The Mafia's Pregnant Bride

SONIA'S POV

"I don't know how I feel about your boyfriend, Sonia," Jessica, my best friend says from inside the apartment while I work on my laptop in the balcony of Shaun's apartment.

I playfully roll my eyes, "Yeah?" I say, encouraging my friend to go on without looking away from my laptop screen. It isn't news anymore that Jessica hates, and that's using capital letters to emphasize it, my boyfriend, Shaun. It has been evident in the way she always schools me about him. In her words, I wasn't supposed to end up with someone like Shaun after years of being single.

"It's just that I think he's a sketchy human being. Who leaves their girlfriend in their apartment for days while they go away to another city? Who knows what he's doing as we speak. Who knows who he's with?!"

I sigh and get up on my feet, going back inside. "Don't put images in my head, Jess. He's away on a business trip." I say to her for the umpteenth time in three days.

"That's what you keep saying, my friend." Jess walks up to me and guides me to the couch so we're now sitting on it. "You know I love you and I only want the best for you, right?"

I nod while keeping my face neutral.

"Leave Shaun. He will break your heart and leave you ruined for your soul mate. I don't want that. You're way too good for him. You know I know a guy who knows a guy, I could hook you up with someone better. And richer too."

"Jessica?" I stare intently at my best friend who is as beautiful as they come, her Brunette curly hair a perfect contrast to my ginger, wavy one.

"Yes, honey?"

"I'm not interested." I deadpan and with that, we both start laughing. The conversation switches to something lighter from there.

In all honesty, Jessica's comments about Shaun hasn't escaped the rational part of me. Each time she fly's in from the UK, she always tries to change my mind about him and when that is done not once or twice but past five times, it only leaves me to wonder if Jessica is seeing something in Shaun that I'm not.

Whereas Shaun isn't necessarily my first boyfriend ever, Jessica has had so many experiences in the dating field so if she says Shaun isn't genuine, then maybe she could most definitely be speaking from experience.

My mind immediately goes to that night two weeks ago when I saw that small black box in the jacket of his suit after our dinner. Sitting pretty and all shiny inside the box was a diamond ring. I had thought he didn't find the perfect time during our date to pop the question but up until now, he hasn't either.

Long after Jessica leaves to catch her evening flight back to the UK, I lay in Shaun's bedroom, enveloped in the warmth of his bed that emanates his oud perfumed scent. Like a bee drawn to honey, I pick up my phone from beside me and break the one promise I made to myself when I had installed a tracker into Shaun's phone. I know I initially said it would be only for emergencies but in case you haven't noticed, there's an internal crisis going on inside me which is in fact an emergency.

Finding the tracking app connected to my phone, I input Shaun's phone's IP address and hold my breath as a green circle rolls on the screen, indicating that it's loading. By the time it's done loading, my breath still remains hitched in my throat and a million thoughts races through my head.

Maybe, Jess was right after all.

I can hear my consciousness say, but I push her voice far away. Now's not the time.

The red dot on my screen indicates that Shaun is here in New Orleans. Specifically at the New Orientals Hotel, the largest hotel chain in North America.

He's supposed to be in Japan on a research trip with his colleagues. Just this morning he said he wouldn't be back until Friday night and today was just... Wednesday.

Before I can think better of it, I grab my jacket and car keys and in two minutes, I'm driving down to Shaun's location. There's no doubt he's cheating, exactly as Jessica had suspected.

Less than twenty minutes later, I'm parked in the hotel's parking lot and despite my inner turmoil, I will myself to look unbothered as I walk into the hotel, clad in a black satin skirt and matching bodysuit. Colors that match how I feel inside.

I don't stop to speak with any of the receptionists, neither do I use the elevator. I climb the stairs one at a time, until my green dot is directly aligned with Shaun's red dot. I look up and find myself in front of Room 213.

My heart begins to thunder. Not from my walk on the stairs but from what lays behind the doors. Today I have decided to make peace with myself. The life I live isn't truly the one which has been destined for me since birth and Shaun's actions has just given me a reality check, reminding me that we were probably never meant to be.

Probably?

