Filed to story: Bound by Honor (Aria & Luca) Drama Story
She frowned. “I know. I hope we can keep it from the public. I don’t want people to suspect anything when Aria and Luca pretend it’s their baby.”
“We’re careful,” I said. My stomach did that annoying flip when I thought of giving that baby to my brother and Aria, not because they wouldn’t take care of it, but because part of me wanted to be the one to do it.
Chapter Seven
Gianna
“I think I’m going crazy, Peanut,” I whispered as I touched the bump. I’d started talking to it in secret a few weeks ago as it had become clear that the baby wouldn’t let me ignore it. It was kicking up a storm every time I was trying to sleep or relax. I hadn’t told anyone that I could feel its kicks. I wasn’t even sure why. Aria had asked me a couple of times about it, but I’d always changed the topic. It felt too… real, feeling this baby move inside of me.
Another kick, and this time even my belly vibrated. It was impossible to miss anymore. On the one hand, I felt relief whenever Peanut showed it was still alive and kicking, but on the other hand its presence overwhelmed me in a way I didn’t understand. The worst was all the secrecy, all the hiding in the Hamptons as if I was a prisoner. So far nobody had seen me with a bump and Aria had managed to stay out of the public eyes since Christmas as well. The chances of us pulling off our plan weren’t bad.
“You have our temper, Peanut.”
Luca wouldn’t be happy about that. I smiled but slowly the smile dropped. I pulled my hand away from my belly and got dressed. Aria and Luca wouldn’t have trouble handling a wild child. Amo wasn’t exactly an easy kid either and they got him under control, mostly. I couldn’t help but wonder how they’d raise my Peanut. If it were a girl, which I still didn’t know, Luca would probably be a protective berserk as he was with Marcella. If Peanut were a girl, she would never experience freedom, never get to choose her own path, her husband, or even if she wanted to marry at all.
Matteo poked his head in. He’d arrived in the Hamptons this morning and would stay two more nights. “Why are you pulling a face?”
“Do you think Luca will arrange a marriage for the baby?”
Matteo frowned. “I suppose so. It’s tradition. So far, he hasn’t given any indication that he’s going to fight our traditions. The majority of our men are happy with the rules as they are.”
“The men, yes.”
Matteo came toward me and touched my shoulders, watching me in the mirror. “If Luca and Aria raise the kid, they are the ones who decide how to raise it.”
“I know,” I muttered. “But it wouldn’t hurt if a girl would be allowed a bit of freedom as well.”
Matteo wrapped his arms around my ribcage; I didn’t like it if he touched my belly. “Luca’s controlling and protective with the women in his life. That’s who he is. We can’t interfere even if we don’t like how he handles the kid. We’re giving up that right by letting them adopt the baby.”
I freed myself from his grip, glaring. “You make it sound as if what we’re doing is wrong.”
“I didn’t say that. How can it be wrong to make sure the kid gets a welcoming, loving home that’s ready for it? That’s a reasonable decision.”
“As if you’re ever reasonable,” I hissed. I wasn’t even sure why I was attacking him, but for some reason I was angry.
Matteo pulled me against him. “Come on, babe, let’s watch a movie and relax a bit. Let’s not argue over this. We’ll cross this bridge when we come to it.”
“I hate it when you are the reasonable one. It’s unnatural.”
He flashed me a grin and like that, I felt better.
Matteo
Gianna’s pained gasp made me jerk up. My hand lunged for the knife and I flipped on the lights, fighting the lingering disorientation.
“What’s the matter?” I asked, turning to her.
Gianna regarded the blade as she blinked against the brightness. “No need for your knife,” she said. Her hand rested against her belly. “The baby is kicking me again.”
I froze and slowly put the knife down. “Again?”
She nodded. “It’s been doing it for several weeks now. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you.” She fell silent. I couldn’t look away from her hand cradling her belly. She pulled up her chemise and then I saw it, her belly bulging where a small foot must have kicked from the inside.
My throat became dry. So far her pregnancy had been a very abstract concept, one I could ignore most days, but this… I wasn’t sure what I felt.
“You can touch it,” she said hesitantly.
I pressed my palm to her skin and for a few moments nothing happened but then I felt the kick. I drew back, swallowing. “Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck,” she whispered. “It won’t let me pretend it’s not there. It’s kicking and pressing down on my bladder and just being temperamental like its father.”
Like its father. I was becoming a father… but Luca would be the kid’s father, he’d be the one it would call Dad. “It sounds like it has your temper.” My voice sounded strange to my own ears. It wasn’t as if I’d ever dreamed about being a father. Most of the tedious tasks linked to the job were rather deterrent.
Gianna lowered her chemise again, regarding me. “Aria and Luca won’t know what hit them.”
I nodded. “They can handle it.”
“I know,” she said. “Let’s try to get some sleep, okay?”
I kissed her and extinguished the lights but I couldn’t fall asleep. I couldn’t forget how it had felt to have the baby kick against my hand. Eventually, I gave up and got up, careful not to wake Gianna.
I crept through the dark of the house and went outside onto the terrace where I sat down on a chair. As I stared off into the distance, the horizon slowly turned gray and the sun peeked out. The door slid open and closed behind me. Luca sank down in another chair in only briefs.