____ISSY's P.O.V____

I walked down the hall to Mariano's room. I knocked on the door and I didn't get a response. I let out a sigh and twisted the door knob. It was unlocked so I just walked in. I didn't see anyone in there but I heard the water running in the bathroom. His room looks better than I remember. I sat in the couch that was a little farther from the bed and closer to the bathroom.

After some time I heard the water being turned off.

Mariano walked into the room with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I was caught in a trance. His perfectly sculpted body looked as if he was carved from stone by a professional sculptor. The water was running down his body and dripping from his hair. The water from his hair ran down his face and he used his hand to wipe it away. I swore I was drooling.

"Isabella?" He spoke but his voice sounded distant.

"Isabella?" He repeated and I snapped out of my trance and looked from his body to his eyes.

"Hm?"I said.

"I was asking if you wanted something."

I almost forgot why I came in here in the first place. But thank God I regained my senses.

"Yeah, I came to ask you something."

"Is something bothering you?"

"Yes and I need you to answer me truthfully." I said.

"Okay."

I took in a deep breath before I spoke. "Who's Jessica. For some reason I think she is like your ex or something."

"She's not."

"Then who is she?"

____GABBY's P.O.V____

My eyes slowly opened and my vision was blurry. I blinked a couple times allowing my eyes to adjust to the bright light.

I looked around and noticed that I was in a bedroom. It was then I realised that I was lying on a bed.

The door creaked opened and I turned my head to look at it. A man walked in holding a glass of water. "your finally awake. You've been knocked out for three hours." He spoke. I looked at him. He had dark brown hair that could be mistaken for black, brown eyes and a long straight face.

He held out the glass of water to me. I looked at it with scorn then up at him with the same look. He mumbled an 'okay' then put the glass on the side table.

I glared at him. "Who are you and why did you kidnap me?" I spat with venom lacing my tone.

He chuckled and sat beside me on the bed. I moved over to the end of the bed as far away from him as possible.

"You don't know who am I?" He put his hand on his chest and pretended as if his heart hurt. He chuckled again then said "And I did not kidnap you, although I was there."

"Why am I here?"

"You are here because of your sister and her boyfriend."

"What does my sister have to do with this?"

"Let's just say you are my plan B."

"What does that mean and what do you want with my sister?"

"Noting much, I just want to kill her, that's all. No biggie." He said getting up and walking to the door ignoring the question I asked first.

"What? why?" I shouted storming from the bed.

"Revenge." Was all he said before he walked through the door and closed it. I ran to the door and tried to open it but it was locked. I kept trying but it wouldn't budge. I went over to the window and tired to open it, but it wouldn't budge either. Everything is locked. There is no way to get out. I'm trapped in here.

____MARIANO's P.O.V____

"Then who is she?" Isabella asked folding her arms over her chest.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't know how to tell her. How does a guy tell a girl that he killed someone's wife and unborn child.

"Who is she?" She asked again looking at me intently.

I don't understand why I'm so nervous about telling Isabella about Jessica. I kill people all the time and I'm never afraid of telling people about it.

"Mariano, I'm getting frustrated. Are you gonna tell me or not?"

"She was Rivero's wife." I said.

"And, what does she have to do with all of this?"

"She's dead." I said.

She gave me a confused look and unfolded her arms.

"And....." She trailed.

"I killed her."

Her face became unreadable. "Why"

"It was an accident. I wasn't aiming at her but the bullets hit her in her stomach and she fell to the floor lifeless. I didn't know she was pregnant."

"She was pregnant?"

I didn't reply. I just sat there staring at her.

"So not only did you kill a woman but you killed an unborn child also?" She said looking like she would cry at any given moment.

"It was an accident." I repeated.

"When did this happen?" She asked.

"Almost a year ago."

"Is that why Rivero killed one the girls?" She asked, then she furrowed her eyebrows.

"But, wait that makes no sense." She said.

"What?"

"If he was trying to get revenge on you, why would he kill one of the whores, it's not like she was important to you."

"She wasn't a whore." I said. "And she was important to me. Rivero knew this that's why he killed her."

"Who was she to you?" She asked.

I took in a deep breath comtemplating whether or not to tell her. I mean I never told anyone what she was to me.

___Issy's P.O.V___

I sat down patiently waiting for him to speak when he's comfortable. It's been months and over those months we took time to know each other alot better.

I watched him steadily as he took slow breaths. "She was my family." He said.

I was not expecting that. Not at all. I didn't know what to say, so i said the three easiest words I could think of.

"I'm so sorry." I said walking over and hugging him. He was still just wearing a towel but it didn't matter. He hugged me back and held me gently to him, making sure to not squeeze my belly too much.

"It's okay. I'm over it." He said.

"Are you sure?" I asked

He nodded. "As long as I don't lose you or my son, I'll be fine."

I gave him a warm smile and sat on his bed.

"If she was your family, then why was she working at the club? Isn't it a whore house."

"Not because she was my family means she was perfect. She was stubborn and she wanted money. I told her I would give her money and she didn't have to risk working there. But, she told me she wanted to, because she loved the experience of fucking all those 'sexy' men while they payed her for it."

"Oh." Was all I could say.

There was a second of silence before I asked. "Okay, so I understand why he killed her, but why is he trying to kill the girls?" I aksed

"He was, but not anymore."He said.

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"Because he hasn't gone after them again since you came into the picture." He said.

"But, didn't he attack to try and get the girls?" I asked.

"No, he attacked to send me a message." He said.

"Oh."I said " So, he's no longer after the girls. He's after me."

"I will not allow him to hurt you nor my son." He said.

"Wait, he already killed the girl. Isn't that revenge enough? Why's he still coming after me?" I said the last part mostly to myself.

"I guess he doesn't think that she was enough, mostly because I didn't grieve her death that much. He knows that by hurting you or Mariano Jr. he's hurting me more and that's what he wants."

"He wants you to live with the same pain that he has to live with." I said.

He nodded. "But, I can't lose you." He said that while looking me directly in the eyes.

"You won't." I said unknowingly.

I couldn't think of any other questions at this point. He walked over to me and planted a soft kiss on my lips. When he pulled away he placed his hands on my stomach and smiled. What he said next was something unexpected.

"You're gonna be a womanizer Jr."

"He's not gonna be like you." I said slapping his hands away.

"Like me?" He placed his hand on his chest. "I'm not a womanizer, you're my first serious partner. I've always seen women as distractions who only want money and sex." He said.

"Okay, firstly when since am I your partner? and secondly that's sexist and rude." I said.

"Since you're carrying my son, that makes you my partner and how is that sexist?"

"Okay that means nothing, I could be carrying your son and not be your partner, plus you never even asked." I said. "And it just is."

"I should ask?" He sounded shocked.

"Yes you should." I said.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine," He looked up at me. "Isabella Paige Sabrina Marse will you be my...... aum.....my-"

"Girlfriend." I finished with a laugh.

"Yes, that." He said.

"I was joking with you, but since you asked.....Yes I will."

He smiled at me, shaking his head in amusement. "I've never done that before, not even in high school."

"Well then I'm your first." I said. "Now, please put on clothes."

"Why? Is the sight of my sexy body driving you crazy?" He said doing a stupid dance. I had to laugh, he looked like Tyrese when he ate too much sugar.

"It's driving me crazy but not in the way you think." I laughed.

"Okay, Im done." He said walking over to his closet and entering it.

I rolled my eyes and looked in the body length mirror. I'm so fat, you could mistake me for an elephant. I sighed knowing that I'd be back to my old self in just about 4 months.

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