Warning - This chapter contains descriptive scenes of domestic violence.

~Luciana's POV ~

I nervously approached my boss's office, my hands gripping the envelope tightly between my fingers. I waited for him to call me in before making my way inside, stopping infront of his desk.

My boss at the job Alessio got me may not be as horrible as the one at my last job who was okay with his clients feeling my up in front of him, but this one was still scary.

"Hi sir." I gave him a small smile which he politely returned although his eyes were focussed on the envelope in my hands. "I'm guessing that's your resignation, yes?"

I nodded with a small smile on my face, taking it over to his desk. "Oh Luciana. You're the best in this department with numbers. You couldn't have waited a few years?"

I let out a small laugh while shaking my head, my hand going to my bump as we spoke. "I'm sorry sir."

"It's okay, I'm happy for you. I guess I'll just have to remember the times when you made my job that much easier." He picked up the envelope, taking out my resignation, his eyes skimming over the words. "Today?"

"Yeah...the last few days have been pretty hard. I really think it's best if I leave today since it's a Friday and all that, it just makes more sense." He let out a sigh and nodded. "I don't usually make acceptions if there's not enough notice. But I'll do it for you, as a thank you for all your hard work. Don't think I didn't notice the long nights both you and Gemma have been putting in. It's always appreciated."

"Thank you." He nodded while giving me the same smile he did as I came in. "Well you'll be missed Luciana. Look after yourself, and don't forget there's always a job for you here if you want it."

"Thank you sir, it was a pleasure working for you." After a quick handshake I left his office, heading back to my own next door to pack away my things. "You're not coming back until the baby is at least thirty years old Luciana." I rolled my eyes at Alessio who was sitting in my chair where he's been waiting for me for the last twenty minutes. All he's been doing is complaining that he needs to get back to finish his work since he's going away to Spain for his trip tomorrow with Tomasso and Mason.

"You need to stop listening to people's conversations."

"I own this company, I can listen to what I want."

"Well it was a private conversation, in a private room."

"I own the damn building, now what?" I couldn't help the small traitorous smile which tugged at my lips when he said this. "Just grab these boxes for me, will you? I'm ready to go."

He let out a sigh while nodding, getting up and coming over to me while I looked around my empty office nostalgically. Now that it was completely empty again, it looked exactly the same as when Alessio and I first came in here when he gave me the job, back when we were on better terms than we are now.

"Thank you."

"For what?" I turned towards him, placing one hand on his shoulder, my bump the only thing separating the two of us. "For the job, I loved working here."

A small smirk tugged at his lips as he stepped closer to me, causing me to step back against my desk while he decreased the space between us even further. "Are you being nice to me Luciana?"

"No." Alessio rolled his eyes at my response before leaning down, placing his lips on my forehead. "You're welcome."

The last two weeks have been completely crazy, well, crazy for me. Apart from a few civilised conversations nothing has happened between Alessio and I. Two weeks ago today was the day I finally told Alessio what was on my mind and since then we've been trying to get on as much as we could just to 'avoid anymore tears'. Those were Alessio's words not mine.

That weekend flew by and then Monday came. Of course I found Monday morning extremely hard, getting out of bed was the first step, which I failed. I turned up to work an hour late and the rest of the next two weeks have been super hard. Although Alessio has been telling me ever since that dinner with his parents that I should have left my job by this stage in my pregnancy, I wanted to carry on working for as long as I could to keep myself busy.

But now I've finally decided after the pain and aches I've had everyday for the last two weeks that I should just stop now.

Okay it wasn't just my decision.

Last night Alessio told me I had no choice and I have to resign because he 'can't stand my bitchy moods any longer' when I come home.

If it was up to me I would work all the way up until I gave birth, the last thing I wanted was to sit at home everyday for two months until the baby comes then just do the same thing after it's here for years.

I've always been independent, this whole thing was hard for me. Especially since I was only twenty four as well, I didn't ever plan to have a baby so I found it hard to adjust to that life.

