Snake and Venom: Sheded skin

Chapter 3

Rocco's parents walk through the front door of the mansion greeted by the guards I stationed at the doors. Rocco's father looks pissed. Is he more pissed at me or the fact that Rocco is dead. I think it's me. Rocco's father has hated me since he found out we were together. Our fathers have had really bad blood. Which is why I told my father to stay in his room while Rocco's father is here.

His mothers eyes are swollen. She's been crying for all this time just like me. I was barely able to get out of the bed, I can only imagine how it's been for her. Her son is gone and she can never see him again.

"What is the meaning of this." He looks at Renzo and Antonio who are standing at the end of the staircase.

"Father...We have given over our title to the mafia over to Alessandra." Renzo says.

His father starts to glare at him. "You what! Don't tell me it's because you're fucking lazy. Rocco already had to take over for his older brother, but now you're giving the title to our enemy." He yells.

Renzo shakes his head and holds it down in shame. I don't like the way he's talking to Renzo. Renzo and all his siblings are sweet. No one wants to have their entire world ruined by a title that makes you a killer. Even I didn't want Rocco to have to carry that burden alone. I was willing to become the woman strong enough to be by his side.

Now I'm the woman strong enough to continue what he built. The legacy and the name he had for himself. The most freightning man in the world accompanied by his wife. The only woman who could love him.

"I'm not your enemy. I loved Rocco just about as much as anyone in this room. I want...no I need to be able to kill the man that killed the man I love." My voice breaks.

His father shakes his head at me. "You're not blood. You have no right to take over. I don't care about some woman my son slept with. I only care about my children." He growls. Aurora's eyes stay glued to the ground. She's not going to stick up for me. She's so out of reality still grieving her son. I understand just how she feels.

I didn't want everyone to know like this, but Rocco's father can't take this away from me if I'm having his child.

"You can't have anyone else take over but me." I challenge.

"And why not? This mafia belongs to the Merano's and you're not one if my son is dead." He threatens.

"Last night I found out I was pregnant." I announce.

Everyones eyes widen. Renzo and Antonio's heads snap to me. Aurora finally looks at me with tears in her eyes. His father is at a loss for words. Even Marcelo who's standing at the end of the hall looks shocked.

"W-wha how?" He stammers.

"I don't know when it happened, I just know that it did." My face starts to heat up.

Aurora steps forward. She wraps her arms around me and pulls me into a hug. "I hate that you have to go through this alone sweetie." She sniffs.

Then she turns towards her husband. "She's staying here Tod. Alessandra is our family. Rocco loved her. He would have wanted her to be safe here with us."

Tod pinches the bridge of his nose. "Fine. You can stay here for now, but if it's not a boy I don't care. You're not staying here and I'm handing the title over to Renzo." He storms past me as Aurora watches him.

Renzo and Antonio rush over to me. "How long have you known?" Renzo asks?

"I really just found out last night. I didn't want everyone to know yet. I'm still not ready to let go of Rocco."

"Fuck. He's got a kid and he can't even be here to see it." Antonio frowns and his words sting my heart.

"Antonio. C'mon man." Renzo rolls his eyes at him.

"Oh shit. Sorry Alessandra. I just-."

"No it's fine. Rocco's gone and at some point I'm going to have to accept it." The words leave my mouth, but I don't believe them. I don't want to let him go. We had just gotten together. Not because of the contract or finding Marco. Rocco and I had just really fallen in love and it was taken from us before we could even explore it.

"I'm sorry about my husband. I don't want you to be dealing with all of this stress. It's not good for the baby." She places a hand over my stomach. "You are keeping the baby right?" She asks.

"Yes. Rocco wouldn't have wanted me to get rid of it." I say.

"Have you thought of any names yet?" She asks.

Shaking my head I frown. "It's too early. I'll start thinking about some under better circumstances."

"Well when better circumstances come I would love you help you pick out some names. My husband may not be able to put his pride aside, but I consider you family Alessandra." She says.

Her words warm my heart. Even though Rocco isn't here I have a lot of support thanks to him. Still I'm not ready to except this fact. I want him back, but nothing will bring him back. The only thing I can do is find Marco and make sure he doesn't breath another breath on this Earth.

Rocco's mom hugs me before she walks off in the same direction as her husband....