Chapter 18

18

SCARLET

I settled into the plush leather seat of the car, my mind still buzzing from the day with Noms. The pregnancy test we'd picked up before parting ways burned a hole in my purse, but I pushed that thought aside for now. My driver, a stoic man named Marcus, sat rigid behind the wheel. Two other men flanked me, their eyes constantly scanning our surroundings.

Tell me you were the prized possession of three mafia brothers without telling me.

We'd barely made it ten minutes down the road when Marcus's phone rang. His face hardened in the rearview mirror as he listened, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Whatever news he was getting, it was nothing good.

"Change of plans," he announced, his voice clipped as he ended the call. "We're heading to a safe house."

My heart rate spiked. "What? Why?"

"The Russos are retaliating," was all he said as he made a sharp turn.

"What does that mean?" I pressed, leaning forward as my stomach flipped. "Are we in danger?"

Just when I was beginning to settle into this new life too.

Marcus's jaw clenched, but he remained silent. The other men shifted uncomfortably, their hands hovering near concealed weapons.

"Someone tell me what's going on," I demanded, fear and frustration making itself known in my tone. I hated when people didn't tell me shit.

If I was a damn Silvestri in some sense now, then I should be getting answers.

But no one spoke. The rest of the drive passed in tense silence, my imagination conjuring increasingly terrifying scenarios.

"Are the brothers okay?" I asked uneasily.

"They're fine. They're handling it," was all Marcus said to silence me.

I sunk into my seat, taking what little comfort I could in that.

When we finally pulled up to a nondescript building, I was ushered inside with practiced efficiency. Julian's familiar form greeted me in the main area, hunched over a sleek desk covered in multiple computer screens. A headset covered his ears as his fingers flew across the keyboard.

"Julian," I called out, relief flooding through me at the sight of him. "What's happening?"

He held up a finger, finishing whatever he was typing before turning to face me. His usually calm demeanor was strained, worry lines etched across his forehead.

"The Russos are attacking," he said, his voice tight. "They're targeting our businesses and staff – people who aren't protected."

The blood drained from my face. "What? Why would they do that?"

Julian's eyes hardened. "It's retaliation. They're trying to hurt us by going after innocent people."

Horror washed over me as the implications sank in. My mind immediately went to Rachel, the kind saleswoman who'd helped me pick out dresses with Tyrone. She was just doing her job, completely oblivious to the danger she might be in because of me.

"Oh God," I whispered, sinking into a nearby chair. "Rachel – the woman at the boutique. Is she okay? Are there others?"

Julian's expression softened slightly. "We're doing everything we can to protect our people. But it's chaos out there right now."

I felt sick. This was the dark reality of the world I'd chosen to be a part of. Innocent people caught in the crossfire of a war they didn't even know existed.

"How can I help?" I asked, desperate to do something, anything.

Julian shook his head. "The best thing you can do is stay safe. Tyrone and Cristian are out there, handling things. We need to make sure you're protected."

I nodded numbly, my mind racing. The pregnancy test in my purse seemed trivial now compared to the lives at stake. As Julian turned back to his screens, coordinating God knows what, I sat there, feeling utterly helpless in the face of the storm I'd found myself in.

This had nothing to do with me really, but if I was in this, then I was in it. I'd been taken by the Russos, and the brothers had killed to get me back. Not just me, though, Julian as well. But the murder of their leader, Angelo Russo, surely wasn't going to go unanswered. The brothers had been waiting for retaliation, and now it was here.

I watched Julian work, his fingers dancing across the keyboard with an almost hypnotic rhythm as he coordinated the Silvestri response to the Russo attack. The room pulsed with tension, screens flickering with images of chaos unfolding across the city. The air felt thick, charged with an electricity that made my skin prickle. I glanced back at our bodyguards, three of them standing to attention around the room.

This was serious and big.

Fuck.

