Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Alessio

Valentino isn't happy about it, but Dario sticks to his guns and takes me away for two days. I thought he might buckle because he usually does whatever Valentino tells him to do. But he doesn't. He insists on taking two days where he and I can just be together with no other distractions.

Now we're lying on a white beach with the sun warming our skin. The scent of suntan oil and the salty ocean makes me happy. Of course, mostly I'm happy because Dario is beside me. He looks sexy in a pair of blue and white swim trunks. I had the pleasure of smearing sunscreen on that beautiful, muscular body. We almost didn't make it down to the beach because we both got turned on.

Dario is sipping a beer and I'm having a virgin pina colada. I haven't been to the beach in years and I've never been to Hawaii before. It's off season, so the resort isn't too crowded. I like that. I'm not a fan of crowds. There is one family on the beach with us. They're a ways down though. They have two little boys that look like twins, about five years old. The children are adorable. Blond and chubby with delightful giggles. I find myself watching them a lot.

I still haven't decided if I'll keep the baby I'm carrying. I'm leaning toward keeping it. Mostly because it's a part of Dario and the idea of getting rid of it unsettles me. But the idea of being a dad before I'm ready is equally unsettling. "What was your mother like?" I ask suddenly.

Dario frowns. "She died giving birth to me."

"Oh, that's right." I grimace. "I'm sorry. I forgot for a moment. I was watching that family down the beach and I suddenly got curious about your mom."

He's quiet for a bit, then he says, "I actually saw a video of her when she was pregnant with me."

"Did you?" I study him. He looks a little melancholy as he stares out at the ocean.

"Yeah. My father used to watch it late at night. He'd get drunk and watch that video over and over." He scowls. "Then he'd come upstairs and take out his frustrations on me."

"Jerk."

Dario sighs. "I get why he was upset, but it's not like I asked to be born."

"Only an asshole would blame the baby," I growl.

He gives me a weak smile. "I am the reason she died though."

I blink at him. "Dario, her death wasn't your fault."

"I know that logically," he murmurs. "But I'd be pretty upset too if you died giving birth to our child. I think I finally understand why my dad was so damaged. So bitter."

"No." I touch his arm. "Sometimes omegas die during childbirth. You can never blame the baby. You have to nurture the little kid because that's what the omega would want. Do you think for one second your mother would have wanted your dad to abuse you? You must know she wouldn't have."

He meets my gaze. "You're right. She wouldn't have wanted that. Seeing her in that video, it was obvious she was a gentle, kind soul. I wish I could have met her. My life would have been so different if she'd lived."

My heart aches for him. He's not whining, he's just speaking matter of fact. And he's right. He'd have been a completely different person if she had lived. "You might not have become Valentino's second if your mother had lived."

"True."

I hesitate. "You probably wouldn't have met me either."

He frowns and reaches for my hand. His big hand is warm and firm against mine. "I don't like thinking about that."

"It's true though."

"Not necessarily. If we're fated then maybe we'd have met under different circumstances regardless."

"Maybe." I nod. "I guess that's true. Fate is fate."

He glances at the kids playing down the beach. I know he's thinking about my pregnancy. He doesn't say anything though. I appreciate that Dario never pushes me to hurry up and make my mind up. He's truly letting me come to my own decision about the baby. I assumed he'd try and change my mind. Maybe bully me into doing what he wants. But he hasn't. Not once.

We stay at the beach a while longer, then we return to the room. We shower together and Dario fucks me up against the blue tiled wall. His dark eyes are intense as he takes me, and his hands hold me right where he wants me. We come together, our groans echoing in the shower.

After our shower, I'm hugely tired and I take a nap while Dario goes out on the balcony to make some phone calls. When I wake up we go to dinner. I'm learning to appreciate the real Dario. He's intelligent. Funny. He's many things I didn't think he'd be when we first met. I dismissed him as a dumb hoodlum, when in truth, Dario is sophisticated in many ways. We're a good match, and I never thought I'd say that.

After dinner we go for a walk on the moonlit beach, and when we return to the room, we go to bed. Dario holds me, lightly stroking his fingers down my back. I've never been more content. Dario is the reason I feel fulfilled. I know that without doubt. Dario might be the best thing that's ever happened to me.

I say softly, "I want to keep the baby."

He goes very still, and then says, "Are you sure?"

"I am. I've given it a lot of thought. Frankly, I've thought of little else." I sigh. "I was scared at first. But I want to have your baby. I actually want that."

"That's wonderful, Alessio." There's a smile in his voice. "I couldn't tell which way you were leaning."

"I can't imagine getting rid of this baby. The way the child was conceived was chaotic, but I still want it. I want it because it's a part of both of us."

"I'm so glad." He gives a gruff laugh. "So, we're going to be parents. Wow."

Excitement shifts through me. "We are."

"Now that Carlo has been dealt with, should we move into my place?"

I grimace. "What would you think about moving into my family home, instead?"

He glances down at me, but the light is too dim and I can't see his expression. "Is that what you'd prefer?"