"Luciana!" Both Alessio and I jumped at the sound of Gemma's voice when she stormed into my office carrying a gift box and a huge card. "Great, un'altra carta." (Another card)

I rolled my eyes at Alessio who was grumbling to himself under his breath in Italian and made my way over to Gemma take the gift from her. "I'm so glad you haven't left yet! I was so worried. I spent ages writing the card then I forgot the gift in the car and then-"

"Yes we get it. You're happy to see her." I turned around to give Alessio a glare but he was just leaning against my desk with a bored look on his face. "Be nice. Sorry Gem, this is Alessio. Alessio this is Gemma."

Gemma rose an eyebrow at me before tentatively making her way over to Alessio to shake his hand, which thankfully he did. "Your boyfriend?"

"Friend."

Ouch.

"Yeah, no he's just my friend." I nodded a little agreeing a little with what Alessio just said, trying to mask the hurt on my face. I spent the next few minutes talking to Gemma with Alessio silently brooding next to me before eventually we left, driving home in an awkward silence once again.

It's always one step forward then seven steps back for us.

He dropped the boxes he was holding down on the floor in the hallway before turning to face me when I spoke. I could tell by the slight frown on his face and the way he was loosening his neck tie that he was tired, after all it was 9pm. "Thanks for your help."

Instead of responding he just nodded while taking out his phone.

"Are you hungry? If you're busy working I can make you someth-"

"Don't worry about it Luciana, you should just rest. It's late you must be tired." When I refused to move he nodded his head towards the stairs for emphasis. "Go on."

"Don't think you can tell me what to do, I'm going because I am tired. Not because I'm listening to you." Unexpectedly his eyes filled with amusement when I made my way towards the stairs, slowly waddling up them step by step. "Va bene il mio pinguino." (Okay my penguin.)

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was still watching me go up the stairs. I had a feeling he's been saying things to be in Italian which he knows I wouldn't like for the past few weeks. I really need to learn that stupid language, I used to be able to speak it but I just completely distanced myself from that. Now I have no clue what he's saying unless it's a simple phrase.

I wasn't the fastest going up stairs now thanks to my bump, which just made it more awkward for me since the stairs were so long and Alessio just stood their watching me in amusement. He was enjoying every second of it.

"Don't you have work to do?"

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

"Mamma please,
solo altri dieci minuti?" (Just ten more minutes?)

"No Luciana, both of you go upstairs and brush your teeth now." Instead of listening to my mom's desperate tone I just protested even more.

"But mamma!" My whiny voice only seemed to amuse my eleven year old brother Carlos, which just frustrated me even more. "Carlos go away."

"Stop whining like a baby then. It's your bed time." I turned to look at my brother who was sitting on the couch next to me, clutching his PSP tightly in his hands like he'd been doing ever since my grandma (on my mom's side) gave it to him for his birthday. "She said for both of us to go upstairs, not just me."

"Luciana hurry up." My mother's voice only seemed to be getting more agitated and worried when I ignored her and snatched the TV remote up off the coffee table. "Five minutes mamma."

"Luciana!" I jumped at the sound of my mom's voice, the glare she was giving me would have usually scared me, but I knew she wouldn't hurt me. "Mamma." She narrowed her eyes at me when I responded to her with a similar tone, this time challenging her.

I held her stare for a few moments before a small smile broke out onto her beautiful face, prompting one of my own. "You're a stubborn child, mia figlia." (My daughter)

I gave her a toothy grin while holding my arms out to her for a hug which she eventually gave me although she was still tense, something my seven year old self didn't take any notice of.

"Both of you, now go upstai-" My mother's sentence was abruptly cut off when the sound of the front door slamming caught her attention, causing her eyes to widen and her skin to pale. "Mamma?"

Carlos stood to his feet, placing his PSP down on the couch before edging closer to her.

