PREGNANT FOR THE BILLIONAIRE MAFIA'S HEIR

Aryana

"Here's your drink!"The bartender had to shout for me to hear. I gave a small smile and collected what had to be the fourth drink tonight. I sipped from my glass of whiskey as I turned my attention toward the dance floor. It was so full that you couldn't see the floor.

The vibe in the club was chill, but I couldn't seem to relax. I was so tired! My schedule was hectic. Between studying hard to get my master's degree in psychology and working part-time to pay for my education, it was no wonder that I was so exhausted. That was the reason why I was here by myself. I just wanted to have a drink and have a night's reprieve from all the stress in my life.

I stared at my drink, watching the liquor bounce around in the glass. Then my eyes strayed back to the dance floor. I was tempted to join the throng of sweaty bodies dancing without a care in the world. It made me envious of how they could dance, as if their week had been much better than mine. I downed my drink, stood up, and went to the dance floor.

By the end of the night, I was feeling better. Turning my head, I noticed someone looking at me, and I stopped dancing. I wanted to pretend I had stopped dancing for another reason, but it was because I was astounded at how strikingly handsome this man was!

He was tall with broad shoulders. With the dim lighting at that side of the club, I couldn't make out his features, but from the high cheekbones and sharp jawline I could see, it was clear that this was a man of a high caliber. His gray eyes gazed at me, and I wasn't sure if he had been watching me all along or if it had only been a passing glance, but it was definite now.

It was hard, but I managed to tear my gaze away, breaking the brief connection we shared, and made my way back to the counter. I ordered a glass of water and hurriedly gulped it down, hoping it would quench the heat in my body. I took a deep breath and looked back in his direction. I furrowed my brows when I couldn't see him. I wondered where he had gone, but I wasn't left to contemplate his whereabouts for too long when he appeared beside me. My breath hitched in surprise.

Seeing his face up close was enough to put me in a trance. His gray eyes glittered whenever the strobe lights flickered over his face. It complimented his olive skin.

"Can I get a tequila?" His deep voice echoed in my ears as he addressed the bartender. The magnetism of his voice was enough to jolt me out of my blatant staring.

When the bartender returned with the mysterious man's drink, I had expected the man to leave. Instead, he sat on one of the stools, leaving me excitedly confused. I was happy he had stayed and wondered if he would speak to me. When I saw him earlier, it didn't look like he had come alone. Weren't his friends waiting for him? I looked back but couldn't catch any sight of his companions. I shrugged. I wasn't complaining.

"Um..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say, as I got lost in his deep gaze that seemed unfathomable.

"Would you like to dance?" The man asked, a small smirk hanging on the corner of his lips.

This stranger wanted to dance with me? There was no way I was about to refuse. I smirked back and stood up.

Wow! Standing beside him made it clear just how tall he was. My head only approached his collarbone, meaning I had to tip my head back to make eye contact with him. I didn't want to admit how much that made my legs quiver.

"Sure," I replied and took his offered hand. As he led me back to the dance floor, I tried not to dwell on how warm and big his hand was. Judging by the calluses on his palm, he was not a stranger to hard work. It made sense with how strong his body looked under his black, silky shirt.

My hips swayed, and my hands and arms began to move with the music. I wasn't aware of my own body, only his, as he placed his large hands on my hips and tugged me closer to him. One dance led to another and another. His skin glistened as the beads of sweat rolled down his collarbone. As the bar faded into a blur, we never spoke to each other, and the world became just us.

Our bodies moved as one. Perversely, I reveled in the dampness of his silk shirt. I imagined being with him in bed, embracing him after making tumultuous love. With my eyes closed, I could feel his breath and heartbeat. I opened my eyes and saw a bead of sweat roll down his face. I followed its path, stopping when it reached his mouth. I don't know how long I stared at his heart-shaped lips. I unconsciously licked my own, and my body was set on fire when I noticed his eyes watching my mouth and tracing my tongue. I did it again, but slowly. I basked in how his eyes got darker and glowed with lust.

Alexander

I was exhausted. It had been a couple of rough months. I was listening to my second and third-in-command discussing strategies for dealing with the Saconne family in one of the rooms in the family house. Until now, I still wasn't sure what the cause of this war between our families was.

