Page 14 of His Hell Girl (Morally Ambiguous Duet #2)

Laying down in bed, I start reading a book about pregnancy that I'd gotten online, wanting to know as much as I can and be prepared when the time comes. Already, I have a feeling it's going to be a boy and I've started looking at names.

Immersed in my reading, I'm surprised when my phone starts ringing, Raf's name flashing on the screen.

"I'll be by the house in an hour," he says as soon as I answer.

"An hour? How come?" I frown, since we hadn't agreed on anything today.

"I've asked permission from your brother to take you out. With a chaperone, of course," he jokes and I release a small chuckle. Marcello's been very uptight about everything—especially about letting me unattended in the presence of any man.

If he only knew the things I'd gotten up to with Vlad…

A smile plays on my lips at the thought. He'd been so adamant about me being careful with men and especially Vlad, that I have no doubt he'd have an apoplexy if he knew I was already pregnant with his baby.

Shaking my head at the notion, I let Raf know I'll be ready for him. I slowly get out of bed, looking around for some clothes.

I take care to hide the scar on my neck with a scarf, not wanting anyone asking questions about what clearly looks like a bite mark. But as I take a seat at my vanity to put on some make-up, I can't help the way my eyes are drawn to the jewelry box and the necklace nestled inside.

I'd taken it off that night, and I hadn't put it back on since. Still, I had not been able to trash it. Maybe because the situation had not sunk in at the time, or maybe because I was still hoping that he would come back to me.

Would I have taken him back?

I don't know. If he'd come running back while I hadn't had the time to process everything, I might have still given him a chance.

But as the days went on, I realized that if I ever gave in, I would just show him he could walk all over me at any time.

That because of my feelings for him I would take it all in stride, ready to forgive him in exchange for a little attention.

Unwanted…

No, what's done is done. And I need to put everything behind me. A new chapter awaits me, and only by putting him out of my mind can I truly find some happiness.

Before I know what I'm doing, I palm the small box, taking it with me.

Raf is already downstairs, waiting for me. And after we leave the house, I throw the box in the first public trash can I see.

"Sisi." Raf shakes his head when he sees what I've done. I just shrug and keep walking.

"It's done," I say, feeling a massive loss inside my heart, but convinced it's just temporary, I shrug it off.

I'm not the first one to suffer from a broken heart and certainly not the last.

I will survive.

At least I hope I will. I don't know how in such a short period of time he had become such an integral part of my life. Even now, knowing he isn't near me almost makes me break out in chills, his proximity the only thing that could make me content.

Lord, I need to stop thinking about him. It will pass.

Eventually…

I hadn't told Raf all the particularities of our breakup, but he'd inferred enough to know how much Vlad had hurt me. And so he'd been a sweetheart, and he'd tried not to bring him up too much.

"So where are we going?" I ask as we stroll down the New York streets, his aunt a few steps behind us acting as chaperone.

"I thought you'd like to go to the hospital. For a checkup," he whispers.

"Raf." My mouth opens in shock at his thoughtfulness. "What about your aunt? Even now she's so vigilant," I note as the women narrows her eyes at us for being too close.

"I already booked the appointment. I can distract her for a while until you finish. Tell her you're getting your hair done or something," he suggests. "There's a salon right next to the clinic."

"Wow, you really planned this, didn't you?" I watch him in awe as a blush creeps up his neck. It's a stark contrast against his fair complexion and immediately visible.

"I've been reading about it. And it's good to have a consult early," he says shyly, and I take his hand in mine, giving it a big squeeze.

"You're a dear," I tell him with a smile.

Sometimes I can't believe how kind Raf is. Surely someone like him can't be real. And he continues to amaze me with his thoughtfulness.

"Thank you."

True to his plan, we make a trip to the salon, and while they make themselves comfortable in the waiting room, I exit through the back and head to the clinic.

I guess by now I have enough practice to sneak around, so I'm not too worried. Especially since Raf's planned this to a T.

Inside the clinic I'm swiftly received by a nurse and after she has me fill in a questionnaire, she leads me to the consult room.

"Good afternoon, Miss Lastra," the doctor comes in, greeting me. I smile in return, even though I am a little nervous about what the checkup entails.

She tries her best to make me comfortable before starting on the pelvic exam. I try to ignore what's happening, or the fact that she's eye to eye with my lady bits.

"Everything looks good here," she finally says, and calls a nurse to wheel in a machine. "Let's do an ultrasound, shall we?"

