REINA

Paolo still wasn’t picking up. It had been a little over four hours since I saw the result and had been trying to reach him, and he still wouldn’t pick my call.

I had called seventeen times since morning. Seventeen times the line rang out into nothing, his voicemail swallowing my desperate words like they meant nothing. I sat on the edge of the bed, phone pressed against my chest, staring at the wall with hollow eyes. The positive test was still on the bathroom sink. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away. Some sick, masochistic part of me needed it there as proof that this was real. That I hadn’t simply lost my mind.

Calestino’s voice echoed in my head.

Don’t do anything stupid or reckless, Reina. I’m coming to you as soon as I’m done with what I’m doing here. Just get out of the house. Don’t let Domenico near you right now.

Get out of the house. Simple enough instruction. I could do that much.

My hands were steadier than I expected when I dialed my Aunt’s number. She answered on the second ring, the way she always did — like she’d been waiting, like she always had time for me even when the rest of the world didn’t.

"Auntie..." I choked out, sniffing.

"Reina, sweetheart." Her voice was warm and unhurried. "What’s the matter? You sound strange." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I’m okay," I lied automatically. Then I stopped. "Actually, I’m not okay, Auntie. I need some company. Could you... could you come stay with me for a few days? Just a few days. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important."

A brief pause. "Of course. Of course I’ll come. Let me pack a bag. Should I bring food? You know I don’t trust you to have a proper kitchen."

Despite everything, a small, watery laugh escaped me. "Please bring food."

"Give me two hours, baby. I’m on my way."

My ears twitched immediately I remembered Calestino had ordered me to leave the house, so I quickly said. "No. Please don’t come, I’ll pack a bag and come to you, ma."

My aunt was silent for a second before she quickly said, " That’s fine. I’ll go cook you something. Make sure you drive safely."

I exhaled for what felt like the first time all morning. Ten minutes. I just needed to hold myself together for ten minutes to shower and change into something more warmer and then I would go be with my auntie and I wouldn’t have to be so terrifyingly alone inside these four walls.

"This is all your fault, Paolo." I mumbled, needing someone to blame for my actions as I quickly dashed into the bathroom.

I showered quickly, scrubbing my skin until it was pink, as if I could wash away the scent of Domenico’s cologne that still somehow clung to me. I dressed in simple clothes — loose trousers, a soft blouse that didn’t cling — and grabbed my bag. My plan was straightforward. Go downstairs. Wait somewhere public. Maybe a café nearby. Somewhere Domenico would never think to look for me because I was just a woman sitting alone drinking tea, not his anything.

I almost made it. Then once I’m sure he wasn’t aware of the baby in my womb, I would go to my aunt.

The doors opened and I stepped out, adjusting the strap of my bag, already mentally mapping the route to the café I would be going.

He was leaning against the wall beside the entrance like he owned the building.

Like he owned everything. Technically, he did.

Domenico Gravano in a perfectly tailored dark suit, one hand casually tucked into his trouser pocket, the other holding a large, elegantly wrapped box. A slow, devastating smile spread across his face the moment his eyes found mine. Not surprised. Not at all surprised. Like he’d known exactly when I would walk out.

My steps faltered.

"There she is," he said softly, his voice carrying that low, velvet weight that always made my traitorous body react before my brain could intervene. "I was beginning to think you’d make me wait all day."

"What are you doing here?" My voice came out steadier than I felt.

He pushed off the wall and closed the distance between us unhurriedly, extending the box with a grace that belonged on a stage. "A gift. There’s a party tonight. A private gathering — nothing like the charity gala I told you earlier, I promise. Low-key. Elegant. You’ll enjoy it. It’s a sex party and I know you love sex. It will be fun."

I stared at the box. Then at him. "I’m not going anywhere with you, Domenico."

"Open it first."

"I don’t want to open it." I stepped sideways, keeping distance between us. "I’m going to see my aunt. She’s expecting me."

Something flickered in his eyes. Gone before I could name it.

"Reina—"

"I said no." I gripped my bag tighter and moved toward the door. "I’m not your date. I’m not your companion. Last night was—" My voice cracked slightly. I forced it back under control. "Last night should not have happened. None of it should have happened. Please leave me alone."

I pushed through the glass door and out into the afternoon air. The cool air made me feel like a free person, and for one blessed second I thought I’d done it. I’d walked away.

Then I heard him behind me, unhurried footsteps, completely unbothered.

"You look tense," Domenico observed conversationally, falling into step beside me like we were old friends taking a stroll. "How did you see your appetite today? Still ravenous? Or has the nausea returned?"

I stopped walking.

The deliberate precision of those words landed like stones dropped into still water. I turned to face him slowly. His expression was perfectly neutral. Pleasantly curious. Eyes completely unreadable.

"Don’t," I said quietly.

He tilted his head. "Don’t what?"

My phone buzzed in my hand. Aunt Marilyn name lit up the screen — probably calling to confirm my arrival time or ask what I needed her to cook exactly. I almost answered. Almost.

Domenico glanced at the screen. Something in his expression shifted — barely perceptible, but I’d spent enough time studying his face to catch it.

"Your aunt," he said simply.

"Yes. My aunt. Who I’m going to stay with. So you can go back to—"

"Marilyn Monroe." He said her name with a quiet familiarity that stopped my heart cold. "She worked for my late wife for nearly four years. Wonderful woman. Stubborn. Fiercely loyal." He paused, letting each word settle with surgical precision. "She never quite forgave me after Elena died. She thought I killed Ruby. I bet she was so shocked the day she realised you would be getting married to my son."