Pregnant for the mafia

I took a deep breath and stared at the tiny black dress clinging to my body. How had my life even gotten to this point? And why was I still doing this? I could have taken a job at a café or worked as a dance instructor, which had always been the dream in the first place. I didn’t hate bartending or the late nights. Everyone had their own way of surviving, and this just happened to be mine. The money was good, the tips were even better, and it kept the bills paid. Still, it wasn’t the life I had imagined for myself. “Are you planning to stare at yourself all night, Squirrel, or are you actually coming out?” Faith laughed as she walked past me. Squirrel. The nickname I had been stuck with since childhood because of my chubby cheeks. It followed me from kindergarten all the way into adulthood like a curse I could never shake off. Faith had been my best friend for years. After bouncing from one foster home to another, I eventually ended up back at the orphanage. I never knew my parents, never had anyone to rely on, and opportunities were never exactly handed to me. So as a teenager, I made myself a promise. I would succeed. Graduate high school. Finish college. Become a choreographer. But life clearly had other plans because at twenty-one, I was working as a bartender in one of the most luxurious underground clubs in the city. “I heard the Moretti brothers are coming tonight,” Faith said while applying gloss to her lips. “Even Luciano.” At the mention of his name, heat rushed to my face and I quickly looked away. Luciano Moretti. The same man who had me breathless in his office two months ago after one too many drinks. I wasn’t the type for one-night stands. I never had been. But that night, everything blurred together until he pulled me into his office and I completely lost myself in him. And the next morning? He acted like it had never happened. If the girls knew, they would never let me hear the end of it. Our boss, Matteo Moretti, owned several businesses throughout the city, and the nightclub was only one of them. Every now and then, Matteo and his sons held private meetings with wealthy businessmen in the VIP lounge upstairs. No one openly talked about what kind of business the Morettis were truly involved in, but everybody knew. Mafia. Matteo Moretti, surprisingly, was warm and kind despite the terrifying reputation surrounding his family. He treated the staff fairly and gave me this job the same day he met me. His sons, however, were a completely different story. Marco, the oldest, was cold and distant. He barely acknowledged anyone’s existence. Then there was Enzo, the charming middle son everyone adored. He flirted with anything that breathed and treated life like one big game he refused to lose. And finally Luciano. The youngest. The heir. The most terrifying of them all. Luciano barely spoke, barely smiled, and somehow managed to make an entire room nervous with just one glance. Unlike Marco, who simply kept to himself, Luciano carried a darkness around him that made people stay out of his way. Even after sleeping with me, he walked me downstairs without saying more than two words. No goodbye. No smile. Nothing. I knew exactly what kind of man he was beforehand, so I really had no right to feel hurt about it. “We’re waiting for you guys!” Luna shouted from outside the dressing room. Besides Faith, Luna was the only girl there I genuinely liked. Most of the others treated each other like competition. “We’re coming!” I yelled back before dragging Faith toward the door while she continued fixing her makeup. The moment we stepped into Matteo’s office, my stomach tightened. Because it wasn’t Matteo standing there. It was Enzo Moretti. Great. Out of all the brothers, Enzo was the one I tried hardest to avoid. His playful personality made him unpredictable, which somehow scared me more. Enzo walked directly toward me until he was standing dangerously close. “Do you always show up late, Squirrel?” he asked with amusement dancing in his eyes. Faith and I were both late, yet somehow I was the only one being questioned. “I’m sorry, we were just—” “Look at me when you speak.” His tone wasn’t harsh, but it still made me obey instantly. The second I looked up, Enzo grinned. Instead of yelling, he reached out and squeezed my cheek playfully. “I’m kidding,” he laughed. “But bullying you might become my new favorite hobby.” The room filled with laughter while I stood there in complete disbelief. “You’re so lucky,” Faith whispered beside me. Lucky? That definitely wasn’t the word I would’ve used. “As you all know,” Enzo began, turning toward the girls, “we have important guests arriving tonight. Matteo wants everything perfect.” The atmosphere in the room immediately shifted. “The meeting will take place in the private VIP lounge. Some of you will be serving drinks upstairs. The rest can continue working downstairs as usual.” I relaxed slightly. I never got picked for VIP service anyway. Matteo knew I hated situations that forced me to socialize too much. Bartending downstairs was already exhausting enough. “The girls joining us tonight are Luna, Amber, Dawn, Faith…” Enzo paused dramatically. I already knew the last name would probably be one of the regular girls. “And Squirrel.” My eyes widened. “What?” Every single person in the room turned toward me. Enzo smirked. “You heard me.” Why me? He could’ve picked literally anyone else. “I—I mean… me?” I stammered. Enzo nodded casually while dismissing the other girls who weren’t selected. I remained frozen in place. The men arriving tonight were dangerous. Everyone knew it. “The guests tonight aren’t easy people,” Enzo continued. “So don’t mess this up.” Even while being serious, he still wore that irritating smile on his face. “Are you nervous, Squirrel?” he asked. Faith and Luna leaned against me supportively. Honestly? Terrified. “Will you be there?” I asked quietly. Out of all the brothers, Enzo was somehow the easiest to handle. If he was there, maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad. Enzo laughed and lightly shoved my shoulder. “No,” he said casually. “But don’t worry. Luciano will be there.” The moment those words left his mouth, my entire body went cold. And suddenly, only one thought echoed through my mind. Why me?