He knew what was going on, he was four years older than me. He understood it better than I did.

"Carlos, take your sister upstairs." I watched my mom with clueless wide eyes as she roughly grabbed my hand pulling me up off the couch before pushing us both in the direction of the stairs. I tried to keep my eyes on my mom but Carlos grabbed my hand, tugging me further towards the stairs.

But we didn't make it.

"Papa!" My eyes landed on my fathers tall figure as he entered our living room, and I yanked my hand out of my brother's, taking off towards him. His eyes snapped from the mail he was sifting through, landing on me just as I reached him. Ignoring my mom who was calling my name, I wrapped my arms around his stomach, as high as I could reach, with a smile on my face. "I missed you."

"Giulia, why aren't they asleep?" My smile began to falter when my father roughy placed his hands on my shoulders, pushing me away from him and keeping me at arms length. "Giuseppe, they're going now-"

"Why aren't they asleep?" Once again he repeated his question, this time with a firmer tone.

"I haven't put them to bed yet."

He nodded, satisfied that she'd submissively given him the answer he wanted, before he roughly let go of me.

Almost everyday I would go over to him, hoping that if he was happy with my hug, this time he wouldn't get angry. But he was always angry after I hugged him.

I watched as he stalked toward my mother who was obviously trying her best to keep her expression calm. "Carlos take your sister away from here."

That was the last thing she managed to say before he swung his fist out, connecting it with her jaw, causing her to lose her balance. "Don't you dare move, either of you."

He continued to hit her for a few minutes, all I could hear was her muffled cries and screams while Carlos wrapped his arms around me protectively, keeping my eyes covered to shield me from what was happening. When the screams finally died down, it was only a matter of seconds before my brother's grip on me loosened.

Then he was gone.

I watched through blurry eyes as he held my brother by the throat, his feet barely touching the ground. "Tell me figlio, was I not clear the last time I told you to be in bed by 8pm?" (Son)

"Sì papa." His voice came out strained, the grip around his throat reducing his ability to breathe. "So why the hell are you still awake?"

"I'm sorr-" Before Carlos could even get the words out, my father released the tight grip on his neck, dropping him to the floor.

This time there was no one to cover my eyes when my father repeatedly kicked him in the stomach. Over and over again.

Then it was my turn.

His dark eyes snapped over to where I was cowering at the bottom of the stairs and he made his way over to me.

"Luciana!"

Tears fell from my eyes as I watched him, letting out the first scream when his fist connected with my face, knocking me over.

"Baby."

Another scream ripped through my throat when his foot connected with my body, effectively winding me for the moment, before his foot connected with my face.

The last image I saw was his foot pulling back, before coming towards my face again.

"Luciana!"

Another strangled scream escaped from mouth as I jumped up, my heart racing while my lungs felt like they were on fire.

"Shh. Hey look at me." A sob wracked through body as the same images played through my mind. "Luciana."

All I could focus on was the burning in my lungs as I struggled to catch my breath through the sobs that shook my body. "Amore mio, please just breathe."

I felt his hands wrap around me, pulling me in closer to him. "Breathe beautiful, take a deep breath." Alessio's lips were close to my ear as he continued to whisper to me, helping me to finally catch my breath. Slowly slowly I managed to gain control of my breathing again, but I still couldn't get those familiar images out of my head and soon I was sobbing all over again into Alessio's shoulder. "It's okay baby, I'm here. Luciana shh...it's okay."

"It was my fault, they got hurt because of me." My voice came out hoarse, my throat still raw from all the screaming I must have done in my sleep. Alessio slowly pulled back from me to look me in the eye after a few minutes of calming me down. "I should have listened to her, I should have just gone upstairs."

"Baby..."

