Song above for chapter: "Come Fly With Me"-- Ruelle

ELENORA

Even though I'm staring at the image with my own eyes, I can't believe it. "Are...are you sure?"

Pia chuckles. "Yes, I'm sure and it looks like you are around six weeks." Pia moves the long narrow instrument inside of me.

I'm still stunned, staring at the two little images. "He...he seemed happy about having a baby, but twins? He's going to freak. I'm freaking out!"

Pia sits on the side of the bed and wraps her arm around me, rubbing my arm. "Don't stress, cara. If he was happy then I'm sure he'll be doubly overjoyed." She jokes. (dear)

Tears prick my eyes as I look at her. "What about the drugs I was given, will they be affected?"

"Unfortunately, it's too soon to tell, dolcezza. But there's a good chance that any effects could be mild. And all your other tests came back negative, so let's focus on the good." She reassures me. (sweetheart)

She tucks some of my hair behind my ear. "Are you going to tell him now or wait until he gets home?"

It's been four days since the raid and Rico's still in custody. The police verified who he is, but they are holding him under suspicion with involvement to sex trafficking.

They released Domani after two days and he arranged for me to be brought back to New York, where I've been in the hospital being treated for dehydration, malnourishment and detoxing.

My family, and Clara all came to visit me yesterday. However, after a few hours, Pia kicked everyone out to let me rest. My parents didn't want to leave but Ciccio and Mostro assured them I would be safe.

"I think I'll wait until he comes home so I can see his face." I smile thinking of him.

There's a knock before the door opens. Ciccio and Mostro walk in with a few bags in their hands. "Boss sent us on some errands and we are supposed to show you what we got."

I chuckle. "Rico's still bossing you around even while locked up?"

"Pfft, Rico ran the family while he was in prison when he was teenager. Jail? That's nothin' it's like he's on a low budget vacation right now," Ciccio says.

"A vacation where he has to use a communal toilet with other people in a cell." I point out.

Mostro laughs. "You don't know the pull Rico has, Nora. He may be locked up but he ain't sharing shit with anyone, trust me."

Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

"So whatcha got?" I sit up excited to see what's in the bags.

"First things first." Ciccio pulls out a tub of Ben & Jerrys ice cream and I laugh as he hands it to me with a plastic spoon. "Boss said he wants you to be as comfortable as possible. He doesn't know how long Pia needs to keep you here so he ordered some basic necessities."

A huge grin comes to my face when Mostro pulls out a nice robe, fuzzy socks and a few face masks.

Ciccio reaches into his bags. "Boss wasn't very clear on what exactly to get, but he said the cheesier the title and cover, the better."

I burst out laughing at the romance novels he pulls out, where the man is either shirtless and gazing into the eyes of the woman he's holding or embracing.

I beam at them both. "This is great!"

"We're not done," Mostro says and pulls out some baby onesies and my eyes start filling with tears but I still chuckle.

Ciccio holds one out that has the word hangry on it with the definition under it. "He said you'd really like this one."

I nod my head, wiping the tears that are falling. "I love it."

"Then why the tears, Nora?" Mostro pats my leg.

"They're happy tears." But they're mixed with sadness, wishing Rico was here.

They both smile and continue showing me all the cute clothes. "He wanted them to be more neutral until you find out what you're having."

I reach for their hands and squeeze them. "Thanks guys."

My ma walks in with Maya and Maya squeals in delight when she sees Ciccio and Mostro. Mostro makes a pained face at the eardrum bursting scream, but smiles when she runs to him. They both hug her and greet my mom, too.

"What's all this?" My mom picks up the books, her eyes widening at the covers before she shoves them into one of the bags so Maya doesn't get a chance to see them.

I chuckle. "Gifts from Rico. Well, he had Ciccio and Mostro get them." I amend, giving credit to the big guys.

"That's very sweet of him." My mom smiles.

"We'll be outside. We can take Maya to the cafeteria if you'd like?" Ciccio asks my Ma.

"That would be great, thank you, Ciccio." She pats his and Mostro's arms. "Maya, you mind your manners and do not wander away."

"Yes, mamma."

They lead her out of the room. Pia also leaves but informs me she will be back to give me my medicine for the night.

"How are you feeling, bambina?" My mom smooths back my hair and caresses my face. (baby girl)

I stand needing to stretch my legs. "I'm good, but feel tired. Has dad made any progress to help Rico get out?"

My ma sighs. "Your father's been working non-stop, but he said there are other offenses the police suspected of Rico's involvement; it's become a mess of other charges."

"What other charges?"

