Page 45 of Mafia Pregnancy
I study his face for signs of uncertainty or bravado but find only calm confidence that suggests careful planning and superior positioning.
Whatever preparations he’s made for Radmir’s arrival, he genuinely believes he holds the advantage.
“You’re underestimating him,” I say, though I’m not sure if I’m trying to rattle Luca or convince myself.
“Radmir has survived fifteen years in this business by being smarter and more ruthless than his enemies.”
“Radmir has survived by being careful and methodical. Those are admirable qualities in most circumstances, but they become weaknesses when someone he loves is in immediate danger.” Luca’s smile grows wider.
“Desperation makes even the most careful men careless, and desperate is exactly what Radmir will be when he sees that photograph.”
The truth in his words makes my chest constrict with fear and guilt.
I walked away from Radmir to protect my children from exactly this kind of situation, but my attempt to escape his world has instead pulled him deeper into conflict.
If he dies trying to rescue me, Leo will lose the father he’s just begun to know, and our daughter will never meet the man who wants to love and protect her.
“There has to be something you want more than revenge,” I say, grasping for any angle that might defuse this situation. “Money, territory, or business connections… Something that doesn’t require killing anyone.”
“You misunderstand my motivations, Ms. Arden. This isn’t about revenge, though I admit there’s personal satisfaction involved.
” He stands again and moves to a small table I hadn’t noticed before, picking up what appears to be a tactical radio.
“This is about consolidation. The syndicate that Radmir built is valuable, but it’s also vulnerable as long as he remains alive to challenge my authority. ”
He adjusts settings on the radio and speaks quietly. I catch fragments about positioning and timing, but not enough to understand the specific details of his plan.
“How many men do you have?” I ask when he finishes the communication.
“Enough.” Luca returns to his chair and fixes me with that unsettling stare again. “You’re asking the wrong questions, Ms. Arden. What you should be wondering is how much pain you’re willing to endure to ensure your cooperation over the next few hours.”
The implied threat makes my hands shake despite my attempts to remain calm. “I won’t help you hurt him.”
“You already have, simply by being here. Your presence guarantees Radmir will take risks he would never consider under normal circumstances.” Luca checks his watch again. “In fact, he should be arriving within the next twenty minutes, which means our conversation is nearly over.”
I look around the room again, this time more frantically searching for anything that might help me escape or warn Radmir about the trap.
The door is solid metal with multiple locks, the walls are concrete, and both guards remain alert and armed.
Even if I could free myself from the chair, there’s nowhere to run.
“He’ll figure out it’s a trap,” I say, though I’m not sure I believe it. “Radmir is too smart to walk blindly into an ambush.”
“Of course he’ll know it’s a trap. The beauty of using someone he loves as bait is that it doesn’t matter whether he recognizes the danger.” Luca’s expression grows almost sympathetic. “He’ll come anyway, because the alternative is accepting you’ll die because of his caution.”
The casual certainty in his voice crushes the last of my hope that this might be resolved without violence.
Luca has planned this confrontation carefully, accounting for Radmir’s tactical abilities and emotional vulnerabilities.
Whatever happens in the next hour, people are going to die, and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.
“Please.” The word comes out smaller than I intended. “You know I’m pregnant. Whatever happens between you and Radmir, my baby doesn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of it.”
“Your baby is Radmir’s child, which makes it part of the conflict.” Luca’s voice carries no emotion whatsoever. “If you cooperate fully with my instructions over the next hour, I might be persuaded to show mercy regarding your future.”
I stare at him, trying to read what kind of mercy he might be capable of offering. The cold calculation in his expression suggests any clemency would come with conditions I might not be able to live with. “What do you want me to do?”
“When Radmir arrives, you’re going to help convince him surrendering is his best option for ensuring your safety.” Luca leans forward slightly. “You’re going to tell him resistance will result in your death and the death of his unborn child.”
The request makes my stomach churn with revulsion. “I won’t be used to manipulate him into giving up.”
“Yes, you will. If you don’t, I’ll have one of my men put a bullet in your leg to demonstrate that my threats aren’t empty.
” Luca’s tone remains conversational despite the brutality of his words.
“Pregnancy makes blood loss particularly dangerous. You might survive such a wound, but your baby probably wouldn’t. ”
Terror floods through me as I realize he’s completely serious about harming my unborn child to ensure my cooperation. The man sitting across from me has no moral boundaries whatsoever when it comes to achieving his goals. “You’re a monster.”
“I’m a businessman who understands sentiment is a luxury that leads to weakness.” He stands and moves toward the door. “You have approximately fifteen minutes to decide whether you value your principles more than your baby’s life.”
He exits the room, leaving me alone with the two guards and the horrifying knowledge I’m about to be forced to choose between betraying the man I love and protecting the child I’m carrying.
Either choice will destroy something precious, but only one of them guarantees my daughter has a chance to live.
I close my eyes and try to think of alternatives.
There must be some way to warn Radmir or escape this situation without playing into Luca’s hands.
The bonds around my wrists have loosened slightly as I’ve moved, but not enough to slip free.
The guards haven’t spoken or moved from their positions, suggesting professional discipline that won’t be easily exploited.
The baby picks that moment to move inside me for the first time that I can feel, like a symbolic reminder of what’s at stake beyond my own survival.
Leo is safe at school for now, but if something happens to me, he’ll be alone in the world except for Aunt Molly.
Our daughter will never have the chance to meet her father or brother if I don’t find a way to survive the next hour.
I open my eyes and study the room one more time, memorizing every detail in case an opportunity presents itself.
Somewhere above us, Radmir is probably approaching with armed men and tactical plans designed to extract me safely.
Does he understand this entire situation has been constructed to eliminate him and everyone who might support him?
If I cooperate with Luca’s demands, I might save my baby but doom the man I love. If I refuse, my daughter dies but Radmir might have a chance to escape or overcome the ambush.
I rest my head against the back of the chair and try to find some solution that doesn’t require sacrificing someone I love.
In a few minutes, the most important choice of my life will be made under circumstances I never could have imagined.
The only thing I know for certain is no matter what happens next, nothing will ever be the same again.