***********

Dr. Gayle looked at the screen once more before she spoke, " You're having a....." She squinted her eyes to see the image properly.

"A boy." She said. I looked over at Mariano to see a big smile plastered onto his face.

"It's a boy."He said smiling proudly at me.

"How can you tell? I asked Dr. Gayle, ignoring mariano's statement.

"Basically, what we do is look for a penis. If we see one then we figure that it's a boy, if there isn't one we figure that it's a girl. So, like right here," She pointed to something on the screen "You can clearly see the little genitalia." She said.

"Oh." I said. "Earlier today I was having terrible stomach pains, what was the cause of this?"

"They just started today?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Oh, you were experiencing abdominal pain, those are normal in pregnancies, especially when you are this far ahead. There is nothing to worry about. But if it's really frequent then you should come and see me." She said.

" Okay, is there anything she can do to ease the pain?" Mariano asked.

" Eat small, frequent meals; exercise regularly, in moderation; choose fibre rich foods; drink plenty of water; empty your bladder often and rest as often as you can. Doing these will help ease the pain." Dr. Gayle spoke.

"Thank you." I said.

"Would you like the pictures?"

"Yes please." Mariano answered for me.

********************

"So, is it a boy or girl?" Abby asked as Mariano and I walked into the waiting room.

"It's a boy." Mariano spoke up smiling from ear to ear.

Abby's face fell a little "Aw, I wanted it to be a girl." She whined like a three year old.

"You and me both, but it doesn't matter." I said.

"Aren't you a proud dad to be." Yas spoke looking at mariano with a sly smile on her face.

"Yes, I am."

Looking at mariano's happy face made me almost forget about the mess that he is in. Notice, I said 'almost'.

"Do you guys wanna get some yogurt?" Abby asked.

"Howabout we get food instead." I suggested.

"Okay, food's good too." Abby said.

"Aren't we suppose to pick up samantha from the mall?" Yas asked.

"No, her friends will take her home." Mariano spoke.

"Okay. Let's get food."

*********

"Ugghh." I groaned as I sat on my bed about to lie down and pass out.

There was a knock at the door and I just shouted "Come in."

I smelled the familiar scent of Mariano's cologne and instantly knew it was him.

"I'll be back soon." He said.

"Where are you going?" i asked.

"To the club."

"Can I come." I said looking at him and noticing that he wasn't dressed in his usual attire of 'black suit'. He wore a plain white button down shirt that was rolled up to his elbow, showing his tattoo sleeves, and black jeans. looking at his arms it reminded me of the question I wanted to ask him.

"No, you need to rest." He said.

"When did you get tattoos?" I asked. I noticed that his once hairy arms looked were now clear and hairless.

"Since recently, I don't remember exactly when." He said.

"Oh, I like it." I said.

"Yeah, me too." He said smiling at me.

"I wanna come. I'm not even tired." I lied. I actually was tired.

"No."

"Yes."

"no."

"yes."

"no."

"YEEESSSSSSS." I shouted like a child.

"You're not gonna stop are you?"

"Nope." I said popping the 'p'

He rolled his eyes the said "Fine." He said walking out.

I got off the bed and changed into a black short and a big army green button down shirt with black flats.

I grabbed my phone and walked out.

Mariano sat outside in the car waiting for me. I went into the car and he drove off.

"Where is my car?" I asked.

"In the garage."

"Oh."

************

"Did any of you come up with a plan?" Mariano asked the men sitting around the table.

"We know he's here, but he hasn't made a move yet." One of the men spoke.

"We all know how rivero is, he waits until things have died down and we least expect it, then he attacks." Mariano spoke.

"So he's not gonna attack yet."Another spoke.

"We need to be prepared either way." Another man spoke.

"Okay, you all may leave." Mariano said. We've been in here for about 2 hours discussing the whole rivero thing.

"Are you hungry? You haven't eaten in almost 4 hours." Mariano stated.

"A little."

"Do you wanna get food?"

"Yeah."

"What do you want?"

I shrugged " I don't know, anything's good."

"Okay." He said taking up his phone.

"I'll be right back." I said getting up and walking out to the bathroom.

I entered the bathroom and locked the door. I looked at myself in the mirror and ran a hand through my hair. I turned to the side and looked at my growing belly. He is growing fast. I rubbed my stomach and sighed. If someone had told me four months ago that I would be pregnant for one of the head men in the mafia, I would have laughed in their face. But yet, here I am, with a baby inside me growing and the father is a mafia man. When did my life take this turn, four months ago I was a regular girl who wouldn't even so much as breathe the same air as a criminal, but now I'm having a baby for one.

I spent some time n the bathroom just thinking, then I came out. I walked back to the meeting room and opened the closed door. I stopped dead in my tracks at what I saw. A girl was spread across Mariano's lap kissing his neck.

I felt rage build up inside me as I walked over to them and literally ripped her off of him. I was surprised by my strength. She fell onto the floor and I hovered over her with fury evident in my eyes as I glared at her.

"What the hell was that for?" She yelled at me.

"If you wish to use that dirty mouth of yours again I suggest you leave before I cut it off." I said calmly through gritted teeth. She scrambled to her feet and ran out the door. I turned to Mariano and glared at him.

"If I ever, and I mean ever see you so much as look at one of those whores again I will personally cut off your penis and staple it to your forehead." I threatened.

Mariano put his hands up in surrender and I could clearly see the smirk on his face.

"You find this funny?" I asked.

"No, actually I find this version of you quite attractive." He stated.

My eyes narrowed and turned into slits. "I pray to god that this boy is nothing like you." I said.

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

He snickered and put his hands down. He got up and walked over to me.

"No, actually I don't, what do you mean?" He asked.

My breath hitched in my throat as he drew nearer to me. "What do you mean?" He asked again.

Our faces were mere inches apart.

I felt his breath fanning my face as he became impossibly closer. He brought his lips to mine in a soft and gentle kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he used his hands to hold my sides to keep me steady. This certainly was different.

***************