"Your father didn't say, figlia," She tells me. "But he will do everything he can to help Rico since he brought you back to us." She has dark circles under eyes, aging her generally youthful appearance.(child)

"Ma, I have to show you something."

She lifts her worried eyes to mine and I chuckle. "Don't worry it's not bad, at least I don't think so. A little shocking, sure, but a happy thing." I pull the sonogram from under my pillow and hand it to her.

"Oh, your first baby picture!" My mom exclaims with tears in her eyes. I smile as she studies it and then her eyebrows come together.

"Wait, oh my..." Her eyes widen. "Gemelli?!" (Twins)

I nod, laughing. "Can you believe it?"

Pia walks in with my medicine in her hand and smiles when she sees my mom holding the sonogram.

"Nora, this is the happiest news after everything that's happened. Oh, my goodness! I need to call you papa, your sisters!" She holds her head.

"Wait, wait, wait, don't call anyone yet, please. I need to tell Rico first." I hold my mom's hand. "Pia just did the ultrasound so you're the first person to know and I want to wait until Rico gets home to tell him in person."

Our moment of joy is cut short when Rosetta walks in with her usual two guards. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." I grab the sonogram from my mom but Rosetta snatches it out of my hands.

"Hm." She observes the sonogram before I take it back.

"Too bad Federico won't get the chance to know what it's like to be a father, let alone hold his child." A cold smile spreads on her face.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I have something to show you dear, Nora," Rosetta navigates through an Ipad for a few seconds before she turns it around and revealing a couple of videos playing. On one side is a video of Rico and I making love, in our room. And on the other is a street camera showing Rico shooting Elijah Gallo.

"You...you recorded us? You've been recording us the whole time?" I ask in disbelief, fighting through the sickness and dizziness that comes over me.

Rosetta's unflinching dark eyes hold mine. "Here's what's going to happen. This little circus you have going on with Rico ends today, right now. You're going to tell him, it's over. You want nothing to do with him and you've terminated this pregnancy. Then you're going to go away. Disappear."

"I won't." I state, holding her fierce gaze.

"Why are you doing this?" My mom questions, her face flushes with anger.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Rosetta!" Pia admonishes.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll compensate you dear." Rosetta waves hand in the air at everyone. "Ever since Rico set eyes on you, he's lost his focus. His costly mistakes have endangered the empire we've worked hard to establish as well as the lives of his family. He's not the man I raised him to be."

"You're right, he's better," I say. "All you've done is feed Rico lies about my father his entire life. You manipulated him with your twisted idea of love. You got your damn revenge, so leave us alone."

My mom holds my arm. "Nora, do not get too upset, please."

"Yes, Nora. Wouldn't want anything to happen to you, cara." Rosetta mocks. (dear)

"Why are you doing this? Why would you want to take happiness away from your nephew like this? After all that he's been through," I question. "You know we are happy together."

She laughs. "Happy? What a fantasy world you live in Elenora Borelli. Let me be very clear, if you do not end things, you will never see him again. The police are linking him to several other outstanding cases, ranging from hired to kill hits, racketeering, illegal product distribution, and extortion, to name a few."

"He may have his connections in law enforcement, but so do I. Imagine what happens when there's hard proof of his involvement of murder, and sex trafficking? I'm sure he's told you by now, that I was the one who doctored the video of Angela and Gabriel to appear like it was him."

I blink, letting the information sink in. He was telling the truth when he said it wasn't him, but he never mentioned anything about Rosetta manipulating the video. Maybe he did it to protect her?

The slow smile that spreads on her face, makes the sickness within me grow.

"He didn't tell you, did he? Hmm...I wonder what else he's conveniently left out? Now, if I don't manipulate the videos of you having sex with him...what would that do to your father, your sisters, your own business partnerships, if they're accidentally leaked to the media?"

"You evil bitch!" My mother slaps Rosetta and stuns her for a moment, before she moves toward my mom, but Pia and I move in her way.

"Don't touch my mom," I say through clenched teeth, but a sharp pain in my lower stomach erupts and I gasp holding my stomach.

"Nora!" My mom holds me around the waist.

"What is it Nora?" Pia helps my mom lead me back to the bed.

"Pain." I pant, breathing heavy."It hurts." And fear sets in when I start to lose strength in my legs.

"She's bleeding, Pia," My mom points out. The sensation of warm liquid trailing down my legs registers and my heart begins to race.

"I suppose this is one of those moments in life where things work in your favor without doing much," Rosetta comments.

"Get the hell out of here, Rosetta!" Pia shouts at her.

"You may work for Federico, Pia, but, don't forget I know things that can cost you your license." Rosetta tsks, shaking her head at Pia.

