54. Chapter Fifty-Four

My mind has been nonstop since Enzo gave me my surprise. Something I should be happy about, and I am. This only makes our relationship feel more real.

I'd wanted to ask him about it so many times before, but at the same time, I liked that we had our own space. I liked that I appreciated him more when I saw him, because I missed him and were taking things slow. Obviously not with the sex, but we're not perfect. But I'm ready to be in his arms every night, to be in his room and share space with him like a real married couple.

But all of that was quickly squashed with a simple word.

Month.

It's been a month since we agreed to take this seriously. A month since Enzo took me to dinner. Since we first had sex. A little less than a month since we had another first night together with Rafael. A month since I had unprotected sex with both him and Rafael. Which has happened multiple times since.

And that means it's been at least six weeks since I've had my period. Possibly more.

Which could only mean one thing…

"Fuck," I mutter as I pace my room. "Shit. Damnit. What the hell?" I growl, running my hands through my hair.

How am I going to figure this one out? There's no way he has pregnancy tests lying around his house. And I can't walk to the store. I can't ask him to take me to the store. He'll want to know why and what for. I can't tell him this because—just because! I'm not fully convinced I'm safe here yet, never mind with a baby. Things with us have been going so well. We've been able to talk and spend time together. We laugh and have normal conversations, but we haven't talked about any serious stuff. I've let it all slip away because I've been so caught up in how good I've felt.

But what about the fact I'm still locked in here? The fact Enzo is still part of the mafia and my life could be in danger? The fact there is still a secret lingering in the air that he refuses to tell me about.

Sure, I knew a child would happen eventually. He said so himself. Even I considered it, because I've always wanted kids, and if I'm stuck here anyway… but now? Now?!

Calm down. You're panicking.

Damn right, I'm panicking!

But why am I panicking?

Is it because I don't want to have a baby with Enzo? No, that doesn't feel right. I mean, it's maybe not the best time, but it's not that.

It's the unknown, maybe. All my unanswered questions. The fact I'm only twenty-one and have barely lived.

Yeah, that's definitely part of it. But most of all, it's the not knowing what my future holds because I've let my guard down and opened the gates to my vagina.

Okay, weird analogy, but it's true. Those gates opened and now they're rusted open cause of how damn wet I am all the time.

Okay, another terrible analogy!

Point is, Enzo gets in my pants whenever he wants, and I let him because I like it.

But there is more to life than sex. I mean, this can't go on forever, right? One, five, ten years from now? There's no way it'll stay like this, and then what? Am I still going to be locked in the damn house?

Before things get out of control and I go on another destruction spree that is most likely unexpected since I've been behaving so much, I need to figure this out.

Okay, Jordan. Just breathe.

"Breathe. It's simple. Just breathe."

I shake my hands out as I keep pacing, taking slow steady breaths.

It's a simple solution. Before I completely panic, I need to know if I am pregnant or not. That's what caused all this. I can't freak out over being pregnant if I don't know if I am or not. So that's the plan. Figure it out.

I pick up my phone and call Enzo. He only left a short time ago, so hopefully he isn't busy yet.

"Everything okay, angel?"

God, his voice is so—no! I'm calling for something important. Shut the damn vagina gates!

"I need to go to the store," I blurt out.

"Why?" he asks carefully.

"There's something I need to get."

"Bernice can get you anything you need."

"I can't tell her what it is."

"Why not?"

"I just can't."

He sighs. "No."

My heart stops, my chest tightens.

"What do you mean, no?"

"I mean no. It will have to wait until tomorrow."

"It can't," I say. My head is spinning, and I know I should have a better argument here, but I don't. What am I going to say?

"If it can't wait until tomorrow, that means it's an emergency. Is it an emergency?"

"But Antonio is here! He can come with me. I don't want to go alone. You can send the entire house staff with me if you want."

"You're not going anywhere without me."

"Enzo, please," I beg, my eyes stinging with tears.

"My final answer is no."

The line goes silent, and I stare at the phone. Disconnected.

He hung up on me like a child. He kidnapped me. Forced me to marry him. Now he's hanging up on me?

I'm going to have this man's child and he just hangs up on me!

No way! Absolutely not.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

He's only trying to protect me. To keep me safe.

Think rationally.

No, fuck him!

What is he keeping me safe from? There's nothing out there! I call him back.

"The answer is still no."

"Enzo, it's important," I plead.

"It isn't an emergency. It can wait until tomorrow. I'll see you when I get home, and I will take you wherever you need to go first thing in the morning."

It's quiet, but he doesn't hang up on me this time. That makes me feel a little better.

"Okay," I relent, knowing I'm not getting anywhere with this. And really, this can wait until tomorrow. It isn't an emergency. What's one more night of panicking? Nothing compared to all the nights I've already done it.