It's been a couple of months since my family, the Romano family, one of the five mafia families of New York, have been engaged in war with the Saconne family, also one of the five. It started after the Don of the Saconne died, leaving his three sons, Tommy, Felice, and Elio, behind, with the eldest son, Tommy, taking his father's place as the new Don.

The five families had never been at war, instead coexisting peacefully, with conflicts settled amicably in a meeting with all five Dons. Everything was going well with each family minding their business and staying on their side of town until we noticed a new drug circulated on my family's territory. Drugs that we did not typically sell.

It was clear that someone was trying to challenge our authority. I was first amazed at the audacity of this unknown person in selling drugs on the Romano territory. We were not happy. This was blatant disrespect. The situation only got worse when we received reports of some of our drug warehouses being destroyed.

My father and I grew increasingly frustrated with each attack on our family's business. This was a clear declaration of war. It wasn't until five months ago that we discovered the identity behind this hostility. It had turned out to be none other than Tommy, the Don of the Saconne family.

When my father, the head Don, and I discovered the truth, he was furious. Before Tommy's father died, our families had been on good terms, so what could have been the reason for this?

Nothing could have been done when the matter had been brought up during one of the tri-monthly meetings the five Dons normally had. There was no ruler among the five families. The remaining three, the Attolini, Gatto, and the Ricci families opted to stay neutral, not wanting to get involved in the war.

I had spent these months working against the Saconnes, making plans and retaliating. We took out two of theirs for every warehouse they destroyed. It was clear that Tommy viewed my family as weak. Otherwise, why else would he target us? It was his purpose for doing so that frustrated me.

It was hard to catch a break between the planning, the fighting, and the overall tension. Only two months ago, I found an opportunity to catch a break. I had gone with my two confidants, my second and third-in-command, Tony and Marcello. Two months ago, there had been a ceasefire period as we worked to strengthen our defenses and bolster our forces. We had gone to a small club for no purpose but to drink our stress away until I noticed a beautiful woman on the dance floor.

I was engrossed with her and watched her dance alone amidst the crowd. She wasn't especially attractive, but how she gracefully moved to the music got my attention. Her hips swayed enticingly as she danced all alone for many songs. Tossing her golden-brown hair away from her face, I could see her breasts outlined against her cotton tank top. As she swayed around the dance floor, I undressed her in my mind, wondering if she also moved like that in bed.

I continued watching her until we made eye contact, and with what I saw in her eyes, I knew she was interested in me. At first, I had only gone out that day to drink with my two friends, but after seeing her, I wanted to release my stress in another way.

Being raised in a mafia family, I was taught to seek and take what I want, not by force, but by the right skill set. After approaching her and asking for a dance, moving things from the club to her bedroom hadn't been difficult. I hid my smirk behind my hands, leaning forward as I remembered our shared night.

It had been the most amazing sex I had ever had in a long time. How her body had writhed under me, her sea-green eyes had shone with passion, and her sonorous moans and pleas for more had echoed through the four walls of her room, unable to be heard by anyone. It always sent a thrill running through my body every time I remembered that night. It was a shame that it had only been a one-time thing. Otherwise, it would have been lovely to hold that slim body again.

Aryana. That was what she said her name was. A bit foolish of her to give her name to a random man, but it was a beautiful name. It suited her well.

I exited my thoughts upon the door opening, and one of my father's men entered the room. Tony and Marcello stopped talking.

"Your father wants you." He bowed his head as he reported.

I nodded my head and waved my hand for him to leave.

"What do you think the Don wants to talk to you about?" Marcello asked with curiosity in his eyes.

"Non-lo so,I do not know." I shrugged my shoulders. I didn't know why my father was summoning me, but I was curious too. "Maybe it's to talk about the Saconnes."

"Do you want us to accompany you?" Tony asked, which made me smile.

"Non c'è bisogno di preoccuparsi. There's no need for that." I answered and stood up.

"I will see you two later."

I walked over to my father's study, my mind pondering various things as I walked along the spacious halls of my family home. As I got nearer to my father's study, I could hear voices. I raised an eyebrow when I heard a female voice. Who is my father speaking to?

