Chapter 1 ____ The Proem

Chapter Title: The Proem

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" Congratulations, you are pregnant! Here is your baby!", a thirty plus woman pointed at the tiny dot on the screen with a big smile, rolling over the liquid on her slightly protruded belly.

Kiera Stevens felt her entire world, crashing down in a few seconds. Her big watery green eyes pulled on the screen, feeling a new surge of emotions.

It was a baby! A life in her stomach!

How could she get rid of it?

This was her fifth time that she came to this hospital to abort the baby. But either she was scared or fled away in panic. This time when she was determined to get rid of this child, her strength was lost as soon as her eyes were connected to the screen.

Her baby! Her own flesh and blood!

The middle aged doctor asked for her concern again, turning off the screen to her disappointment,

" Do you still want to continue?"

Kiera didn't utter anything for a long while. Her hands clutched the bedsheet secretly, exhaling and inhaling frequently to reach on a final decision. Her mind drifted back to her best shining moments when she received her best newcomer award, her upcoming advertisements with those top brands, her years of hardworking. All of them were like a fairytale to her now. Her body shuddered when the memory of being hold by those possessive arms reflected into her memories, their moans and grunts, echoing throughout the green room, those shameful memories that she never wanted to recall. Maybe, it was her fault to get drunk so badly that she barely had a memory of that night.

But after everything,as soon as she predicted a beautiful baby in her arms, a tiny pair of arms that begged for her care and love, Kiera was lost in those moments.

She closed her eyes slowly and finally found her priority in life. Her grip was released from the crumpled bedsheet. She sutured her words in a breaking voice,

" No...I won't be.. having any abortion..."

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Kiera went back to her house later in the evening after a day full of cries. Her father, Jonathan Stevens waited for her in the hallway, his eyes full of smiles. Kiera had been making headlines consistently. Her advertisements were well-known around the state. Although, Jonathan Stevens wanted nothing more than his daughter to join the family business, he was a proud dad to see his daughter's name all over the tabloids.

Kiera started walking into the house in her numb steps. Her step staggered all the while, one hand gripping the purse tightly that had her secret secured.

How could she tell her father that she was pregnant with someone's child that she didn't even know? How could she tell him that the man, his long time boyfriend, Jasper whom she trusted the most had actually cheated on her along with her bestfriend?

" Kiera! Come here! Look, Mr.Thompson has also appreciated your recent advertisement for his brand! ", Jonathan Stevens called over her with a big smile. Kiera swallowed down the painful lump in her throat and froze in her track. Her face morphed in guilt to see her father's happiness but sooner or later, he was going to know the truth especially when she decided to keep the baby.

Letting out a soft exhale, Kiera tiptoed over her dad's sitting couch, mustering up all her courage to spill the truth. She stopped right in front of him. Her painted lips quivered before opening and closing hesitantly. Finally when it was parted, the watchman from their entrance dashed into the house, carrying a horrified face.

The old aged man didn't wait for their permission before yelling in a panicked voice,

" Sirrr...There..there are reporters at our gate who insist on coming..They.. they...are saying that.. Young Miss..is... pregnant..They.. want her.. explanation.. "

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A man's wailing was heard inside a dark room. He was hanging from upside down, face covered in bruises. His lips were covered in fresh blood, crying and whining occasionally.

" Tell me, how close were you to marry her?", Azrael De Luca, the newly allocated Don of the Italian Mafia Empire had finally decided to question on his own. His tattooed hand rested on the handle of the couch, showcasing his newly imprinted tattoos. His grey eyes were fixed on the man in front of his eyes.

" Don..I..I didn't..marry..her..", the man who was hanging whined, trying to sound convincing. But he knew the severe consequences behind it. Betraying the brotherhood had only one result ___ death sentence. Azarel's family had been the lead of Italian Mafia for decades. For safe and healthy businesses environment, all the local Mafias which called "The Italian Brotherhood" had always been following the strict rules, made by Azarel's family, the head of all local gangs. Whoever broke the rules had to pay the price even the Don himself. 

Azrael let out a short laugh, blowing his smoky air out of his mouth. He hissed, putting the cigarette aside from his lips,

" Ssh! I hate lies, Jackson. You were fucking one step away to marry that rich heir."

The man winced at the intensity of Azrael's voice. Even in that awkward position, he was bathing in the sweat of terror. He whined pleadingly,

" Don...I...."

His words were never heard when a bullet shot through his skull, leaving him lifeless. A satisfied smirk played on Azrael's lips who put back the gun in his pocket, scoffing with an arrogant face,

" The price of our secrets are too high, Jackson. You shouldn't have broken the brotherhood rules. We may fuck a lot of whores but we don't marry someone from different world."

Matteo, the right handed man of Azrael inhaled a deep breath from the doorway, feeling more scared to reveal the truth. Azrael who met his peripheral eyes dropped the cigarette aside, and strode over to him in big steps.

Matteo lowered his eyes down in guilt, visibly shaking. He knew how the worst Azrael's temper was especially after the kill today. Azrael was fucking loyal to his brotherhood. Matteo pursued his lips nervously after a deep breath,

" She..she isn't found anywhere...Don..We..we are still searching.."

Azrael's hand went straight to his head, strangling up ahead to meet his bloodthirsty, lifeless eyes. Matteo let out a squeak but didn't dare to say anything. Azrael's cold, magnetic voice echoed inside the room followed by a low growl of anger,

" I don't fucking care if you have to go under the sea or not, Matt. But I won't allow a woman to sleep with me then dissapare like nothing, Matt. If she gets pregnant,my father's empire will be threatened then this position of Don will be gone. You heard it? I won't fucking allow it.Find her or you all will be dead!"