I nod, and she pulls my shirt up, squirting some cool gel on my stomach. Removing a wand from the machine, she starts moving it on the surface of my belly, the gel making it slip around effortlessly.

"There it is." The doctor smiles, pointing to a small dot on the screen. "I'd say you're about seven to eight weeks along," she tells me, but I half-listen, my eyes glued to the screen.

"You can hear the heartbeat," she continues, and I close my eyes, honing in on the sound.

Good God, I'm going to be a mother.

I don't know why hearing that tiny heartbeat makes me tear up, but I can't contain my emotions as it finally dawns on me that I'm going to have a baby.

A human life.

Ironic how out of all that death and destruction we'd ended up creating a life.

The doctor prescribes me some vitamins and schedules my next appointment. After everything is set, I thank her and head back to the salon, a new optimism rising inside of me.

Things are going to change. This time I'll have someone to care for. A hand on my stomach and a smile on my face, I meet with Raf and his aunt again.

She doesn't seem suspicious in the least as she just gives me a nod, returning to one of her phone calls.

"I told you she wouldn't notice." Raf gives me a conspiratorial smile as we head back to the car waiting for us.

"Well, well, if it isn't my retarded brother," a malicious voice resounds from behind us.

Turning around, I note a man coming toward us, his arms around two girls as he looks down at Raf. He's wearing an all leather outfit emphasizing his lean frame.

Stopping in front of us, he pushes his sunglasses over his hair, the long, dark locks wavy and restless in the wind, his light eyes full of animosity.

There's a malice coming from him and I can't help the way my lip curls in disgust as he continues to insult Raf to his face.

"B-b-brother," Raf replies, almost hiding behind me, his shoulders slumped, his eyes stuck to the pavement.

"And what do we have here," he whistles, looking me up and down before chuckling.

"Of course, the retard and the repulsive," he jokes, his eyes on my birthmark as the girls by his side start giggling.

"The two Rs," he continues, seemingly very pleased with himself as the girls simply stare at him in awe as if he just quoted a Shakespeare sonnet.

"This must be your reprobate brother," I nod toward him, not doing anything to hide my disgust, "three Rs." I give him a fake smile.

Raf had told me about his brother, Michele, and how strained their relationship was. In fact, strained might be an understatement since Michele is clearly a grade A asshole.

I'd heard all about the origin of their conflict and the fact that their father wanted Raf to inherit the capo title, and not Michele, even though the latter was the older one by a few months.

Raf hadn't been able to tell me why his father was so bent on doing that, even as his older son went off the rails. But the more Benedicto enforced the issue, the more Michele pushed back, doing all sorts of nasty things to get attention.

Of course, Raf had always been the target of his taunts, and one of the reasons why Raf's always tried not to draw attention.

"And you must be the nun my brother's marrying," he continues, coming closer and getting into my face, a smug smile on his lips as he no doubt thinks he can intimidate me.

"Couldn't you have found another one? She probably doesn't even know what to do with a dick.

" He tries to pull another joke, and of course the girls by his side think he's said the funniest thing ever, their laughter irritatingly loud.

Not afraid of him, since I've met more than my fair share of bullies like him, I raise my chin slightly, meeting his gaze with mine.

Why, but he could be Cressida's male counterpart.

"Well," I start, a sweet look on my face as I slowly bat my lashes at him, "I certainly wouldn't know what to do with yours." I move ever so slightly toward him, my hands on his shoulders as I pat him lightly.

He frowns, not realizing what I mean, at least not until my knee makes contact with said dick. He winces in pain, bending forward, his eyes shooting daggers at me.

"Since you should probably buy a new one." I wink at him just as the girls by his side gasp, trying to help him.

One look at Raf and he nods, both of us getting in the car and calling out for his aunt to come along too.

I can already hear his curses and the way he calls me bitch as the car leaves the parking lot.

"Dear, was that your brother?" Raf's aunt asks, barely paying attention to us, "I should have said hello." She frowns for a moment before continuing her phone conversation, promptly forgetting us.

"I'm sorry," Raf apologizes as soon as the car is in motion, getting us as far away from that horrible human being.

"Don't. I understand now why you'd hate him. He's vile," I reply, my lips pursed. "A few minutes in his presence and I feel like scrubbing my skin clean. Ew," I stick out my tongue in disgust.

Raf chuckles, telling me that was a mild Michele, and that usually he's even worse.

I listen attentively, dreading the fact that he's soon going to be my brother-in-law. One thing is for sure. If Michele tries something, he's going to have a few surprises. I may be a nun but I guess he'll have a holy surprise when he sees I don't take anyone's shit.