I knocked on the door and waited for my father to give me the clearance to enter.

"Si accomodi,come in"

I entered and saw my father sitting on his leather chair behind his desk. A small smile automatically appeared as I focused on the gray hairs that adorned my father's head. For a seventy-year-old man,mio padrestill looked vigorous.

My father was Luca Romano, Don of the Romano family, a man known for his honor despite our occupation. Even the Dons of the four families respected my father. My father was an honorable man who always kept his word. The other families never had to worry about my father going back on a deal. In his younger days, he was known as 'Trigger-finger Luca' according to what I was told as a child. My father had been hot-headed and quick to anger in his youth, but now, he was calmer, although he still had the edge and sharpness of a demon. I could always see it in his eyes.I loved my father with all my heart. I never met my mother as she had died when giving birth to me. For thirty-five years, my father raised me by himself. I would do anything for my father. It was one of the reasons I was filled with hatred toward Tommy Saconne for declaring war against my family for no reason and putting a huge burden on my father's shoulders.

I didn't bother to look at the other occupant in the room. My whole attention was placed on my father.

"Alexander." My father called my name sharply.

"Padre," I responded in our mother tongue.

I was confused by the anger in his eyes. What happened? Why was my father angry? And why did it seem as if he was mad at me?

I heard a small gasp which seemed loud in the silence of my father's office. My eyes involuntarily followed where the sound came from, and to say I was stunned was an understatement. Standing in front of me with her golden-brown hair shining brightly under the light and her sea-green eyes also staring at me in unconcealed shock was Aryana herself. The woman I slept with two months ago. The same woman who I still randomly fantasized about. The same woman who foolishly gave me her name that I still thought about at times. That woman was in front of me, sitting before my father.

"I see that you recognize her." My father's angry-filled voice cut through my mind's shocked fog.

"Yes, father," I answered, tearing my gaze away from her face and looking upon my father, who looked at me with a mixture of anger and disappointment which sent a pang through my heart. I never liked my father being disappointed in me. Seeing his facial expression soften, I didn't know how to react as he looked at Aryana instead.

"What is going on?" I asked, unable to stand this odd tension.

I regretted speaking up when my father directed his gray eyes at me. For a moment, I could see that demon's edge in his eyes, the edge that once terrified everyone when he was younger.

"Sciocco!"

My eyes widened as he called me a fool.

"How could you make such a low-level mistake, especially in the situation we're in."

I didn't understand what my father was saying. I looked at Aryana, who was looking uncomfortable. I couldn't find it within myself to feel sorry for her as I didn't know what she had told my father that made him react like this.

"Don't look at her as if this is her fault. You're the one that slept with her!"

Again, my father's words didn't do anything to explain what was going on. I didn't see the big deal with whom I slept with. My father had never had an issue with it, so why was it suddenly a problem now? Was it because of the war between our family and the Saconnes? Was that the issue?

"I do not care whom you sleep with, but could you think of our situation before committing such a mistake?" My father continued to berate me.

As much as I loved my father, It was increasingly getting hard not to be pissed off at how he was berating me in front of the woman, who had caused whatever this was. Granted that I had never seen my father this disappointed and angry at me, he could still speak to me normally and tell me what I had done. As my father continued rebuking me, I had enough.

"What have I done to have you keep insulting me in front of an outsider?" I asked through gritted teeth, still trying to maintain respect for my beloved padre.

"Well, she won't be an outsider for much longer." He said in a low tone.

I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?" I turned my attention to Aryana, who looked at me with unease.

"Alexander." I turned back to my father. "I have always told you that I do not and will not care about whomever you sleep with as long as they won't endanger our family, but you must ensure you always use protection."

My body froze. It was as if cold water had been dunked on me. Trepidation ran up my spine as the implication of what he was saying was slowly dawning on me.

My father seemed to see that I was slowly figuring it out before he opened his mouth and hammered the final nail in the coffin.

"She is pregnant, Alexander."

My eyes darted between my father and Aryana, and I did the only thing I could do in this situation. I swore.