Oh, who am I kidding? My family's affiliation with the mafia world would always be a barrier stopping me from having or creating anything meaningful with the real world.

My knuckles connect with the cold surface of the door, sending two series of raps against it. I can hear muffled sounds behind the door but because I've had years of experience in overhearing conversations that I shouldn't have been listening to outside the doors of my father's office, I'm able to make out the words.

"Who is there?" I know for sure that that is Shaun's voice.

Clearing my voice to make it sound as unrecognizable as I can muster, I reply, "Room Service."

"Babe, I think your meal is here."

"Finally! I'm famished."

That voice... If my listening wasn't as skilled as it was, I would have missed it. But...

The door flies open and I'm not the only one who stands frozen in their stance. My mouth is slightly agape and it's not from the shock of seeing Shaun's equally shocked and shirtless form behind the brunette that answered the door.

I'm shocked because the woman holding the door open and looking at me with a flustered face while wearing a thin material of nightwear that leaves nothing to the imagination ... is Jessica.

SONIA'S POV

A very long time ago, someone once dear to me said betrayal would come in different shapes, forms and sizes and so I should be mindful of the words that comes out of my mouth and especially who I say those words to. My Mother also said not everyone likes the idea of anyone else being happy except them. Those were the words she said before she died in my arms 19 years ago. I was just 5 years old.

Looking at the two people I thought I knew like the back of my hands, I realize that my Mother wasn't wrong. She'd never been wrong. I had only ever said good things about Shaun to Jessica and with everything I'm seeing now, she wanted to have a taste of what I had fed her.

"Sonia honey, It's not what it looks like," Jessica says to me and suddenly my hand itches to grab the gun in my purse. I haven't used it before but how hard can it be?

"It was your stupid talk that made me come here, you know?" I say to Jessica and look at Shaun who has been stunned to silence all these while. He picks that moment to speak.

"Baby, go inside. I'll handle her." He pulls Jessica inside and closes the door behind him.

Handle me?

"How did you find me here?"

"That's what you're bothered about?" I ask unbelievably, my voice raising up a notch. Shaun grabs my arm and pulls me down a shadowed corner of the hallway.

"Don't raise your voice at me," His eyes are suddenly red and different, the hold he has on my arm growing tighter "If you had just minded your business, none of these would be happening."

"Oh what, it's my fault that you cheated and got caught?" No matter how hard I try to contain it, my voice breaks, betraying me. "How long have you been fucking my best friend behind my back, Shaun?"

"It doesn't matter. If you want to join us, there's room for you." He pauses, looking at me like he expects me to agree to his offer. I can only feel my lips tremble.

"Fuck you, Shaun." I whisper, pained to be experiencing such cruelty from a man I thought loved me. I suddenly regret not removing my shades earlier from my clutch to cover my red rimmed eyes. There's no doubt Shaun takes pleasure in seeing me this way because what he says next only shatters my heart the more.

He lets go of my arm. "I've tried being rational with you but you're too bull headed. Leave now or I'll call security on you."

"You wouldn't," I choke, my throat too strained to let my words flow freely.

Shaun looks ahead and waves his hand, the action making the muscles in his shoulder pop out. I don't focus on what I once found attractive. Instead, I turn to see that he has in fact waved over two security guards who are now coming over.

"What seems to be the problem, Mr. Parker?" The bulkier of the two asks while still approaching as his partner speaks into his walkie talkie.

Having had enough humiliation for one night, I walk around Shaun, open my clutch, take out my shades and wear it.

"She's an intruder. I don't know how she got access to my room." I hear Shaun say behind me as I walk away.

"We apologize, Sir. We'll make sure she doesn't bother you anymore." Probably the second one says. I hear their heavy footsteps behind me as I wait for the elevator to open.

They enter the elevator with me as we go to the ground floor of the hotel. Usually, I tend to avoid being in the same space with men as large and intimidating as these two behind me but it seems like my mental energy is exhausted for the day. My phone dings in my purse and I bring it out to see who the text is from.

Shaun: Things wouldn't have ended up this way if you had just minded your business, Sonia. Because of the love I still have for you deep down, I'll permit you to sleep over at my place just for tonight, but you're going to have to leave first thing tomorrow morning.