"Team Alpha, move in on Seventh Street. Protect the civilians," Julian barked into his headset, his voice sharp and commanding. "Team Beta, I need eyes on the warehouse district. Report any suspicious activity immediately."

I leaned closer, my heart hammering against my ribs as I witnessed shootouts erupting at two of the brothers' businesses. Silvestri men had arrived quickly, forming a protective barrier around the staff like a well-oiled machine. So far, I couldn't see any casualties on our side, but a nagging voice in my head wondered if Julian was shielding me from the worst of it. The thought made me swallow uneasily.

My gaze drifted to Kenny, nestled safely in his carrier by Julian's desk. The cat slept peacefully, his little chest rising and falling with each breath, blissfully unaware of the danger surrounding us. I envied his ignorance for a moment, wishing I could curl up and forget about the world outside these walls.

Julian turned to me, covering his mic as he gave me a gentle look. "Why don't you make a coffee or tea, pyro? There's no need for you to see all this."

"I'm a Silvestri now, more or less, aren't I?" I shot back.

"Yes, but you're a lady of the family. These affairs aren't yours to worry about."

"When I'm being shot at or kidnapped, I feel like it is something to worry about," I retorted, and his nostrils flared before he turned back to his screen and returned to task.

"Team Beta, how are we looking?" he asked, nodding at the muffled response on his headset. He then snatched up his phone that was sounding off, answering it instantly.

"Ty, where are you?"

My heart lurched into my throat as Julian began relaying a certain area to him, telling him where he had to go and guiding him with a team.

I looked to one of my guards, Josh, if I remembered correctly.

"I thought the head of the family had to stay safe," I hissed at him.

"Tyrone likes to be hands on," he said back simply, his hand at the ready by his gun, which made me tense.

"Are we safe here?" I asked carefully.

"It's a safehouse," Josh said, although that wasn't exactly a direct answer.

It was his way of saying that we may have been compromised, and I swallowed as I touched my stomach.

Maybe now was the time to take that damn test.

Then again, if shit hit the fan, did I even want to know.

I sat frozen for a moment, contemplating it while Julian spoke and clicked through his screens.

Yes, I wanted to know. It was a burning need now, and I snatched up my purse before heading for the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" Julian asked, turning in his seat as he broke away from his screen for a moment.

"The toilet," I shot back.

"I forgot to tell you, your nails look nice," he added, offering me a thin-lipped smile.

"Thanks." I was oddly touched that he'd found the moment to say that, but honestly, he had bigger things to worry about right now than my fresh set of nails. I turned back and continued on my way, stepping into the bathroom as my heart skipped a beat.

To think a month ago I was burning down a building, now, here I was, with three murderous men fighting a war, potentially carrying their child.

The past few days I'd been a little more tired, not that I'd bothered to mention it to Noms. It could've just been everything that was going on in truth, not something bigger.

I locked myself in the bathroom, hands trembling as I fumbled with the pregnancy test. The sounds of Julian's frantic coordination filtered through the door, a stark reminder of the hell unfolding outside. With shaky breaths, I followed the instructions and set the test aside once I'd peed on it, my heart pounding in my chest.

The wait was excruciating. I paced the small space, my mind racing with thoughts of Tyrone and Cristian out there, facing God knows what dangers. The possibility of losing them before I even had a chance to process all of this hit me like a punch to the gut.

My phone pinged, startling me. I snatched it up, relief flooding through me as I saw Cristian's name.

I'm ok. Handled the situation. Coming to keep u safe.

My fingers flew across the screen.

I've got guards here.

His response was immediate.

Won't believe ur safe till I'm with u. Tyrone asked me 2 come 2.

Despite everything, a small smile tugged at my lips. Their protectiveness, while sometimes suffocating, was oddly comforting in moments like this. Not to mention his chatspeak, something I'd noticed he did when rushed.

I glanced back at the test, my breath catching in my throat as I saw the result. Two lines. Positive.

