I really can't thank any of you enough for taking interest and reading this book. I've tried time and time again to write stories all the way through to the end but have failed and it's only now that I have found wattpad that I have been able to complete works. You readers are what keep me motivated: your likes, your comments, even the fact that you continue to read my work is something hard for me to believe. Adriano and Angela's story is still not finished yet but as the end is fast approaching I just wanted to let you know you are what help me to write. Despite my doubts and fears, the reason I've gotten so far into writing this is because of you all. So thank you so much ,

A. Summers xo



Angela sat there alone in her bathroom for a couple of minutes, trying to digest everything. Her mind was racing, and she couldn't make it stop. She was pregnant? She repeated that same sentence over and over again in her mind since she had looked at the first positive test. Angela was sitting on the edge of the bath, her arms crossed over each other.

What would Adriano think? He always said he never liked children, she knew he wouldn't take it well. She could just feel it. Angela had always dreamed of having children but she wasn't quite sure whether she wanted things to go like this. If it was a boy would he be forced into the mafia like his father, Adriano? No, she thought to herself in a stern voice. If that was the case, she would do whatever it took to protect him from the life Adriano had to face.

Although her stomach would definitely not be showing any signs of pregnancy yet, she couldn't help but look down at it. Her eyes welled with tears, she didn't know what to do next. But just then, as if on queue, she heard her phone ring and checked the caller ID to find it was Adriano. Angela hesitated as the phone rang on, she had to make up her mind. Would she tell him now? The phone stopped ringing as she released a breath she didn't know she was holding.

Angela had made up her mind by the second time he called her. She answered the phone with shaky hands and tried her best to hide any of her feelings in that moment from coming through in her voice.

"Hello."

"Angie, hey. I called you just a second ago."

"Um- yeah, I didn't reach the phone in time." She winced at how wavered her voice came out and prayed he wouldn't suspect a thing.

"I'm just calling because we haven't talked in a while and I needed to let you know that I can't come down this weekend.

"Oh really, why not?" Angela was trembling and looked up to the ceiling to stop any tears from falling from her eyes. She didn't know why she was so upset, maybe it was because she felt the need to keep her discovery from Adriano or the shock behind it.

"I'm a little busy with- work."

"Oh... I see."

"Hey is everything okay? You seem a little off. Are you still feeling sick-"

"No, everything's fine now. I feel one-hundred percent."

"You sure?" he was still sceptical, she was acting strange and he could sense it.

"Mhm." She nodded despite knowing he could not see her. "So when will be the next time you'll be able to come over?" she asked. Telling Adriano about her pregnancy was something she wanted to do in person.

"I'm not sure." His words hit deep in her stomach. Angela was unsure as to whether she was relieved or disappointed. Which would be better, telling him as soon as possible or keeping it from him until she had time to think?

"You're still coming for Christmas right?" she asked, hope filling her voice. That hope soon fizzled out when her question was met with a dead silence on the other end of the line. "Adriano?" her voice was shaky once again as tears filled her eyes, she wasn't sure whether she could wait that long, although it was only three weeks away.

"I'm sorry Angie... I don't think I can. There's a lot of shit going on at the moment but when it's over, it will be worth all this waiting. I can't say much now but I will when everything's finished."

"What about your birthday?"

"I have something going on around that time too..." she wondered why she had even asked.

"Well, why don't I come and see you-"

"No! You can't come back to New York right now..." his voice was panicked but she knew not to ask why.

"I'm sorry, I'm being too clingy. I shouldn't have asked." Her voice trailed off. Angela couldn't help but feel slightly rejected.

"No, you're not being clingy, I just- I'm very busy over the next month but after that, I promise things will go back to normal again. Okay?" Adriano's reassurance didn't make her feel one bit better about everything. She didn't want things to go back to normal; she wanted to be with him more than every other weekend. Angela thought about the baby again and how things couldn't possibly go back to the way they used to be after this discovery.

"Okay." Her voice was barely above a whisper when she replied. It tugged at Adriano's chest but he definitely didn't want Angela anywhere near New York while he and the familia were taking action with their plans.

"Angie, please don't be upset..."

"I'm not. But as soon as you get here, whenever that may be, we need to have a talk about a few things." Her words worried him a little and left him not knowing what to say next. She could sense this from the other end of the phone and reassured him. "It's nothing really, we just need to talk. Nothing too serious. Don't worry about it."

Angela tried to make her voice comforting, for both herself and Adriano because she didn't know what would happen when she told him the news. Would he be happy? She was uncertain. Things had been going great the last couple of months for the two of them but that didn't mean Adriano would change his views on children. Angela remembered back all those months ago before she knew anything about the mafia when they had talked about Amelia and Michael. How he had muttered something about it being unfair for the children to be born into the mafia and have to grow up the way he had.

