bino always dismissed them.
"Why didn’t you tell me?"
"How could I? Do you know how many girls would throw themselves at him if they knew? His right-hand man made sure I kept quiet. I was in a tight position, Leah. I was offered a lot to keep my mouth shut."
"A position not to tell even me?!" My voice cracked. "I would have stayed away, Bino! My dreams. My f*****g dreams! What am I supposed to do now?"
"You could use this to exploit—"
"I can't believe you!" I shoved her, wiping my tears. I turned back. "You better not tell anyone about this. Not even him. You owe me that much after fifteen years of friendship."
"What are you going to do about the baby?"
"He can never know. Nobody can ever know I had or was once pregnant."
I stormed out of the club without looking back. I got myself into this mess. Now, I had to find a way out. Somewhere far. Somewhere he wouldn’t find me.
Later that night, I packed my bags, hoping to leave for my sister Andra’s place before the last bus. It was a good thing I never told Bino about her.
The sudden ring of my phone made me jump. I grabbed it, staring at the screen.
Noah.
The call ended, and a message popped up.
Noah: Leah, I miss you. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like that. Please, give me a chance to talk to you.
A broken sob escaped my lips.
My whole life had fallen apart. The man I loved had left me because of my job. Now, I was carrying another man's child. The dream I worked so hard for—gone.
How could I even dance while pregnant?
My eyes landed on the stack of fliers Doctor Bridget had given me at the hospital. Her words echoed in my head.
"A lot of people want children. Call this number when you decide."
Another message flashed on my screen.
Noah: I'm outside your place, and I'm going to wait here until you come out. Leah, I still love you.
I swallowed hard, dropping my phone. Slowly, I padded toward my door and opened it.
I gasped and tried to slam it shut, but a hand shot out, stopping me. I stumbled backwards as he stepped inside, his movements slow and graceful. His piercing gaze locked onto mine.
"Going somewhere, Red?"
My body quivered. I sank to the floor, inching back, but he kept walking toward me.
Two massive men followed behind him. I shook my head. "No."
His lips curled into a smirk. "Your bags are packed, pretty. It’s not nice to lie. I hear you have something of mine."
My breath came out in short, shaky bursts. "You’re not supposed to be here. You’re not supposed to know."
He chuckled. "Your friend, darling… doesn’t know how to keep a secret when money is involved." His eyes gleamed with something dark, something dangerous. "I came looking for you, but you quit? And now you’re packing? Are you running from me… with my baby?"
My chest heaved. Noah. Yes. Noah. He could save me. If he was still outside. I could call him, maybe he would help.
I lunged for my phone, but something hard hit my neck.
- Writer
