Chapter 2 - The Mafia Boss Learned His Secretary Was Carrying His Baby—But His Rival Had Already Turned the Pregnancy Into a Weapon That Could Destroy Them BothDominic Bellano had faced armed enemies without blinking.
He had negotiated million-dollar contracts while men threatened to kill him.
He had watched businesses collapse.
Friends betray him.
And rivals disappear.
But nothing prepared him for the moment Penelope Hart placed an ultrasound photograph in his hand.
He stared at the tiny image.
For a long time, he couldn't speak.
Then he whispered, “Is this ours?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
His hands trembled.
For a moment, he looked almost frightened.
Then he opened his eyes.
“How far along?”
“Nine weeks.”
He looked down at the photograph.
“Nine weeks.”
I nodded.
His expression softened.
“From the gala.”
“Yes.”
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Dominic whispered, “Why didn't you tell me?”
My eyes filled.
I looked down.
“Because I was afraid.”
He swallowed.
“Of me?”
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
Something painful moved across his face.
He looked away.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered, “I understand.”
I stared.
“You do?”
He nodded.
“People have spent years being afraid of me.”
His voice broke slightly.
“I just never wanted you to be one of them.”
We sat in a quiet interview room at the police station.
Dominic placed the ultrasound photograph carefully on the table.
He looked at it again.
Then asked, “Did you hear the heartbeat?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
His eyes filled.
“What was it like?”
I swallowed.
“Fast.”
He smiled faintly.
“Fast?”
I nodded.
“Like a tiny drum.”
Dominic laughed softly.
Then covered his face with one hand.
For a moment, I thought he was trying not to cry.
When he looked up, his eyes were wet.
“I missed it.”
My heart tightened.
I shook my head.
“You didn't know.”
He looked at me.
“I should have.”
“No.”
I swallowed.
“You couldn't have.”
He nodded slowly.
Then asked, “Can I come to the next appointment?”
I stared.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then whispered, “You want to?”
Dominic looked almost offended.
“Penny.”
He reached across the table.
Then stopped.
“May I?”
I nodded.
He took my hand.
“I want to be there for every appointment you'll let me attend.”
Tears filled my eyes.
I squeezed his fingers.
The following morning, Dominic arranged temporary accommodation for Claire and me at a secure hotel.
He offered me a guest suite at his penthouse.
I refused.
He accepted my answer.
But he insisted that Detective Ellis receive any threats immediately.
I agreed.
Claire watched the exchange with raised eyebrows.
Later, when Dominic stepped outside, she leaned toward me.
“He's different than I expected.”
I looked down.
“How?”
She smiled.
“He listens.”
I laughed softly.
“Sometimes.”
Claire studied me.
“You love him.”
I froze.
She smiled sadly.
“Penny.”
I looked away.
“Yes.”
She took my hand.
“Then maybe you should tell him.”
I shook my head.
“It's not that simple.”
Claire nodded.
“I know.”
Dominic's investigation uncovered disturbing information.
Victor Raines had been monitoring me since the gala.
He knew about my apartment.
My commute.
My grocery store.
My clinic appointment.
And possibly my pregnancy before Dominic did.
Gabriel Russo, Dominic's security chief, discovered that Raines had hired a private investigator named Peter Sloan.
Sloan had obtained surveillance photographs.
Travel records.
And information from a clinic employee who had improperly accessed appointment schedules.
Dr. Shaw herself denied providing medical information.
She claimed Raines had once funded a medical research project she worked on, but insisted she had severed ties years earlier.
Detective Ellis investigated.
Meanwhile, Dominic faced pressure from his own organization.
His uncle, Anthony Bellano, demanded that he respond aggressively to Raines.
“This is an insult,” Anthony said during a private meeting.
Dominic sat behind his desk.
His expression was cold.
“It's a criminal investigation.”
Anthony scoffed.
“You're letting police handle a family matter?”
Dominic looked up.
“Someone threatened a pregnant woman.”
Anthony leaned forward.
“And you think the police will protect her?”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“I think starting a war will put her in more danger.”
Anthony stared.
For a moment, he looked almost disappointed.
Then he said quietly, “Your father would have handled this differently.”
Dominic looked toward the window.
“That's why I'm trying not to become him.”
I returned to work two days later.
Not because Dominic demanded it.
Because I needed routine.
The office felt strange.
The analysts whispered.
The reception staff smiled too carefully.
And someone had placed a small vase of white flowers beside my desk.
No card.
No explanation.
I knew who sent them.
I smiled despite myself.
At ten-thirty, Dominic appeared in the doorway.
“Penny.”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
He held two cups.
“Ginger tea.”
I laughed softly.
“You're becoming predictable.”
He smiled.
“Is that bad?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He placed one cup beside my keyboard.
Then hesitated.
“Would you have lunch with me?”
I looked up.
“Business lunch?”
Dominic smiled faintly.
“No.”
My heart raced.
He continued.
“Just lunch.”
I swallowed.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
We ate at a small Italian restaurant overlooking the river.
No bodyguards at the table.
No private dining room.
No expensive spectacle.
Just pasta.
Bread.
And a man who seemed strangely nervous.
Dominic watched me carefully.
“Are you feeling okay?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
“Any nausea?”
“A little.”
He nodded.
“I read that ginger can help.”
I laughed.
“I noticed.”
Dominic smiled.
For a while, we talked about ordinary things.
Movies.
Food.
Claire's bakery.
My childhood.
Then Dominic grew serious.
“Penny.”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
He swallowed.
“I owe you an apology.”
I frowned.
“For what?”
“For that night.”
My heart tightened.
He continued.
“I should have spoken to you afterward.”
I looked down.
“You didn't know what to say.”
He nodded.
“No.”
I smiled sadly.
“Neither did I.”
Dominic looked at me.
“I was afraid I'd ruined everything.”
I stared.
He continued.
“You were the one person in my office who treated me like a man instead of a reputation.”
My eyes filled.
“I didn't want to lose that.”
I swallowed.
Then whispered, “You didn't.”
Dominic smiled faintly.
That evening, I received another message.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Me.
Dominic.
At lunch.
Beneath it, a sentence.
HE CAN'T PROTECT YOU FROM HIS OWN FAMILY.
My stomach dropped.
I showed Dominic.
His expression hardened.
He called Gabriel.
Then Detective Ellis.
The message was traced to a disposable account.
But the photograph had been taken from inside the restaurant.
Someone had been watching.
Two days later, Gabriel discovered something worse.
Peter Sloan had not been hired directly by Victor Raines.
The payments came from a company controlled by Anthony Bellano.
Dominic's uncle.
When Dominic learned the truth, he stared at the records.
For a long time, he didn't speak.
Then whispered, “Anthony.”
Gabriel nodded.
Dominic looked toward the window.
His jaw tightened.
“Why would my uncle be paying someone to follow Penny?”
Gabriel hesitated.
“There's something else.”
Dominic turned.
Gabriel placed another document on the desk.
A transfer record.
Five million dollars.
From Anthony Bellano's company.
To Victor Raines.
Dated the morning after the gala.
May you like
Dominic stared.
Then whispered, “My uncle is working with him.”
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