"Fanculo

Aryana

I watched from the corner of my eyes as Mr. Romano dropped the bombshell on his son, the man I had slept with two months ago. Alexander. So, that was his name. It suited him. I knew I was focusing on the wrong thing, but I couldn't help it as I was still in denial about my pregnancy. Only two days had passed since I had been told I was pregnant, and it was not hard to know who the father was. I hadn't slept with anyone else since that night two months ago. I had been far too busy juggling my schoolwork with my part-time job for that.

If only I had listened to my rational side back then. Alexander had even wanted to go back to his car and get his condoms, but no, I just had to say it was okay. I tried to pull my hair out in frustration. What was I going to do now? My degree, my work, expenses, my family, what would I do? A part of me wanted to blame Alexander for not being persistent in getting the condoms, but I knew that wasn't fair. After he left, I went to shower. Still, I got a notification for a new assignment I had to do, and I had forgotten about it. I was a fool.

The atmosphere was stifling as Mr. Romano, and Alexander stared at each other.

"How did you find out?"

I turned, ready to explain but saw that I wasn't the one being addressed. Alexander was speaking to his father. I looked towards his father, also wanting to know how exactly this man, who knew nothing about me, found out I was pregnant. I had been at home, still trying to digest the news, when I got a knock on my door. When I opened it, it was to the view of two strong-looking men, which set alarm bells ringing in my head. It had been a ludicrous experience being told to follow them somewhere to meet someone who had wanted to see me. Let me reiterate. Two men I did not know expected me to follow them to see someone I also didn't know. Now that was scary.

I had refused, but they didn't take my 'no' seriously, for they then gave me a file. When I opened it, I was scared to see that it was a film documenting my life and family, including that I was pregnant, which I had only found out two days ago!

I was frightened, and no matter how much these men, who had to be gangsters or bodyguards, told me that I was safe, I couldn't calm down. I had no choice but to go since I feared they would target my family if I didn't. So, I followed them, and the journey led me here to Luca Romano, apparently the father of the man who accidentally impregnated me. He had apologized for his son's carelessness. I didn't have it within me to correct him that it had been my fault beneath the underlying bubble of hysteria that had threatened to rise out of me.

Mr. Romano then talked about how he would make his son take responsibility and proceeded to send one of his...guards? To call for Alexander, and now, they were here.

It was clear that Alexander wasn't happy with this situation, and, honestly, neither was I.

"What are you saying should happen?" Hearing him speak clearly without the foggy haze of lust and the booming music of the club, I could now hear clearly that he spoke with a mild Italian accent.

"Aryana." I turned to look at Mr. Romano. "You are carrying the future heir of this family, and I would like my son to take responsibility. I would like for you to stay here with us."

What? Did he suggest I stay with them? I didn't know these people! It looked like my disbelief was displayed on my face because his expression softened.

"We are currently at war, and it would not be safe for you once they realize your connection with my family."

Wait. War. What was this man saying? War with what? With who? Okay, they were at war andstillwanted me to live here with them? I couldn't understand what was going on at all, but neither did I want to. I wanted to leave as fast as possible and leave these sketchy people behind.

"We will be able to protect you. I will send you and my son to a safe location, far away from this battle until your child is born. Hopefully, by then, the war will be over."

And there was more crazy talk. Battle?

No. There was no way I was getting involved with any of this. Before I could make my disagreement known, Alexander spoke up before me.

"No. There is no way I will leave the family... leave you during this period."

"You should have thought of that before you slept with her!" Mr. Romano snapped at his son.

"How are you even sure that the child is mine?" Despite the tinge of desperation lacing his voice, I was pissed off at the insinuation that I slept around like a common hooker.

"I can assure you I haven't slept with anyone since that night," I spoke with an icy edge to my voice, but he didn't pay attention.

"Father-"

"Silenzio!"

Nobody spoke after Mr. Romano's outburst.

"That is enough! You will leave this place with Aryana to where I will send you and stay there till your child is born."

Woah! I didn't remember agreeing, and I made it known.

"I understand your sentiments, Mr. Romano, but I must decline your offer. I don't want to stay here." I said in a firm tone.

"Aryana, you will not be safe. Our enemies will sniff you out. It's better-"

"I thank you for your concern, but I still refuse. There's no way your enemies can find out I'm pregnant or know about me. It was just a one-night stand. Nothing special." I reiterated.

