Chapter 4 - The Pregnant Secretary Refused to Become a Pawn in the Mafia War—And When the Boss Chose His Baby Over His Empire, His Rival’s Final Trap Began to CollapseDominic read the message twice.
Then looked at me.
His expression was terrifyingly calm.
“Penny.”
I swallowed.
“Yes?”
“You did the right thing.”
I stared.
He continued.
“By telling me.”
My eyes filled.
“I almost didn't.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
I looked down.
“I was afraid they'd hurt Claire.”
Dominic took my hand.
“Then we'll protect her.”
I swallowed.
“How?”
He looked toward his phone.
“By calling the people who can stop them.”
Detective Ellis coordinated with Iowa authorities.
Claire was moved to a secure location.
The bakery was temporarily closed.
And investigators began tracing the messages.
Dominic provided financial records.
Gabriel identified several Raines associates.
And I gave a full statement about the gala.
For the first time, I felt like I was doing something other than running.
The investigation uncovered the truth behind Project Meridian.
Anthony Bellano had been secretly transferring assets through shell companies.
Victor Raines had agreed to help conceal the transactions in exchange for control of several shipping routes.
The flash drive contained accounting records.
Contracts.
And recordings.
But it had been encrypted.
Claire's stolen box had contained only the drive's protective case.
The actual drive had fallen into the lining of my old work bag.
I found it two days later.
My hands trembled as I held it.
For weeks, I'd been carrying the evidence everyone wanted.
Without knowing.
Dominic stared at the flash drive.
Then looked at me.
“Penny.”
I swallowed.
“I know.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“You just helped end this.”
The drive was turned over to investigators.
Forensic analysts recovered its contents.
The records corroborated the financial trail.
Several associates agreed to cooperate.
Anthony was arrested.
Victor Raines disappeared.
But not for long.
Three weeks later, Victor contacted Dominic.
He demanded a meeting.
He claimed to have information about the people who had helped Anthony conceal the operation.
Detective Ellis arranged a controlled encounter.
Dominic agreed to cooperate.
But he refused to meet Victor alone.
The operation took place at an abandoned warehouse near the river.
Police surrounded the property.
Victor arrived in a black SUV.
He believed Dominic was coming to negotiate.
Instead, investigators approached.
Victor tried to flee.
His vehicle struck a barrier.
Officers arrested him after a brief struggle.
No one was seriously injured.
When Detective Ellis called with the news, I was sitting beside Dominic in his penthouse.
He listened.
Then closed his eyes.
For a long moment, he didn't speak.
I touched his hand.
“Dominic?”
He looked at me.
“It's over.”
I stared.
“Really?”
He nodded.
“The immediate threat is.”
I began crying.
Dominic pulled me gently into his arms.
For a long time, neither spoke.
Then he whispered, “You and the baby are safe.”
I wanted to believe him.
This time, I almost did.
The legal proceedings lasted months.
Anthony faced charges connected to financial crimes, conspiracy, and obstruction.
Victor faced charges connected to threats, unlawful surveillance, and the attempted break-in.
Several associates cooperated.
Project Meridian was dismantled.
Dominic's legitimate businesses underwent independent review.
He accepted oversight.
Sold remaining interests connected to criminal operations.
And stepped away from the reputation that had once defined him.
Some people called him weak.
Others called him foolish.
Dominic no longer cared.
He had something more important to protect.
As my pregnancy progressed, Dominic became increasingly attentive.
Sometimes too attentive.
He read parenting books.
Attended appointments.
Asked too many questions.
And insisted on assembling the crib himself.
That last decision nearly ended in disaster.
I found him sitting on the nursery floor surrounded by wooden pieces.
He looked up.
“Penny.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Yes?”
He held up a screw.
“I think they gave us the wrong parts.”
I looked at the instructions.
Then at the crib.
Then back at him.
“You put the side panel on backward.”
Dominic stared.
I burst out laughing.
He sighed.
“I run a billion-dollar company.”
I grinned.
“And yet.”
He shook his head.
“Cruel woman.”
I kissed his forehead.
“Very.”
One evening, Dominic took me to the lakefront.
The sun was setting.
The water glowed gold.
We walked slowly.
My hand rested on my stomach.
Dominic held the other.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then he stopped.
“Penny.”
I looked up.
He seemed nervous.
That alone made me smile.
“What?”
He swallowed.
“I love you.”
I froze.
He continued.
“I should have told you years ago.”
My eyes filled.
Dominic looked down.
“I was afraid.”
I laughed softly.
“You?”
He smiled.
“Yes.”
I shook my head.
“Dominic Bellano, afraid?”
He grinned.
“Terrified.”
I began crying.
He reached for my hand.
“I don't want you to stay because of the baby.”
I looked up.
He continued.
“I want you to choose me because you want to.”
My throat tightened.
“And if you don't, I'll still be there for our child.”
I stared.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then whispered, “I love you too.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
When he opened them, they were wet.
He kissed me.
Slowly.
Gently.
And for the first time, the future didn't feel like something I had to escape.
It felt like something I could build.
Two months later, I went into labor.
It began at three in the morning.
Dominic was asleep beside me.
I touched his shoulder.
“Dominic.”
He mumbled.
“Five more minutes.”
I laughed.
“Dominic.”
He opened one eye.
“What?”
I smiled.
“I think the baby's coming.”
He sat up so fast he nearly fell out of bed.
“What?”
I laughed harder.
“Hospital.”
Dominic grabbed his phone.
Then his shoes.
Then the wrong bag.
I watched him.
For a moment, I couldn't stop laughing.
The most feared man in Chicago had forgotten how to function.
At the hospital, Dominic held my hand.
He looked pale.
I smiled through the contractions.
“You okay?”
He stared.
“Am I okay?”
I laughed.
He shook his head.
“Penny, you're having a baby.”
“I noticed.”
He closed his eyes.
Then kissed my forehead.
“I love you.”
I squeezed his hand.
“I love you too.”
Hours later, our daughter was born.
Lily Grace Bellano.
Healthy.
Beautiful.
With dark hair and tiny fingers.
Dominic held her for the first time.
His hands trembled.
He stared down at her.
For a long moment, he couldn't speak.
Then whispered, “Hello, sweetheart.”
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
I watched from the hospital bed.
My heart felt impossibly full.
Dominic looked at me.
His eyes were wet.
“Penny.”
I smiled.
“Yes?”
He swallowed.
“Thank you.”
I laughed softly.
“For what?”
He looked down at Lily.
Then back at me.
“For giving me a reason to become better.”
I shook my head.
“You chose that yourself.”
Dominic smiled.
May you like
Then kissed our daughter's forehead.
And I knew that whatever came next, we would face it together.
