Mafia Bloodlines

Chapter 32

Third person's pov

Faina sat on the large bay window seat in Agape’s room, her knees pulled to her chest as she stared out at the endless stretch of trees. The week had dragged on unbearably slowly since Ambrose had left. No word. No call. No sign of him at all. She told herself she was relieved. That this was what she had wanted—space, freedom, silence. She despised his presence after all, right? But then why did it feel like a heavy weight was pressing against her chest?

“Mommy, you look like you lost your pet chicken,” Agape’s voice piped up, drawing Faina’s attention away from the window. Agape lay sprawled out on the pink carpet, coloring with furious determination. Which was enough to snap Faina out of her thoughts. Faina has even forgotten she was helping Agape with her homework.

“I don’t have a pet chicken." she said after letting out a sigh and pressing a hand on her forehead.

“Exactly!” Agape said, as if that explained everything.
“If you did, and you lost it , I am sure that’s the face you’d make.” Agape said before letting out a giggle.

Faina couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. “So now I look like I lost an imaginary chicken?”

Agape nodded sagely. “mhhh and a very fluffy one.” she added

Faina shook her head, chuckling as she slid off the window seat and joined Agape on the carpet. “What are you drawing?”

“A family portrait. It's really pretty, just look.” Agape grinned up at her before flipping the paper around for Faina to see. The drawing was a mess of colors, but the shapes were clear—three figures standing in front of a giant house. Faina recognized herself immediately, dressed in a bright red dress, holding Agape’s tiny stick hand. Ambrose stood on the other side, tall and broad, a little less detailed than the others, but there. And in Agape’s other hand…

Faina frowned. “Who’s that?” She pointed at the small round figure Agape had drawn next to her.

“Our baby!” Agape announced proudly.
“You know, the little brother you’re gonna get me.”

“What?” Faina nearly choked on air.

Agape rolled her eyes like she was stating the most obvious thing in the world.
“A baby brother, Mommy I’ve been patient, but you and Papa are  taking too long. My best friend, Kalani's parents have given her two baby brothers already and I'm six months older than Kalani. Mommy is it fair that I don't even have one baby brother?” Agape asked with a small pout.Faina blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. How does one even explain things like this to a six year old?

“Agape, sweetheart, babies don’t just… appear.” Faina said hesitantly.

“I know that.” The little girl huffed.
“That’s why you and Papa need to buy one. Papa said there is nothing money cannot do because money makes the world go around. So I was thinking that since Papa’s away, we should start planning!”

Faina coughed, trying to keep her voice neutral. “Planning? What do you mean when you say planning dear?” Faina asked, still shocked by Agape's requests.

“Yes! First, we should decide on a name . And when Papa comes back, you two can buy it for me. Mommy you can't buy a girl because you already have me so you can only buy a boy, so you can have a princess and a prince.” Agape said with the widest smile. It seems she had really thought this through.

“But honey babies aren't bought, you know what nevermind. We will revisit this topic once you are a lot bigger.” Faina interrupted, her face heating.

Then, after a moment, she sighed dramatically. “Fine, I’ll wait. But not too long, okay? I’m already six! If you wait too long, my baby brother and I won’t be able to play together.”

Faina hesitated, her heart twisting strangely at the innocent request. She reached out, brushing Agape’s curls away from her face. “You really want a sibling that badly?”

Agape nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! I don’t want to be alone anymore.” Faina took a moment and thought about Agape's request. She realised that once Agape asks her father for a baby brother she would probably get one. Since Faina is not going to let Ambrose impregnate her then Ambrose would probably adopt a male child. Ambrose gives Agape whatever it is that she wants, it's both cute and scary at the same time, the hold this little girl has over Ambrose.

Before Agape could respond, she suddenly clutched her chest, a small whimper escaping her lips.

Faina’s stomach dropped. “What’s wrong?” she asked with concern and panic written all over her face.

Agape squeezed her eyes shut. “It hurts…” she whispered.

A cold rush of panic shot through Faina. “Where does it hurt, baby?”

“My chest… it feels tight…”

Faina didn’t hesitate. She scooped Agape up into her arms and rushed out of the room.

Agape clutched her chest, her fingers trembling as she struggled to take a full breath. A sharp, crushing pain radiated from the center of her chest, spreading to her left shoulder and down her arm. Faina could feel Agape's  pulse pounding erratically.

“Mommy…” she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t… breathe…”

Faina’s heart pounded in terror as she grasped Agape’s clammy hands, feeling how weak her grip had become. “Stay with me, okay?” she pleaded, her own breathing ragged with fear. “You’re going to be fine. Just keep talking to me.”

Agape tried to respond, but a sudden wave of nausea twisted her stomach. A stabbing pain shot up her jaw, and her chest tightened even more, as if an iron fist had wrapped around her heart and refused to let go. Darkness clouded her vision, and her knees buckled beneath her.