"It's a huge house. There's plenty of room for a family to expand." I sit up on one elbow. "It's my family home, so I don't want to sell it. I'd like to live there if you're willing."

"That's fine with me," he says without hesitation. "My place is more of a bachelor pad than anything. I stayed at Valentino's home most of the time. I have no real sentimental attachment to my place, but you obviously do to your family home."

I'm relieved he agreed so easily. I worried he'd balk at the idea of living in my family home. "We can make it yours too, so you don't feel like a guest. We can redecorate."

He smiles. "I don't care about that stuff. So long as we're both there, I'm good."

I settle back down, resting my head on his chest. His heart thumps steadily beneath my ear. The solid rhythm is comforting. Being with Dario is the same way. I can lean on him, and he won't let me fall. I know that in my soul. My eyes sting, as I say softly, "I love you, Dario."

His arm tightens around me. "I love you too."

For so long the only thing that consumed me was a thirst for revenge. It was all I could think about. That frantic need brought me to Dario. I was horrible to him in the beginning, but he's forgiven all of that. I don't know if I could have forgiven him so easily if our roles had been reversed.

I thought he was nothing but a thick headed brute.

In truth, he's a far better man than I'll ever be.

****

Three months later

Dario insists on painting the baby's nursery himself. I tried to help, but he didn't approve of me being on a ladder pregnant. I hate painting, so I don't mind sitting it out. Instead, I sit in a glider we bought for the nursery, eating an apple, while he's up on a ladder painting the room a cheerful yellow. Neither one of us wants to know the sex of the baby. We want to be surprised.

"If we'd hired someone to paint the nursery, this would be done by now," I say, nibbling on my apple. "As it is, we have to work around the long hours Valentino makes you work."

"I like doing this kind of thing myself." He stops rolling the paint onto the wall, and glances at me. "There's still plenty of time until the baby comes."

"I know. I just feel bad for you. Today is your day off, but instead you're working like a dog painting this room."

"I don't mind. If I did, I'd say so." He goes back to painting.

"Okay." I watch him a bit more. "I have a doctor's appointment later today. It's my first real appointment." I want him to come with me, but I'm nervous about asking. What if he's one of those alphas who doesn't want to be a part of the journey? Many alphas don't like going to the doctor appointments.

Dario's face lights up and he climbs down off the ladder. "You have an appointment today? Are they going to do an ultrasound?"

I laugh at his enthusiasm. "I think so."

He glances at his watch. "What time is the appointment? I want to go with you."

Relief rolls through me. "It's at three."

"Plenty of time." He leans down and kisses me. "I want to see this little baby. I'm excited."

"I wasn't sure you'd want to go with me. I guess I had nothing to worry about."

"Of course not." He gets back up on the ladder, and shoots me a cocky grin. "You'll never have anything to worry about with me as your alpha."

"Oh, boy."

When the time rolls around for my doctor's appointment, Dario drives. He drops me off at the door and goes to park the SUV. I check in at the front desk, and by the time I find a seat in the waiting room, Dario is back from parking the car. He settles beside me, flipping through a parenting magazine. He frowns at the pictures of the babies.

At one point, he leans over and says, "Our baby will be much cuter than these babies in this magazine. These kids look like drown rats."

I laugh. "You can't say that. All babies are cute."

He lifts his brows. "Uh, no. I think you're mistaken. Some of these newborns are all shriveled. They look like prune babies."

"God, Dario." I stifle my laugh. "Stop picking on those little babies."

"I'm not picking on them. I'm simply stating a fact," he mutters. "They're definitely prune babies."

Thankfully, the nurse calls us into the back. If we'd stayed in the waiting room much longer, I worry we'd have started a riot. We were definitely get some funny looks from the pregnant omega next to us.

The nurse weighs me and takes my blood pressure as Dario looks on. Next she leads us to a room. I change into a paper gown and sit on the examination table, while Dario stands next to me, distractedly tapping his foot on the gleaming linoleum floor.

The air smells faintly antiseptic mixed with the soothing scent of lavender emanating from a diffuser in the corner. The walls are adorned with framed photos of smiling babies and thank you cards from countless families offering a semblance of warmth to the clinical setting.

This is my first real prenatal checkup. I was putting it off because the idea of being poked and prodded didn't appeal to me. I made sure to take my vitamins, but I kept stalling about actually seeing the OBGYN. To be honest, I'm filled with a blend of emotions ― anticipation, fear, and a deep-seated hope that everything is going well with the baby.

Dr. Martin enters the room with a gentle knock on the door. She"s probably in her early forties, with a demeanor that blends professionalism with a touch of maternal care. Her hair, a soft shade of chestnut, is pulled back into a neat bun, highlighting her keen, observant hazel eyes. She wears a warm smile that eases some of my anxiety. "Good morning, Alessio," she greets me, and then glances down at her tablet. "How have you been feeling? Any concerns or symptoms you'd like to discuss?"

I take a deep breath, collecting my thoughts. "I've been okay, mostly. Just the usual, I guess? Mild nausea, tiredness. It's all been manageable. I just figured it was probably time to make sure everything was going okay with the baby. I've been a bit anxious lately."

