A Tainted Bloodline
Eight months pregnant, a contraction tore through me like a blade.
But my husband, the Mafia boss Darren, refused to take me to the hospital.
His sister-in-law, Angelina, his late brother's widow, was also due.
To ensure she gave birth before me, she produced so-called proof of my infidelity, insisting the child I carried was no true Falcone.
Because the heir to the Falcone family had to be the firstborn grandson.
Darren believed her. He locked me in an abandoned wine cellar.
“Don't think for a second I don't know what you've been up to.”
“Let me tell you, you're not giving birth to that bastard until I've verified its bloodline myself.”
“Angelina’s boy is of pure blood. I have to make sure her boy is the family's firstborn grandson.”
I tried desperately to explain.
“My water is about to break! Please, take me to the hospital! He’s your son, I swear on my life!”
“I’ll never fight for the position of heir! I just want my baby to be safe!”
Darren simply kicked me and shot me a glance.
“Who knows if you’ll change your mind later? Don’t worry. I’ll come for you after Angelina gives birth. When the baby is born, I’ll see for myself whose it is.”
Later, as he gazed at the crying infant in Angelina's arms, he finally thought of me. But one of his men informed him, his voice trembling:
“Boss, the Madam… and the child… they're both dead.”