Page 64 of The Devil's Heir

Liliana

After waking up from the coma and learning about the events that took place, I vowed to do everything I could to get better as soon as possible.

I needed to find out what happened to Jarek.

Deep down, I could still feel him—he was still alive—and I'm going to find him.

Jarek may be the devil, but he's my devil, and I'll be damned if anyone steals my son's father from him.

It's been a little over a month since I woke up, and Dr. Owens has finally taken me off bed rest. My child is strong and a fighter, so I will do whatever is needed to be just as strong.

Leaving my room for the first time, I close the door softly behind me and take in the hardwood floors and walls. Joey told me they have me hidden in the mountains, about four hours away from Rushwood. Being so far from home, I'm feeling unsettled, especially when Jarek isn't here.

I'm not sure when I became so dependent on being near the devil, but he's all I've had for so long that nothing feels right without him nearby.

The place we're at is enormous, more like a lodge than a cabin as Joey called it.

It belongs to Lonzo, yet despite the whole time I've spent here, I've never once seen him.

He's taken care of business on the outside.

Because he was Jarek's uncle's underboss, Carmen wanted him to stay on until she could replace him.

The bitch thinks he's loyal to her. However, she's yet to reveal anything about Jarek to the older Lonzo.

As I walk slowly through the hallway, I stare at the portraits on the walls. They must all be Joey's ancestors because the resemblances between them are uncanny .

When I reach the stairs, I descend into a quiet foyer. The only sound is a clock in the distance. There isn't even any staff moving about, which is odd. My stomach rumbles, reminding me why I left my room to begin with. I start my search for the kitchen.

Opening all the closed doors as I pass them; I can't believe the number of unused rooms in this place. There are a couple of sitting rooms, two libraries, a small study, and some bedrooms that look like they would belong to staff members.

When I finally come to the kitchen, I gasp at the sheer size of it. It's almost three times the size of the massive bedroom I've been staying in. I don't know why they need such a large kitchen in the mountains. I'll never understand rich people.

I hobble towards the fridge, hoping there's something I can make that will satisfy my hunger.

I'm as large as a whale now; the little guy can come in the next few weeks, so my cravings are outrageous.

I've made Jackson go out and get me pickles, peanut butter, and mint ice cream quite a few times in the last month.

I feel sorry for him, but he's all I got right now.

I'm still not comfortable enough around Joey since the day he introduced me to Zita. He doesn't understand why I feel like I do, so he's stayed away from me as much as possible.

I rummage through the fridge, finding eggs, bacon, and ham. I then pull out hashbrowns from the freezer and set them on the counter.

"Please, let me do that for you. You shouldn't be on your feet too long," a heavy-accented female voice says from behind me. I'm startled and spin around, holding my chest.

"Jesus! You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!" I frown at Zita but feel bad when she flinches from my rudeness. "I'm sorry. I didn't think anyone was home. I've been walking around for fifteen minutes trying to find the kitchen and didn't see or hear anyone."

Zita smiles softly. "We're all here, but we've been in Lonzo's office going over a few things."

"Oh, I see."

I'm not one to be too nosey in other people's lives, so I don't ask what they were going over. I turn back to the counter and start pulling eggs from the carton .

"I was serious, Lily. Let me make that for you." Zita moves to my side, taking the eggs from me.

"I can make my own food," I sigh.

"Not when you're about to pop, mama. Now, go sit down. You can keep me company."

If Zita wasn't the enemy's daughter, I think I may like her. However, I can't bring myself to trust her, no matter how much Joey and even Jackson trusts her. Until Jarek is found, I can't bring myself to make a connection with her.

"So, what does your mother think of you staying here instead of going back home?" I finally ask. If she disowned her father, surely her mother would have a say about it.

"My mother passed away after my younger brother was born—complications giving birth," Zita replies without turning around.

I wince, and then guilt takes hold for asking such a question.

"I'm sorry…"

"It's okay, I was young. It doesn't bother me to talk about it anymore."

"How many siblings do you have?"

"Three brothers. I was the only girl."

"So, will your brothers retaliate to get you back?" I ask, worried that the whole family will come down on us.

"No. My brothers love me, and I've talked to them. They know my views on what my father has done, and they know my feelings for Joey. They don't agree with my father's actions either."

I don't say anything. There's nothing to say. She could be telling the truth, or she could be lying. I won't call her out on it if I'm unsure.