The imbecile.

I don't realize that I'm crying until I see a drop of tears splash on the surface of my screen. My attempt to wipe it away is futile because it just keeps streaming down my face.

When the elevator opens, I'm a shaky mess, totally different from how I was when I walked in here earlier. My heels click on the clean tiles of the floor as I walk as quickly as I can, eager to leave the hotel that suddenly holds a bad memory for me.

I'm almost through the doors when I suddenly bump into a hard figure. Strong, firm hands grip my arms, saving me from what would've been an embarrassing fall.

"Forgive me." I utter, in apology without looking at the man who saved me from further embarrassment. I turn to leave but he doesn't let go.

"Are you alright, miss?" His voice is as deep and beautiful as his hold on me is firm and yet gentle. I'm pushed to look at his face. I have to strain my neck up and for the quickest second ever known to man, my breath slows down as my hazel eyes meet the deepest blue ones I've ever seen. His piercing eyes sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight, drawing me in with their intensity. His chiseled features and strong jawline along with a mop of sandy blond hair makes him irresistibly rugged despite the perfectly pressed black and obviously expensive suit he's putting on.

"Y-yes, I'm fine." I watch as he notices the security men somewhere behind me. He shakes his head and I notice as they acknowledge his silent command and turn away.

"They're gone now." He lets go of me, stepping back and adjusting his coat on his large form. I can see that he has questions, curious about my situation... or me? I don't know... but he doesn't utter a word. Instead, with a little smile on his face, he dips his head slightly, turns and walks away, leaving me with the ton of people trooping in and out of this luxurious hotel.

SONIA'S POV

I'm filled with horror as I stare at the visible two lines on the pregnancy kit indicating that I am indeed pregnant.

Oh no. Christ! No no!

What have I gotten myself into?

It has only been a week since the entire fiasco with Shaun and... I can't even bring myself to mention her name. And then there's also my encounter with the stranger who I haven't been able to get out of my mind till this day. But that won't be a problem anymore from henceforth. I stupidly went and got myself pregnant for a stupid mad who wants nothing to do with me.

Screaming, I throw the kit in my hand across the room in frustration, anger or shame... I don't even know which emotion to put ahead of the other as I just let the tears stream down my face.

My phone rings somewhere outside the bathroom but I ignore it. The one person who has called me relentlessly through the week has been Jessica. Whatever she has to say, she can shove it right up her ass and if she still has anything left to say after that, then she can shove the rest up Shaun's ass as well.

I keep ignoring my ringing phone until it begins to ring for the fifth time. Jessica has never called more than twice in a row. Multiple times a day? Yes, but never this much.

I sigh, pick my sorry self up from the floor and exit my bathroom. Quickly grabbing my phone from the bed, I let out a frustrated breath on seeing my Father's name on the screen.

"Yes, Father," I start as soon as I pick his call but he's way ahead of me as he rambles incoherent words into his speaker that I have to briefly get my phone away from my ear or risk losing my hearing. If I sigh any further today, I might just faint. "Good morning to you to, father,"

"Good morning, Sonia?" He asks unbelievably. "Do you even know what the time is? Are you still in bed?"

No I'm not. I just lost track of time due to unforeseen circumstances, but I'm not telling him that.

"I don't live under your roof anymore, Father. What I do or don't shouldn't concern you."

Knowing him, I picture a muscle in his jaw twitch. He doesn't like when I talk back at him but the strain in our relationship is all his fault. He couldn't even wait for a year to pass to mourn my Mum properly before remarrying exactly two month after. And ever since then, he has gone through three more wives, with his current one being the fourth. I might act unbothered by his actions but it really does bother me every minute it crosses my mind.

"Well I hope you've had enough of your independency because that's about to end." I don't miss the slyness of his tone.

My heart flops. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm giving you 30 minutes to get out of bed and get your ass down here. The clocks ticking."

"Look, today's not a good time..." But I keep mute because then I would only be talking to myself since he ended the call as soon as he was done speaking.