"Thank you, angel." A wave of guilt washes over me when I hear how relieved he sounds. He is worried about my safety. Is that something I should be concerned about? Should I be arguing with him about that instead? "See you soon."

I end the call, drop my phone to the floor, and sink to the floor too. I lie down on the rug and stare at the ceiling. I stay in this same position until the staff come in to gather my things. A few ask if I'm okay, but I don't answer. Bernice, in the background, tells them to ignore my attention-seeking ways and do their jobs.

I hate her.

I really fucking hate her.

The woman has had a stick shoved up her ass since the day I got here. I don't know, maybe she's always been like that, but I see the way she talks to everyone around here. Always putting them down like she's in charge, like she's better, but when it comes to me? It's worse. She talks to me like I'm a diseased stray cat Enzo picked up off the street to try and save. It's ridiculous. I'm not a fucking stray cat. I'm Enzo's wife!

I push myself up and stare right into her beady, ugly eyes. She's inside the doorway of my room, as if she wouldn't dare to step into this room more than she has to.

"I don't like you," I say.

She huffs out a laugh. "A lion doesn't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep," she responds, holding her chin higher.

A raise a brow. "A sheep? You think I'm a sheep?"

She huffs again, turning her attention to the maids in my closet. I get to my feet and point toward the door. "Get out."

"I'll do no such thing."

"Get out of my room!" I scream.

She rolls her eyes and steps into the hallway, but that only pisses me off further. She stops outside my door, staring at me. Taunting me.

"Get out of this house," I ground out.

"You—"

"You're fired!" I scream. "Get out!"

She cackles. "You can't fire me."

"I am Vincenzo's wife. What I say goes in this house, and I'm telling you that you're fired!"

She ignores me, staring beyond me to get a look at what the girls are doing.

I'm seeing red. I'm furious. Usually, I'm not a violent person, but boy, do I want to ram my fist into her face right now. I'm going to call Enzo again and hope like hell he agrees with me. He better agree with me or—

"What's going on?" Antonio calls out as he quickly makes his way toward my room.

"She won't get out," I explain tightly.

"I am out of her room." Bernice rolls her eyes.

"Out of this house!"

Antonio raises a brow at me.

"She thinks she can fire me," Bernice says with a little chuckle, as if it's a big joke and we all should be laughing. I don't find it funny. I'm two seconds from calling Enzo again.

"Can't she?" Antonio asks. The humor is light, but it's there.

She scowls at him. "I work for Mr. Bramante."

"I believe you work for the estate, and as she is now head of the estate, alongside Mr. Bramante, I think you work for her too. If Mrs. Bramante says you're fired, you're fired."

She stares at him, laughing some more like he's joking with her now. When he doesn't laugh back, and stares at her expectantly, she frowns. Her lips flop open and closed, until she finally squeals out, "You can't be serious!"

"I don't joke, Bernice. You know this."

What is with all the non-joking men in this house?

"I am not fired! I've worked here for twenty-five years."

"Consider it twenty-five years served and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." He moves, gesturing down the hall for her to go.

"This is ridiculous," she snaps, holding her chin high.

"What's ridiculous is me having to spell it out for you," Antonio responds. "Get. Out."

She huffs again. "I will leave for the night, but I will return first thing in the morning, as I usually do. This whole thing will be cleared up."

She storms down the hall, and I let out a breath.

"Thank you," I say to him once she's out of view. "I hate her."

"I'm only following orders," Antonio says in his same no-bullshit tone.

"Orders to do as I say?" I ask hopefully.

"Don't let it get to your head. I was told to use my judgment, and Bernice is a bitch. Besides, between you and me? I'm still pissed at you."

I flinch away from him, but not out of fear. More out of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry about that. Truly, I am. Are you okay?"

He glares at me for a moment and says, "Fine now. Recovery was hell. Thought I'd go blind."

"I didn't mean for it to happen. I was—I was out of my mind. Can you at least understand that a little?"

He holds my gaze, but he nods. "Yeah, I get it. Don't let it happen again."

"I won't. I swear. I truly am sorry. I've never hurt anyone my whole life and I feel terrible about it."

He nods again, turning to leave down the hall without another glance my way.

Enzo gave him orders to listen to me? Maybe not in so many words, but it means something, doesn't it? It must mean, in some way, Enzo trusts me. Which is exactly what I wanted. Earn his trust so I can get out.

Things have been so good this past month, but now there could be a baby involved, and that's the biggest reason of all to get the hell out of here the second I can.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Bramante?"

I look over my shoulder at the staff carrying hangers of my clothes. I move out of the way so they can get by, watching as the line of them walks down the hallway, disappearing around the curve leading to Enzo's bedroom.

This really is happening. I blink a few times, and glance back into my room to see the unicorn he bought me lying on my bed. I hurry in there to pick it up, then make my way to my new room.