"Thank you for helping to keep me a secret," I tell her, even though I'm still wary.

"Of course. You know," Zita says, turning around before continuing, "I haven't left this cabin or talked to anybody since I've been here. I had a feeling you wouldn't welcome me, and I wanted to prove to you that I'm not your enemy."

I remain quiet as I study her.

"I had a few words for Mr. Falcon before he disappeared. I blamed him for me being here because that's what Joey had told me. I feel bad now, especially after Joey told me the truth. "

"You weren't mad at him for it? Joey, I mean?"

"Oh, I was pissed," she exclaims, then smiles. "But as always, Joey wormed his way in again, and he's been making up for it ever since."

I nod, not knowing what else to say.

"If it makes you feel better, I don't think Mr. Falcon is deceased. I also don't think my father has him, or else he would have used him to get me to come back."

"You think Greco has him?"

Zita shakes her head. "My cousin is married to Carlos's son. She swears he isn't there. My cousin would never lie to me. She is keeping her ears open for us, but it's been months, and there's been no talk about it."

Hearing this doesn't help me any. If Rossi doesn't have Jarek, and Greco doesn't have him, there's only one person who I think is ballsy enough to have him, but where she would keep him, I'm unsure.

Suddenly, the kitchen door bursts open, and Jackson comes in, gripping a newspaper. Joey rushes in a few steps behind him, his phone up to his ear. Both men stare at me with shock written all over their faces.

"What is it?" I ask, standing up.

"You may want to sit back down, Lily," Jackson states, walking over to me.

"What? Why? Just please tell me what the hell is going on!" I demand frantically.

"We found Jarek…" Joey states.

Excitement takes hold, and I grin, but Jackson shakes his head, and dread fills me.

"No! He's not dead—no way he can be dead!" I screech.

A pain slices through my stomach, and a gush of water follows it. I cry out and grab the massive mound holding my child.

"Lily!" Zita calls out, rushing to me and forgetting all about the food.

She takes hold of my arm as Jackson takes hold of the other just before my knees buckle under the pain.

"Call Owens!" Jackson orders Joey, and the younger Lonzo hangs up his phone and makes another call.

Uncaring whether I get him wet with amniotic fluid, Jackson scoops me up and carries me out of the room. He heads for the stairs, but I don't want to go up there. I need to find Jarek !

"Jarek…" I cry out.

"Shh, don't worry about that right now. We need to make sure you and the baby are okay first," Jackson says soothingly.

I'm about to argue when another pain hits me, and I moan through it. This isn't the time to be having the baby, but he seems to think he's done cooking. I'm not too far from my due date. However, I can't help but worry whether our child will be okay. I can't lose them both…

"Push, Liliana!" Dr. Owens orders, and I do.

With Jackson on one side, letting me squeeze his hand, and Joey on the other, allowing the same, Zita is rubbing my back and wiping my forehead.

After a huge push, I rest and take a few deep breaths. This sucks with no drugs, but it's happening so fast that I'm really not thinking too much about the pain. My brain is just telling me to get my baby out before anything happens.

"Okay, Lily. His head is right there. One more good push, and it should be out," Owens states as he smiles at me.

Nodding, I sit up and give it one more try, whining and then screaming as I feel my son's head free itself from the canal. With a few more deep breaths and one massive push, the young Falcon heir is born.

I drop back down, exhausted. Sweat rolling down my face as I wait to hear the sound all new mothers are anxious to hear. The seconds tick by, though, and there's nothing. Zita wipes my forehead while the guys continue to hold my hands—their gazes on some point past the bed.

Suddenly, a loud wail echoes through the room, and I burst out crying. Jackson brings his forehead to mine and grins.

"You did it, mama. You have a handsome son," my friend says before moving away.

Dr. Owens lays my child on my chest and I quickly move him under the gown Zita helped me put on earlier. Having my son skin-to-skin with me is such a bonding experience that the only thing that could make me happier is if Jarek were here.

"I wish your daddy was here to see you. I'll have to tell you all about him when you're older," I whisper as tears drip down my cheeks .

"Lily," Jackson says my name after he hears what I said. "We're going to get him back."

My head snaps to Jackson. "What do you mean? I thought he was gone?" I ask, confused as to what's going on.

"No," Joey chimes in. "Jarek is alive, but…"

"But what?" I glance back and forth between the two men.

Jackson finally answers me, dropping the biggest bomb ever. "Jarek and Carmen got married this morning."