Page 73 of Thorns of Desire

Sliding off the exam table, I headed for the bathroom. When Manuel was about to follow me, I shot him a glare. “I can do this on my own.”

“Just leave a sample on the counter,” the doctor said and I disappeared into the bathroom.

With a trembling heart, I peed into a cup, then cleaned up, and exited the bathroom. Two sets of dark eyes locked in on me and I offered them a shaky smile.

“All yours,” I mumbled to the doctor.

“Excellent,” he agreed. “May I also draw your blood?”

I sat back on the exam table. Extending my arm out, I gave the old doctor permission to draw my blood. He was efficient, disappearing into the bathroom right after, while I sat and twisted my hands nervously.

Manuel took my chin between his strong fingers, his expression serious. “Whatever the result, we’ll work it out.”

I shook my head. “I’m not ready for babies. Not now.”

“Why not?”

I pressed my fingers against my temples. “Oh, I don’t know. It might have something to do with the fact I have actual assassins after me.” I was on the verge of hyperventilating. “I’m only twenty-three, Manuel. Way too young for babies. I’ve never even changed a diaper.”

He made a dismissive sound, but before he could say something, the doctor returned. He looked at Manuel, then me, giving us a soft smile that I always thought fathers gave their daughters when faced with bad news.

“Let me be the first one to congratulate you.” I tried to control my breathing and tune out his words. If I didn’t hear them, it wasn’t real. Yet, deep down, I fucking knew it was. “The urine test confirmed it. You’re definitely pregnant. I suspect the blood test will confirm the same, but it will take some time to get results back. I’m guessing you’re about six weeks, but you’ll need to schedule a sonogram to confirm and determine all the details like measurements because I don’t have the equipment for that.”

Six weeks. Oh God—Manuel knocked me up on the first try. Who could do that?

I couldn’t help it—I burst into tears. Pulling my knees to my chest, I buried my face in my hands and cried. In the far corner of my mind, I heard footsteps, a soft click of the door, and then strong hands were wrapping around me. Manuel’s comforting scent surrounded me as his hand stroked my back.

How could I be so stupid?

I’d seen and experienced firsthand what it was like to be raised by a young, single mother. Now I was just like her, stupid enough to get knocked up by a mafia man.

Tears began streaming down my face, soaking Manuel’s shirt. I couldn’t look at him, shame filling me at being so damn stupid.

“This is all your fault,” I choked out through my tears, knowing full well the part I’d played too.

Manuel kissed my forehead, then tilted my chin so he could see my face, his dark eyes boring into mine.

“It takes two,” he echoed my own thoughts. “I’m not going to lie to you and say this makes me unhappy.”

“Surely you don’t mean that,” I snapped, anger flaring in my chest. “If you hadn’t brought me to see the doctor. If we never came here—” I dropped my head in my hands. “Fuck!”

Sighing, Manuel scooped me up and placed me on his lap, the examination table squeaking under his weight as he sat.

His hand came to rest on my belly, his touch gentle, almost reverent. “This is a good thing,amorina.”

“No, it’s not.” I glared at him. “I have all these people after me. I can’t bring a baby into all this.”

His expression turned stormy but his voice portrayed none of it.

“It is a good thing. A baby is a blessing.” I gave him an incredulous look. “We’ll get married and keep our baby protected. It happens every day.” My mouth dropped open. Get married? Was he crazy? Although, while I gaped at him, a tiny voice in my head warned me it was more than my mother ever got.

“I don’t want a baby,” I rasped. “I’d rather have?—”

This time his expression turned dark, almost twisted.

“Don’t you dare say it, Athena,” he said darkly, giving me a full glimpse of the ruthless man underneath the cool façade.

I felt hot tears streaming down my neck.