PREGNANT WITH MY ENEMY'S CHILD

Chapter 2"This can't be happening," Emilia muttered to herself, staring at the little plastic stick between her shaking hands.This all but left her head spinning, and she kind of slumped against the bathroom wall for support. The second line was confirmation as clear as day that she was not expecting at all. With her heart pounding in her chest, she shut her eyes tightly and willed herself to wake up from this nightmare. And however many times she opened her eyes, reality, she was forced to admit, persisted."Pregnant," she whispered, the word all too foreign on her lips. She didn't even know who was speaking anymore. "How could I let this happen?"All of it came back now, flooding into her head, intoxicating anonymity, the gaze of fire under the mask, a racing heartbeat against their kiss, and an utter feeling of being another person altogether. Never had she felt that free, even for just one night. Now she felt more like her liberation was some faraway dream smashed by undeniable

Chapter 4"You'll be there, Emilia, no excuses," the finality of each word slicing tension in the room, the tone of her father's voice like the last stroke of the gavel.Emilia's stomach churned, but she nodded. Whatever was termed a charity gala was only an excuse when her father seized up his friend and foe alike, masquerading as a great soul under the camouflage of goodwill. Well, there was always a reason behind everything the De Luca family did, and tonight wasn't any different."Yes, father," she replied with not a shred of emotion in her voice at all; her mind screaming inside all the time. She wanted nothing to do with it, yet little room to refuse was available.He looked her up and down then settled on her demeanor. "Be presentable in appearance. We have a message tonight, and you will be at its core, my daughter."She made an attempt to smile contrived at it, though not very successfully concealed the resentment. "Understood."That old weight of apprehension burrowed its wa

Emilia swallowed and fought for her voice. "I didn't know who you were, either," she flashed right back in a slightly shaking voice. "We aren't here to talk about the past." Luca's jaw flexed, glints dancing in his eyes. "Stop lying to me." "I am not," Emilia shot back with far too little venom. Luca leaned in, intrusive. "Then explain this-explain why you vanished that night and why you look at me now as if from some ghastly dream." "I owe no man an explanation," Emilia said, crossing her arms over her chest in order to obscure the shake of her hands. It would have seemed as though Luca was boring his eyes into hers, frustration etched upon his features. "Why does it feel like there's more you're not telling me?" She could literally feel her heart race, cornered-an animal-and her precariously constructed walls started to crumble from beneath her under his scrutiny. "I don't know what you're talking about," she finally said, her voice low. "You're hiding something," Luc

"Luca, slow down! What's going on?" she wrenched her arm free, swinging around a corner. He spun to face her, dark and commanding. "I told you to stay close. Do you want to get caught in the crossfire?" "I don't even know what's happening!" she hissed, trying to sound defiant despite a shaking voice. "The Vitaels are here," Luca growled. "They have been waiting for a perfect moment like this. And now they go after the two of our families. If you think staying behind was safer, you're insane." Her chest constricted at the name, Vitaels. Stories of theirs she knew-brutal raids and strategic murders, they don't negotiate, eliminate. Yet she couldn't shake this nagging doubt in her brain. She hated being at Luca's mercy, especially when she could feel suspicion simmering below the surface. "What's the plan, then?" she tried to ask, steadying her voice. He jerked his head down the corridor. "We're heading for the back exit. There's a car waiting outside. We get out of here, regroup,

"Emilia," he whispered solemnly. "Tell me the truth, what's wrong?"She opened her mouth to answer, the words catching in her throat-and the tension between them grew and thickened.Her voice came just a moment before the sound of an engine springing into life out on the drive shattered the tension.They froze as the door burst open with a bang."Emilia!"Luca stood abruptly as Matteo De Luca stormed into the safe house, his presence commanding as ever. The older man's gaze immediately zeroed in on his daughter, softening as he rushed to her side.“Are you hurt?" Matteo asked, his hands clamping onto Emilia's shoulders as he scanned her for injury."I'm fine, dad," Emilia said, though her voice was laced with the same unease she'd had with Luca."Fine?" Matteo scoffed. "You were almost killed." He turned to Luca, his face hardening into a glare. "This is your doing, Romano.”Luca crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes meeting Matteo's glare in a cool, icy manner. "I saved her life