⚔️Carlos's POV ⚔️   It was Christmas Eve,  and Madre and I were in the office at the Sapphire when Paulo came in to tell me a huge package had arrived for Maria, from the Capo of the Commission.  "Bring it in."  I ordered.  I asked Paulo to open it.  It came in a giant wooden box.  I was expecting a body, seeing the box before me, but inside I found an Iron Maiden.   Maria came in with Rocco, carrying

👑Chapter 1 Maria👑The man on the phone chuckled.  "Your father...Sergio...he's all yours for the killing...meet your Uncle in the basement tonight, around midnight.""He couldn't tell me that himself?"  The phone went dead.  I left the guest bathroom, and found Carlos still waiting for me.  "Is everything okay, Baby?  Your shaking."  He took my hands, and rubbed my fingers.Of course, he would notice that my nerves were getting the best of me.  " I think maybe its where I haven't eaten anything today."  I told him.  I lied....He nodded and led me into the dining room, where a buffet was set out.  He fixed me a small plate of food, and asked Marco to sit with me while he went to check on my sisters, who had wandered off to the theater room with some cousins.The night fell quickly and all the guests had left.  Camilla still wasn't doing so well.  "Wh

👑Maria's POV 👑Madre was watching tv, when I went in to see her.  "Madre, I need a favor."Madre turns off the tv, and puts her focus on me.  "What do you need, sweetie?  Shopping?...  Your clothes are looking a little loose...Are you losing weight?I look down at what I'm wearing.  "I need to see a doctor....I'm still getting nauseated...and its not nerves.""Well, what is it then?"I sat down next to her and handed her the test.  "Please don't tell Carlos...I really want to be the one to tell him."Madre takes me into a hug.  "Let me change into something nicer...you too...perhaps some leggings and a long sweater.... I'll call someone I know....and don't worry sweetie....this is a good thing.""But how?  He's not even talking to me!"Madre smiles. "He'll come along once he finds out you're expecting."Thirty minutes later, we arri

🔥Chapter 5 Carlos🔥It was close to Valentine's day, and Maria was still keeping sickly.  I had her admitted to the hospital last night due to dehydration."Twenty pounds...." Dr.Williams repeated.  "She weighed 125 pounds back in July.  Her weight in October was 123 and that was with appendicitis...She's 103 pounds, now...She's lost alot of weight, Mr.Romaro.""So what do we do?"  I ask."Well, we have already started her on vitamin water, due to her levels being down...and after not being able to keep down her broth from lunchtime...I feel that your wife is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum or HCG....we may need to do a nasogastric tube for a while.""Whatever you need to do." I told her, as Sebastian entered the room. "This is Sebastian... Our family doctor."Dr.Williams shook his hand.  "Yes...we talked earlier... I understand your concern about keeping your wife in the hospital for a long

🔥 Carlos's POV🔥A few days later, Maria was feeling better, and she was able to be rid of her tubes on observation.  She desperately needed out of the house, so I took her to the Sapphire with me, so she could teach Madre how to use the hoops and fabric.  I had a general idea of what they were doing after one of our crew men hung them.  I was watching Maria, and couldn't believe her talent.  Just getting her off the tubes, gave her a bost ofmuch needed energy, despite her arms covered in bruises.  She was swinging from a hoop, hanging upside down, flipping up, going to her feet and swinging.  She was amazing to watch.After about 45 minutes though, I made her get down.  "I don't want you wearing yourself out...Go get a drink, a shower, and come rest a while in my office....I'll take you to lunch after while, if you feel like eating."I was sitting in my office checking the books, when Mad