"It was my fault Alessio." Instead of responding, since he obviously didn't know what I was talking about, he used his thumb to wipe away the tears what were steadily falling down my cheeks. "Ti ho detto che non mi piace quando piangi, niente vale le tue lacrime amore mio." (I told you I don't like it when you cry, nothing is worth your tears my love)

I had no idea what he was saying to me, but the soft voice he was using along with his thick accent was calming enough for me. When he was satisfied that my tears were slowing down he pulled me back in for a hug, the only sounds I could hear in the room were his soft breathing and the strong steady beat of his heart.

A few minutes later I finally pulled away from him, cringing at the feeling of the dried tears on my face as I ran a hand through my hair.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise." He used one of his hands to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, before trailing his hand down from my shoulder along my arm to my hand which he held tightly in his.

"Were you asleep? Did I wake you up?" He shook his head in response to my question, the soft light coming through my door which was cracked open from when Alessio came into my room, was enough for me to make out his worried features. "I was downstairs working, I wasn't sleeping."

"My screams were that loud?" I must have screamed the whole house down for him to be able to hear me from his office.

Alessio let out a deep breath while nodding. "I thought something happened."

It was only now that I realised just how worried he was, something I was too busy trying to calm down
to pick up on. "I'm sorry. The nightmares haven't happened for years, I don't understand why..."

"Nightmares about what?"

"My dad." Alessio's eyes flashed with recognition and understanding when I told him. He already knew everything about me and about what my father was like. "What used to trigger them?"

"Nothing, I've always just had them. The only time they've ever calmed down was when I moved away to live on my own."

"This was the first one since they stopped?" I nodded while tracing my finger on his palm of the hand I was holding. "It's probably just the pregnancy, my hormones and everything are all crazy right now and the lack of sleep probably isn't helping either."

Alessio didn't seem convinced with my theory, but he didn't say anything else and instead we just sat there for a few moments, my eyes focused on Alessio's hand in front of me. Tracing my finger on his hand was the only thing keeping my mind occupied at that moment.

"Why are you so against me killing him?"

The same thought always crossed my mind whenever Alessio mentioned my father in relation to his business with the mafia.

"Am I stupid to be holding onto the hope that he's changed? I haven't seen him in fourteen years, that's enough time for someone to change, isn't it?" I could tell from the look in his eyes exactly what he thought about my father, it was obvious, and he didn't bother to hide the pure disgust either. "No, you're not stupid Luciana. But he hasn't changed. The things he used to do to your family...to your mother...no one can just change after that. You have to be sick to be able to do it."

"What did he do to her?" I always knew he did worse to her when I wasn't there to see it, much worse. Apart from the things I could figure out on my own from the marks left on her the next day, or the things she told me when I was a little older, the rest was hidden from me. But I knew more happened.

"You should go back to sleep Luciana, it's late."

Of course he wasn't going to tell me.

"Aless-"

"No." I held his stare for a moment before finally nodding, but instead of going to sleep like he said, I got off the bed. Okay, that makes it sound like I did it one swift motion. It was more like I had to kick the covers off my body while shuffling across and then using the bedside table as support I managed to finally stand up, not very gracefully either. It took a good minute to complete.

"Where are you going?" I could hear the exasperation in his tone when he spoke, but I refused to respond and instead I made my way into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

The fact that Alessio probably thought I was doing it to throw a tantrum and get away from him was just a bonus, because honestly I just really needed to pee.

After having one of the longest pees of my life, I finally washed my hands, also taking my time while I did that. My eyes caught the reflection in the mirror, taking in the pale dull skin and puffy red eyes. I was expecting that, but what caused me to stop and stare was the fear in my eyes.

You know when someone's eyes are slightly wider than usual, glassy and their eyebrows are in a slight frown, you can just tell they're scared? That was what I could see, but I hadn't seen that same fear in my eyes for years since I had the last nightmare.

Of course I was scared about what occurred in the nightmare, that was natural. But what scared me the most was the fact that I hadn't had one in years, and now all of a sudden they were back. The nightmares didn't just go on their own last time. Sure moving away from my family and living on my own helped, but the biggest help was the medication.

