Page 39 of Mafia Don's Secret Heir

“It hurts,” I whisper, my voice ragged.

He doesn’t hesitate. In one swift motion, he scoops me into his arms, cradling me against his chest. “We’re going to the clinic,” he says, and there’s no room for argument.

“No... I can?—”

“Quiet.” The word lands hard. Not cruel, just final.

The estate’s private medical wing is only minutes away, but the ride stretches forever. My head rests against Luca’s chest, the steady beat of his heart the only thing keeping me tethered while the pain pulses low and dull. His hand stays on my back, largeand warm, but his body is stiff. By the time we arrive, the lights are already on and the doctor is waiting, called in the moment I collapsed. Luca doesn’t let me go until the examination room is prepped. Even then, he only steps back because the doctor insists.

Dr. Ashley Carter is calm, efficient, and all business, though I catch the way her eyes flick to Luca before she begins. She’s used to working in high-stakes silence. Used to the weight of men like him. “You gave us a scare,” she says, checking the monitors, her voice kind and clear.

“I’m fine now,” I say quickly, though I can tell neither she nor Luca believes me.

Dr. Carter glances at the monitor, jotting something down before looking at me again. “You’ll recover. But there’s something you need to be aware of—both of you.” Her gaze flickers to Luca.

The air shifts. My chest tightens as I watch her carefully, trying to decipher the meaning behind her words.

“Your fainting spell wasn’t just from stress or exhaustion,” she continues. “You’re pregnant. Very early stages, but everything appears healthy so far. You’ll need to take it easy for the next few weeks.”

Pregnant. The word echoes in my mind, slow and surreal. I blink at her, unable to process the reality behind it.

“You’re sure?” Luca’s voice cuts through the fog, steady as ever, though I can feel the tension radiating off him.

“Yes,” Dr. Carter confirms. “We’ll run more tests to ensure everything is progressing normally, but right now, the most important thing is for her to rest and avoid any unnecessary stress.”

She speaks directly to him, as though I’m incapable of understanding. But my gaze is fixed on my hands, trembling slightly where they rest on the blanket.

A child.

Luca’s child.

The thought sends a jolt through me—fear, disbelief, and something I can’t name, all battling for dominance. I glance at Luca, expecting anger or frustration. But his expression is unreadable, his jaw tight, and his green eyes are locked on me.

The doctor excuses herself, leaving us alone in the silence.

“You didn’t know,” Luca says finally, breaking the tension.

I shake my head. “I had no idea.”

For a moment, neither of us speaks. What we now know fills the space between us. “This changes things,” he says, his voice softer now, though there’s an edge to it.

“Does it?” I ask, barely above a whisper.

His eyes snap to mine, sharp and piercing. “Of course it does. You’re carrying my child, Valentina.”

“And that’s supposed to make everything better?” I shoot back, the words escaping before I can stop them. “You think a baby solves all the complications of this relationship, Luca?”

“No,” he admits. “But it means you’re not just my wife now. You’re the mother of my child. And I will do whatever it takes to protect both of you.”

The conviction in his tone is staggering. I want to push back, to reject the possessiveness that comes so naturally to him. But there’s something in his eyes, something raw and unguarded, that gives me pause.

“I didn’t ask for this,” I whisper, my hand unconsciously moving to my stomach.

“You’re my wife,” he replies quietly. “This is… surprising, but not unexpectedly so.”

I’m still reeling, since we were careful. My birth control obviously didn’t work. My mind is running through all the scenarios when he says, “It’s going to be okay, Valentina. I’ll be here for you.”

For the first time, I see something beyond the ruthless don, beyond the control and power he wields so effortlessly. There’s vulnerability there, buried deep, but it’s unmistakable. And maybe that’s what scares me the most.