"I don't think it's possible for me not to worry about it now piccola." He let out a nervous laugh that made her smile. It was a sad smile, one Adriano couldn't see. She felt like she was falling apart and along with her news of the baby, it would soon be the fate of her relationship too.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." Angela tried to chuckle light-heartedly. "I have to go now, but I'll see you soon- whenever that will be."

"Goodbye Angie." And then she hung up.

As soon as she slid the red button sideways across the screen and broke off the call, she burst into tears. Adriano had told her before that she was strong, and after everything that had happened with Derek, she felt like that. But right now as she slid from the edge of the bath to her bathroom floor, clutching her stomach, she felt the exact opposite of that. Tears spilled countlessly from her eyes, she knew she needed to tell Adriano but something kept holding her back. Angela just needed time to think and clear her head.

It took her a couple of days to finally be at rest with herself. She had found a way to figure everything out in her mind. Angela didn't want to tell anyone before she told Adriano, not even her mother or sister. She knew Adriano would have to come to Miami some time, and when that happened she would tell him. If he didn't take the news good she would raise this baby on her own, she thought.

Angela had gone to the doctors to confirm her pregnancy and found out she was just six weeks pregnant. She had found out that morning sickness didn't just happen in the morning, but whenever her body felt like it. It had been two weeks since her doctor's appointment and Christmas was just around the corner, two days away to be exact. Her vomiting had died down quite a bit, something she was glad of but she still felt nauseous from time to time.

She was coming home from her eight week scan, her pictures tucked safely into her purse. Kenny was following behind her as usual and stood tall outside her door once she went inside. She was in a brilliant mood, the pictures of her baby had made her quite emotional but she was happy not sad. She looked at them for what seemed like hours. A smile crept up on her lips and didn't seem to fade all night. Angela cooked up something to eat and sat down in front of the TV to eat her food. Her apartment was so quiet, especially when Adriano wasn't there to share it with her.

She turned on the TV and began to eat but immediately stopped once she heard loud noises and banging from outside. Angela heard Kenny shouting and almost threw her food on the floor before jumping up and running over to the door. Everything went quiet when she put her ear up to the door.

Angela jumped back quickly when the door rattled with a knock. Her breathing began to quick, the anticipation building up. She knew something was wrong, she was petrified and couldn't answer the door. There was no peep hole on the door for her to see out, she didn't know what to do next. Without knowing, Angela took a few steps back involuntarily.

"Angela! Open up this door now!" an unfamiliar voice shouted behind the door.

She ran to her room and immediately opened the window. The sound of the flimsy door being kicked open startled her but she still hesitated from jumping. Her apartment was three stories up and she knew she wouldn't make the jump without injuring herself enough that she wouldn't be able to get away. She looked down and gulped, trying to take a deep breath and think of another plan but it was too late.

Two large hands grabbed onto her shoulders roughly and threw her onto her bed. She screamed but the strange man covered her mouth with his hands. Angela tried to bite him in order for him to let her go, it was difficult to breath and she panicked. Her eyes were wide as three more men entered the room. She kicked and scratched, trying her very best to get out of this man's grip but it was no use. He finally let go despite her squirming but grabbed her hair this time, pulling her head towards his.

"Know you listen to me and listen carefully you little bitch..." he spoke angrily through gritted teeth. His expression sent unwanted, ghostly shivers through her body, there was no getting out of this now.

"You're going to come with us and be a good little girl. Isn't that right?" he asked, his eyes wide with fury. He frightened her and made her nervous for what would come next. "Right?!" he waited for a reply and shook her as he spoke through his rage. She felt like a ragdoll, delicate and limp. Tears escaped her eyes as she nodded her head meekly, trying to avoid this stranger's eyes.

They managed to get her up and drag her roughly out of her apartment. Angela's eyes widened at the sight of Kenny sprawled out on the floor, she held in a scream but tried to get away from them only to be snatched back.

"The more you struggle, the harder you will make it on yourself." One of the men said into her ear. His voice was calm which scared her even more.

"What will we do with him?" Another asked about a limp Kenny lying on the ground.

"He's not dead yet, Carry him inside and close the door, we don't want anyone suspecting anything." Angela felt a small relief at the fact that Kenny was not dead but wondered would her future be bright.

They reached a black car and tried to shove her inside but she refused, standing up as straight as a steel bar. They eventually got her inside and locked the doors before driving off.

"W-who sent you?" Angela shook uncontrollably in the back seat, a man beside her waiting for her next move if there was one. Her voice was quiet and weak.

"Adamo."