An overwhelming wave of emotions crashed over me. Joy, fear, excitement, panic - they all swirled together in a dizzying mix. My hand drifted to my stomach as the reality sank in.

I was pregnant.

My legs gave out, and I sank to the cold tile floor. This was really happening. This life, this family I'd somehow stumbled into - it was all becoming so real, so permanent. And right in the middle of a damn war.

I sat there, my back against the wall, trying to process it all. The sounds of Julian's commands seemed distant now, muffled by the roaring in my ears. I was carrying a child - a Silvestri child. The implications of that hit me like a freight train.

This baby would be born into a world of danger and violence. But also one of fierce protection and loyalty. Would I be able to keep them safe? Would the brothers? Could I even be a good mother with my own fucked-up past?

As I sat there, hand still resting on my stomach, I realized there was no going back now. This was my life - our life. And despite the fear, despite the danger, a part of me was ready to fight tooth and nail to protect this tiny life growing inside me.

I would not lose another child, no matter what.

I rose to my feet, my resolve set as I unlocked the bathroom and headed out, wanting to inform Julian of this. Once Cristian arrived, I'd tell him I was ready to accept his proposal and give him the good news. Good news amongst this mess was possibly a good thing.

Then again, maybe I should wait to tell them. God, why was this happening right now?

I stepped out into the living area, the guards all watching me, while one glanced carefully out the window before taking cover behind the curtain again.

I focused on Julian, my heart thrumming as I moved my chair close to him and sunk into it.

"Julian…" I whispered, clutching my purse close that held the positive test inside wrapped in toilet paper. Walking out with it hadn't seemed like the right thing to do.

Should I tell him? Or wait?

My throat was constricted with the uncertainty as Julian covered his mic, his brow pinching together at whatever uneasy expression I wore.

"What's wrong?" he asked, searching my face.

I opened my mouth, but before a word could come out, gunfire erupted outside our safehouse, the rapid firing of bullets shattering the tense silence. Julian cursed before barking into his mic as he relayed information to someone on the other end of the line and clicked away frantically. His jaw tightened as he brought up cameras outside, which revealed Marcus's body shot to hell as he'd waited in the car. Whatever ammunition they were using, it had gone through the bulletproof glass with ease. Then again, they could've walked right up to the damn car and fired into it point blank for all I knew.

I gasped and covered my mouth, flinching as more gunfire rose outside.

Our guards were already in motion, moving around the room in carefully decided movements.

"We've got company," Julian growled, snatching up Kenny's carrier with one fluid motion while shutting down the computer.

I vaguely wondered if he was putting it into a full wipe too to avoid the information getting stolen, but that thought was fleeting as he grabbed my hand.

"We need to move. Now."

We rushed towards the back of the house with two guards, another few having entered from the front and taking up positions around the house. My pulse pounded in my ears like a war drum as Julian pulled me after him. The sound of splintering wood and shattering glass echoed behind us in the house, and I gripped Julian's hand even tighter. Just as we reached the door, it exploded inward with a deafening crack that made my teeth rattle. Julian shoved me behind him, his gun already drawn and firing with deadly precision.

I ducked for cover, grabbing Kenny's carrier and holding it close to my chest. The cat yowled in protest, finally awake and aware of the havoc all around us. His cries pierced through the barrage of gunfire and shouting.

"Scarlet!" Cristian's voice rang out from the front of the house, a mixture of fury and desperation that sent a jolt of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Julian's eyes met mine for a split second, a silent understanding passing between us. "Run to him!" he shouted, laying down cover fire with a determination that both terrified and awed me. "Go! I'll hold them off!"

I clutched Kenny's carrier to my chest and ran, my heart threatening to burst from my ribcage. Gunshots echoed all around me, bullets whizzing past my head as I raced towards the sound of Cristian's voice. The world seemed to slow down, each step feeling like an eternity as I prayed I'd make it in time. The violence swirled around me, but all I could focus on was the sound of Cristian's voice, my lifeline in this storm of bloodshed and destruction.