"Don't interrupt my father when he's speaking!" I was startled upon hearing Alexander's sharp reprimand.

"Alexander!" Mr. Romano silenced his son.

Perhaps I was rude, but they couldn't expect me to process all this information and remain calm. I wanted to leave here immediately.

Mr. Romano looked at me as if he wanted to say something but changed his mind. He sighed.

"All right. You are free to go. Please allow us to keep in contact with you. After all, you are carrying my son's child."

I nodded. I was surprised by how easily he had allowed me to go. I thought that he would have forced me to stay or threatened me with my family, but he didn't.

"Let my men drop you near your place." He requested, and I acquiesced.

I stood up and left the room with one of his men leading me out and another following after me. I glanced at Alexander, but he still didn't look at me. He had only looked at me twice throughout the showdown, and as much as I didn't want to care, it hurt. Especially his comment that insinuated I slept around. I slept with him despite not knowing him, but that was because of my rough week. It wasn't as if it was a habit of mine to have one-night stands.

As I entered the vehicle that brought me here, the hurt I felt shifted to irritation. Why did I think about that asshole? I wasn't going to have anything to do with him. Besides, I wasn't sure if I would keep this child yet.

I was frustrated. Different things bombarded my mind, and I weres now in turmoil. I watched the scenery pass through the car window as I struggled with my thoughts.

"We're here."

I snapped out of my thoughts and exited the car with a small 'thank you.' We had stopped at the bus stop. Mr. Romano had explained that it would have been dangerous for them to drop me at my apartment directly, and I had no complaints.

As I walked towards the bus stop, ready to wait for the bus, my eyes caught sight of a fast incoming vehicle. The car screeched to a halt, and several men emerged. What happened next could only be described as chaos.

Two men ran towards me, and I scrambled backward, my heart beating rapidly. Before they reached me, two gunshots went off, and the two bodies in front of me collapsed like puppets whose strings had been cut off. I screamed at the sight of blood pooling around these two dead men.

Dead men. Fuck! Two men were killed right in front of me!

I could barely discern anything happening through the blood rushing to my head and the uprising panic bubbling in my throat. Gunshots and screams filled the air as pedestrians ran erratically to safety. I ran to a nearby vehicle and crouched behind it, clutching my head in fear.

Three more cars appeared, two from the side I walked from and the other from the direction the other vehicle had come from. I felt a hand grab me from behind, and I whirled around in panic and came face to face with none other than Alexander.

"Alex-"

"Keep your head lowered." He ordered.

Then, I noticed he was also holding a gun, cocked and ready to release bullets at its owner's command.

I screamed when he raised his body over the vehicle and fired several shots. I closed my eyes tightly. Was this happening, or was it a bad dream after overworking myself?

I heard Alexander shout some things in Italian to his subordinates before a touch on my arm forced me to open my eyes.

"Come."

He pulled me to my feet and started running with me, using my free hand to cover my head, even though it wouldn't do anything to stop a stray bullet from penetrating my brain.

Even with my head lowered as we ran across the road and around haphazardly parked cars, I could still hear bullets flying around us.

"Get in!" Alexander ordered.

I immediately entered the passenger seat with him in the driver's seat. Once we were in the car, I could see how wild the situation was. Dead bodies littered the road with blood splatters painting the concrete in a grotesque art form. There were still people shooting guns at one another.

"What the hell is going on?" I shouted at Alexander as he expertly reversed and drove us away from the chaotic and sudden shoot-out.

"Members of the Saconne family, the family we are at war with. It seems they have found out that you're carrying the future heir of my family." Alexander said in a calm tone.

What the fuck!

How could this man sound so calm in this situation? Did he mean to say that those men had come for me?

"This was why my father wanted you to stay with us," Alexander said with a side glance. He must have heard my heavy breathing as I tried to stop myself from spiraling into hysteria. "As you can see, it's dangerous for you to live undisturbed as you wanted."

I wanted to snap at him but fuck, he was right. I couldn't walk away as I had hoped. I had no choice but to live with Alexander and accept Mr. Romano's proposition.

Fuck!