"You will do your part when it comes to the hospital records to make it appear like she lost the pregnancy regardless if she does or not."

Rosetta's evil eyes focus on me next. "Nora, I have already arranged for all of your things to be removed from Luca's hotel, and Rico's penthouse and sent back to your family's home." Another sharp, shooting pain takes my breath away.

"Get out!" Pia shouts again and pages security. Rosetta's cold laugh is muffled when the door closes behind her.

Ciccio and Mostro rush in asking what's going on. "Is that blood on the floor?"

"You need to leave, I need to check her. Teresa you too, I'll come get you when I know what's going on." Pia informs my mom while helping me lay back on the bed.

My mom's quiet sobs reach my ears before several pairs of feet are running and shoe's squeal as other nurses and doctors come rushing in.

Medical terms start being yelled out that I don't understand and an oxygen mask over my face. "Deep breaths, Nora." Pia encourages.

"She's hemorrhaging." Someone else states.

"She's anemic, we need to monitor the blood loss carefully." Pia comments.

"We need to stop the contractions."

"Nora, I'm going to give you something to relax. Don't worry, dear, just take deep breaths." Pia looks down at me and my eyes begin to feel heavy.

______________

It's been three days since Rosetta stopped by unannounced and unwelcome and three days since I had what doctors call a spontaneous miscarriage. They tell me it's common with multiple babies and in some cases one twin survives, but it could mean a high risk pregnancy if the other or others survive.

I haven't been able to bring myself to talk to Rico when he calls and sends messages through the guys. Rosetta's threats have also weighed heavy on my mind and from what's happened over the last few weeks, I know she's capable of far worse.

I wipe at my eyes as I stare out the window, watching the snow fall outside.

"Nora, you need to eat, bambina." My mom sits on the bed with me, keeping her voice quiet. (baby girl)

She presses her lips to my head and then strokes my hair. "You still have a little one who's fighting to survive and he or she needs you strong, too."

My phone rings and I know it's Rico.

"You can do this, figlia; it's time." She hands me my phone. (child)

"You're doing it because you love him; he will discover the truth about his Zia, but for now, this will keep him out of prison. I already told your papa and sisters you lost the babies—baby since they didn't know about the twins. I have your things packed and Clara has everything set up to go as soon as Pia discharges you.You are not alone in this."

I sniffle and wipe my eyes as I sit up and pick up the phone and answer it.

Rico's voice is strained and thick. "Mia patatina." (my little potato)

Has he been crying, too?

"Why haven't you answered or returned my calls? I know you're hurting and I'm so sorry, amore. I'm sorry we lost our baby."

I cover my mouth as I sob.

"I wish I was there holding you right now. I told you this wouldn't be drawn out and I don't know what's happened other than some fucking bogus allegations were made, but I have several lawyers working on getting me out as soon as this Friday. That's only two days, baby."

I wipe my nose and squeeze my eyes shut, my throat is tight and my jaw muscles ache. "It doesn't matter, Rico."

"What do you mean?"

I can't hold in the sob. "This...this happened for a reason...it's you, Rico. This is your fault."

He doesn't say anything as more tears fall down my face.

"You...you don't mean that, Elenora—"

"Yes, yes I do. You're evil, Rico. I've known that since the first night we met. There's nothing good in you." I struggle to control my breathing as my heart breaks. "I was taken because of you. People want to hurt me because I'm with you. You...you even wanted to hurt me, Rico."

"I was wrong to want to hurt you before I knew you. But I love you, you know that. I know you're hurting Elenora and I'm sorry for everything that's happened."

"I can't do this anymore, Rico. Too much has happened. I haven't had the greatest life before you, but you brought evil and darkness into my life." I don't bother hiding my crying as my mom wraps her arm around me bringing me to her chest.

"Don't do this, Elenora. I'll be home in a couple of days and then we can talk okay, baby? We're married for better or worse, remember?"

"No, Rico, we're not married. The minister may have been real but the person I married wasn't. You kept things from me like you have from the beginning. Who knows what else you haven't told me, but it doesn't matter anymore. I need to get away from all of this. From you."

His breath hitches and my heart shatters. The painful pressure in my chest makes me gasp.

"You said forever."

I sniffle. "Nothing is forever, Rico. You told me that."

"I'll find you."

I take a deep shuddering breath. "I don't want you to. Goodbye, Federico."

I end the call, shutting down my phone and turn to my mamma, sobbing uncontrollably into her chest, wishing I was in his arms instead.

***

Thanks for reading! please don't forget to vote, comment and share!