Pregnant With The Mafia's Baby

Chapter 7: Crossroads

The air in the penthouse felt heavy, as if the walls themselves were listening. Damon had left hours ago to deal with Marco’s men, and I hadn’t heard a word since. My nerves were on edge, every sound setting me off.

I had spent the last several hours pacing, my mind racing between the events of the past few weeks. Damon’s cold certainty about my safety. Marco’s growing influence. The mystery surrounding that damn footage—the one Damon kept replaying in his mind, the one that had shown me talking to Marco, exchanging what seemed like a card at the club that night. The night I lost my job. The night I drank away my sorrows and ended up in Damon’s arms.

The room was silent except for the distant hum of the city outside. The penthouse, though beautiful, felt empty. It wasn’t mine, not really. It was just a place to hide. From what? From who?

Rachel’s voice on the phone cut through my spiraling thoughts. “Neeah, this isn’t sustainable,” she said firmly. “You’re pregnant and under constant stress. That’s not good for you or the baby.”

“I know,” I admitted, pacing near the window. “But what can I do, Rachel? Every time I try to take control of my life, Damon tightens his grip. And now there’s Marco…”

“Then you need to talk to him,” she said. “Tell him what you want, what you need.”

I laughed bitterly. “Rachel, Damon isn’t the kind of man you ‘talk’ to. He decides things. He acts. And if I step out of line, I have Vinnie watching me like a hawk.”

Rachel sighed. “You’re not alone in this. Alex and I are here for you, okay? Let me come over. You shouldn’t be going through this by yourself.”

Before I could respond, there was a sharp knock at the door.

“Rachel, I have to go,” I said quickly, hanging up.

The door opened, and it wasn’t Damon—it was Vinnie. His normally stern expression looked… conflicted.

“Ms. Marshall,” he said, stepping inside. “Mr. Morano sent me to check on you.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m fine. What I want is answers. What’s really going on out there, Vinnie? Don’t give me the usual ‘Damon will handle it’ line.”

He hesitated, clearly debating how much to tell me. Finally, he said, “Marco’s men are testing us. They’re trying to see how far they can push before Damon retaliates. But it’s more than that.”

“What do you mean?”

Vinnie glanced toward the balcony, then back at me. “Word is Marco wants you, Ms. Marshall. He sees you as leverage. If he gets to you, he thinks he can control Damon.”

My stomach churned. “Why does everyone think I’m some kind of chess piece in this game?”

“Because you are,” he said bluntly. “But you’re more than that to Damon. That’s why he’s so determined to keep you safe.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I simply nodded.

---

Hours later, Damon returned. His suit was slightly disheveled, his tie loosened, and there was a faint cut above his eyebrow. I rushed to him without thinking.

“What happened?” I asked, my hand hovering near his face.

“It’s nothing,” he said, brushing me off. “Marco’s men wanted a fight, so I gave them one.”

“You’re bleeding, Damon,” I said, my frustration clear. “That’s not nothing.”

He sighed and let me guide him to the couch. As I grabbed a cloth and some water, I tried to ignore how natural this felt—caring for him like this.

“Why didn’t you call?” I asked, dabbing at the cut.

“Because I had it under control,” he said, wincing slightly. “You don’t need to worry about what happens out there.”

“Out there affects me,” I shot back. “And it affects our baby. Don’t you get that?”

Damon’s gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. “I get it,” he said quietly. “But I need you to trust me, Neeah. Marco won’t touch you. I won’t let him.”

Before I could respond, there was another sharp knock at the door. This time, it wasn’t the usual knock from one of Damon’s men. It was more urgent, as if someone was trying to break through.

Damon’s eyes narrowed. “Who the hell is that?” he muttered.

I tensed up, looking at him. “I don’t know. Maybe someone from your security team?”

He stood up immediately, his hand instinctively going to the gun at his side. “I’ll handle it. Stay here.”

Before I could protest further, he was out the door. I heard the murmur of voices and then the faint sound of footsteps approaching. My heart raced as the door opened again.

“Mr. Morano,” came Vinnie’s voice, “there’s someone here to see you. They wouldn’t leave without talking to you.”

I froze, confused. Who would have the nerve to bypass Damon’s security and demand to see him? I wasn’t expecting anyone. Was it Marco’s men? I held my breath, waiting for the moment when I’d know what was happening.

Then, Alex appeared in the doorway. He looked both serious and uncomfortable, his usual warmth replaced by something darker. His eyes locked on mine, and the tension in his posture was palpable.

“Alex?” I said, a mix of surprise and concern flooding my voice. “What are you doing here?”

Alex glanced at Damon, his expression hardening before he turned back to me. “I had to come, Neeah. It’s important.”

Damon stepped forward, his voice low and controlled. “How did you get past my men?”

Alex didn’t flinch. “I got through the gate. I know people, Damon. You don’t own all of Blackstone.”

“You’re walking a fine line, Alex,” Damon said, his tone now icy. “You better have a good reason for being here.”

“I’m here because this isn’t just about you anymore, Damon. It’s about Neeah. And Marco is playing a game with both of you.”

Damon’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Alex turned to me, his gaze filled with concern. “I’m talking about the footage, Neeah.”

The mention of the footage made my stomach flip. I remembered the CCTV footage from the night I went to the club—the footage Damon had shown me, where I was briefly seen talking to Marco and exchanging something that looked like a card.

Damon hadn’t let it go. He was still suspicious of that moment. He’d asked me about it a couple of times, but I had no answers. I didn’t remember Marco from that night, just the blurry image of him in the footage. But I also didn’t know what he was doing there, or why we’d exchanged a card.

“I’m not involved with Marco,” I said quickly, but I could feel Damon’s gaze on me, searching for any sign of guilt. I could tell he still didn’t fully believe me.

“Alex, what are you implying?” Damon’s voice had grown dangerously quiet.

Alex held his ground. “I’m not implying anything,” Alex said, his voice now filled with urgency. “I’m saying there’s more to that footage than you both realize. Marco knows what he’s doing, and he’s playing you, Damon. You think that’s just a coincidence, that you two happened to be in the same place that night?”

“I don’t trust Marco,” Damon growled. “But I trust her. So if you have something useful to say, Alex, now would be the time.”

Alex looked directly at him, his voice low and serious. “I’m saying Marco is using Neeah as a pawn. He’s trying to get under your skin, Damon. The footage is just a small piece of his game. But he’s not done yet. He’ll push until he gets what he wants.”

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. “What does he want?”

Damon’s expression darkened. “Control. He wants to destabilize me. And he thinks you’re the way to do it, Neeah.”

Alex stepped forward, his voice low and serious. “You’re part of his plan, whether you realize it or not.”

Damon turned to me, his eyes searching mine. For a moment, I could see the flicker of doubt in his gaze. I knew what he was thinking—the CCTV footage still haunted him. He couldn’t help but wonder if I had some involvement with Marco. But how could I prove my innocence when my own memories were so fragmented?

“I’m not lying, Damon,” I said, my voice breaking. “I don’t remember anything from that night. Marco and I just talked for a moment. I don’t know what he’s doing with that card. I don’t know what he wants from me.”

Damon was silent for a long moment, his gaze unrelenting. Then, he stepped back, letting out a long breath.

“I don’t know if I believe you yet,” he said softly. “But I’m going to find out.”