I quickly sprint into the bathroom to get my shit together and in record time, I'm in my car, headed for my Father's mansion. Through the duration of the ride, I can't help but try to understand what he meant by 'hope I've had enough of my independency.' Is he making me come back to the house because I can't and won't be doing that. Not especially now that I've got a huge problem brewing in my belly. I know that's a harsh thing to say but the only other solution is to get rid of it before my father finds out else I'll be screwed.

Arriving the mansion, I park in my usual spot and make my way inside and straight to his office. My heart is thundering in my ears as I grab the door handle and pull it open but stop in my track when I see two men in black suit, undoubtedly men of our world – standing right in front of me. I step aside, making way for them to pass before walking into my father's office.

"Oh great, you're here. And just in time." He says, looking away from his expensive wrist watch.

Pulling a seat out, I get right into it. "What am I doing here, Father?"

"Recognize the men who just stepped out of here?"

I squint my eyes. "Uh no. Am I supposed to?"

"Those fine men were sent by Mr. Sandoval."

A shiver passes through me on hearing that sacred name. My father is one of Mr. Sandoval's subordinates and Mr. Sandoval is the biggest mafia crime lord in Mexico, feared and respected by all. It's nothing new for his men to troop in and out of here every day but if my father is asking me about them specifically then something else must be going on.

"What did they want?" I bring myself to ask, even though I fear that I may not like the answer.

"You." He states so abruptly that his word makes me freeze in my seat.

"What do you mean by he wants me? Isn't he married?" My voice quivers which only makes him to laugh.

"Of course he is. But that doesn't mean he has no other powerful friends that are looking to get married."

"What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying, little one, is that, Anthony Romano has shown an interest in marrying you. And I've said yes to his proposal."

"What? You can't just let that happen." I scramble up from my chair, my heart thudding. "I don't agree."

"If it were up to you, he would've asked you, wouldn't he? But it isn't up to you and as your father, I say you will get married to him. Now get out of my office."

"I don't even know the man." I mutter, already feeling defeated.

"When has that ever been a problem in our world?"

"Father, you can't do this to me."

"I can and I will, Sonia." He yells at me, standing up as well. "You are my daughter and I have made this decision in your best interest,"

My best interests, my ass. He only cares about money, saving his company and being one of the people with direct access to Javier Sandoval. In other words, more power. No wonder his wives keep leaving him. The only person I blame is my mother for not taking me with her.

"Now what you're going to do is call that rich boyfriend of yours, break up with him, and get ready for this new change. We deserve it..." My father pauses on seeing the shock written on my face. "What, you didn't think I was going to let you leave my home without keeping an eye on you, did you?"

I'm tempted to ask why he let me date Shaun if he knew we were together but I don't because I already know why. Shaun is a rich business man and my being affiliated with someone of his status means it's a business opportunity to him. I should've known.

"But enough of that already. As long as you weren't foolish enough to lose your virginity, everything should go as planned."

I can only stare in horror as he takes his seat once more. How could I forget about the sacredness of virginity in our world? Except I did and not only did I give it away, I got a souvenir along with it.

Shit.

I assume my seat once more so I don't faint when I say my next words. "Well I can't marry him since I'm... pregnant."

The silence in the room after my revelation is deafening. I watch as my father's face morphs from shock to disgust. "I hope you're just saying that to get yourself out of this situation and not because you actually mean it."

"You can hope all you want," I stand and grab my coat and purse. "No sane man in our world wants another man's used goods, father." It hurt to refer to my situation in such manner but sadly, that is how it often is around here.

I'm already at the door, about to leave when his quiet and venomous words stop me in my track.

"You're an embarrassment of a child, Sonia. Unfortunately for you, you're not my only child and perhaps you forget that," He spits. "I can't kill you but what I can do is pull your inheritance and cut of your funds. You have yourself to blame for this."

I leave his office not just angry but disappointed that my own father could use such hurtful words at me and threaten to pull my inheritance and money. But the very next morning, I discovered that my father wasn't just bluffing and throwing threats to calm his ego. An empty bank account and termination of inheritance email were staring right back at me, crowning me a broke and pregnant woman.