Dr. Martin nods, her expression empathetic. "I'm glad you came in. You really probably should've come in sooner, but that's water under the bridge. It's perfectly normal to feel anxious, especially at this stage. Let"s take a look and see how your little one is doing, shall we?" She motions for me to lie down on the examination table, helping me get comfortable before starting the ultrasound.

So far, Dario hasn't said a word. He's watching everything with a very serious expression. Dr. Martin greeted both of us, but he's in one of his quiet moods. He merely acknowledged her arrival with a grunt.

Dr. Martin rolls the cart with the ultrasound machine on it closer to the examination table. She flicks the machine on, and the only sound in the room is the faint hum of the ultrasound machine. Dr. Martin squirts cool gel onto my stomach, and begins to move the wand over my belly. I hold my breath watching the screen, searching for a glimpse of the life inside of me. Unfortunately, it's all just a blurry flickering mess to my untrained eyes. I certainly can't see a baby.

"What are we looking at?" Dario asks, finally breaking his silence.

Dr. Martin points at a small flickering shape on the screen. "Right there. That's your baby."

"Is it?" I murmur. "It's difficult to see."

"Yes." Dr. Martin nods. "I'll try to zoom in. The fetus is very small right now." As she speaks, she zooms in, and the rhythmic sound of a beating heart fills the room.

"That's the baby's heartbeat?" Dario asks.

"It certainly is," Dr. Martin says. "The heartbeat looks and sounds strong and healthy. That's what we're looking for at this stage."

I meet Dario's gaze. His cheeks are flushed and his eyes glitter with pride. I smile at him and he smiles back. "It's real," he says softly.

"Yes." I reach out my hand and he grabs it. "Maybe we can't really see it yet, but we can hear it. There's definitely a baby in there."

"Yes, there really is," Dr. Martin confirms with a smile. She wipes the gel off of my stomach before helping me to set up. "Do you have any questions about the coming weeks? Any concerns or anything you're curious about?"

"Is it normal that I'm already really tired?" I cup my rounded belly. "I'm only three months along. If the baby is so small that we can hardly even see it with the naked eye, how come I'm so tired?"

Dr. Martin gives a sympathetic nod. "Well, while the baby is very small, you're still making a life inside of you. There's a lot that the body is doing to prepare itself. You have increased progesterone levels right now. High levels of progesterone are crucial for maintaining the pregnancy, but that can also promote sleepiness and make you feel more tired than usual. Progesterone has a natural sedative effect leading to increased fatigue."

"Oh. I didn't realize that." I frown.

"There are other things going on too," Dr. Martin explains. "There are metabolic changes as well. Increased blood volume is produced to help nourish you and to support the placenta and baby. That can put additional strain on the heart, leading to feelings of tiredness. By the way, how are you sleeping?"

"He's not sleeping very well," Dario says. "I give him back rubs to try and help him sleep, but he's a ball of anxiety. I'm hoping that this doctor appointment will calm him down a little."

Dr. Martin smiles at Dario. "That's nice that you're doing that for him." She turns to address me. "You don't need to be anxious though, Alessio. Everything seems to be normal. We'll take some blood today, just to keep an eye on things, but as far as I can tell your pregnancy is progressing beautifully."

I'm relieved to hear she thinks everything is going well. Just having a professional give their opinion does calm me a bit. "I should've come in here sooner. I probably wouldn't have been half as stressed."

Dario nods. "I did try to get you to come in. You're very stubborn when you choose to be."

I grimace. "I know. I don't know what I was afraid of."

"Anxiety is not unusual," says Dr. Martin. "Especially with your first pregnancy. Many omegas are balls of nerves the first time around. Not that you don't worry with the other pregnancies as well, but there's just something about the first one. I suppose it's because it's all new. You don't know what to expect yet. When you've been through it a few times, nothing surprises you." She laughs. "I say this as a mother of three."

We chat a bit more as Dr. Martin draws some blood. She promises to have the results in a few days, and Dario and I leave the office. Dario holds my hand as we walk to the SUV. It's a beautiful, sunny day and I feel more optimistic about the pregnancy than I have in months.

"Want to grab lunch?" he asks.

I grin. "Do you think you'll ever get a ‘no' from me when you ask me about food?"

"Just checking." He opens my door for me. "What shall we have? You love that noodle place, The Golden Wok."

"I do. I crave it constantly. Is it wrong of me to be Italian but be obsessed with Asian food?" I laugh, clipping my seatbelt in place. "I can't seem to help myself. Nothing else satisfies me."

"Nothing else?" he lifts one brow.

"I mean food wise." I smile. "You satisfy me in other ways. And if I could only have sex with you or noodles, I'd pick the sex with you."

He smirks. "I feel pretty special now. I know how much you love your noodles." Dario closes my door. Once he's behind the wheel, he says, "The important thing is that you eat nutritious food. It doesn't matter what country the food is from."

"In that case, take me to my noodles," I say brightly.

"Yes, your highness." Dario's cheek curves in a smile as he pulls out onto the road. "Your wish is my command."