The anti-depressants I was on for six years were the reason why my nightmares faded, until eventually they just stopped coming back. Eventually after that I managed to slowly come off them without anymore nightmares.

I thought it was over.

But now it's started all over again.

I willed myself to keep the tears at bay before I ended up as a sobbing mess again and instead I made my way back out to my room.

I don't know why I was disappointed when I saw my bed was empty and the door was closed again, like Alessio was never even there in the first place.

I waddled over to my bed, struggling to get back on it before eventually I managed to, but when I tried to fall back to sleep all I could think about was the nightmare. My mind just kept replaying the same haunting images and then the conversation with Alessio that followed afterwards.

A few minutes must have passed before the sound of my door creaking open and a stream of light entered my room caught my attention. "What are you doing Alessio?"

I narrowed my eyes at him when he closed the door behind himself and made his way over to me. This time though, instead of being dressed in his suit pants and shirt from earlier he was only wearing his boxers.

Just boxers.

Nothing else.

Oh dear Lord help me.

"Did you think I was going to let you sleep on your own after that?" I swear I felt my heart skip a beat when he said that, although it could have just been heart palpations from my pregnancy but we'll go with the more romantic reason.

"I'm fine, you don't have to sleep here." Instead of responding to me Alessio just got into my bed and turned over to face me, a soft smile on his face. "I don't care."

It was only then that I realised just how close Alessio was to me. Our faces were only inches apart and my bump was pressed against his toned stomach. I had to bite my lip when I felt his hand on my waist before it moved over my bump. While his hand rested on my bump his thumb rubbed small circles on my exposed skin while I kept my eyes focused on his soft plump lips inches away from mine. "You don't seem tired anymore."

His words brought me out of my little bubble, causing my eyes to snap to his amused ones as a blush rose up on my cheeks.

"Trust me, if you had nightmares like that you wouldn't be tired afterwards."

"Oh Luciana, you have no idea about the things that plague my dreams at night." On one hand I could tell he was serious about what he said, but he was trying to keep a light hearted tone at the same time. "Let me guess. Successful money laundering? Kidnapping people? Killing all the people that have ever double crossed you? Becoming the most powerful man in the world?"

He rolled his eyes at my list, although he was still clearly amused. "Most of that, yes. On top of a certain annoying yet beautiful brunette who I can never seem to get out of my head."

His eyes seemed to grow less amused as he held my stare, obviously trying to gauge what my reaction was.

"Don't Alessio. We're just friends, remember?"

He frowned for a moment before recognition flashed in his eyes, obviously realising I was referring to what happened in my office with Gemma. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Sure you didn't."

Before either of us could say anything else, a strong kick in my stomach caused a gasp to escape my lip.

"Woah." Alessio's hand rubbed over the spot on my bump where the baby kicked directly under his hand. "Are they always that strong?"

I shook my head at his question while letting out a irritated sigh. "No, it's probably because your hand was there. Sometimes it kicks when I touch my bump."

I knew the way I was speaking was going to annoy him, but I wasn't in the mood to play happy couples with him when we talked about the baby. I wasn't going to let him get away with messing me about. He can't keep changing his mind about how he feels, it's either we stay friends or not.

"Luciana-"

"Leave me alone Alessio. You can stay here if you want, but that's it. Don't talk to me." Once again he held my stare for a moment before he nodded and turned away from me, the skin on my stomach suddenly feeling cold when his hand moved, but still tingling from the contact. I knew I missed his touch, it did things to me that I've never experienced before.

But I had to remember, I was here for my baby and that's it. I wanted my baby to have a father, and although my own experience with fathers wasn't a good one, I knew Alessio was nothing like my own. He was going to love this baby with everything.

That's all I wanted for my baby.

That's all I was here for.

It's a bit slow but it's getting to the good bits soon 👀

Comment to let me know what you thought, thanks for reading ❤️