The Mafia's Heir

Chapter 18

Ryder pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. I tried to get out, but he locked the doors and turned my way. I gave him the evil eye, but he wasn't fazed.

"Cynthia, I'm not at all sorry ,if I came off a bit rude this morning," he said. "At this point, you have no one, but your mother and I. Maybe Nicky."

"What are you getting at?" I snapped.

"Why are you so angry? What has anyone done to you?"

"Hormones..."

Ryder laughed and turned back to the steering wheel. What? I most definitely didn't act mean often, so it had to be hormones.

"Freaking hormones, my behind. You're pregnant."

"Pregnant?!" I exclaimed. "There's no possible way I could be pregnant."

"Oh, my gosh. Don't tell me you haven't gone to the doctor about this?"

"I did and he told me I wasn't pregnant. I had my period a few days after."

"When?"

"...Almost two weeks ago."

Ryder sighed and looked at me again. I couldn't stand the stare he was giving me. I didn't want to be pregnant. Not when I was living a life of lies. Not when I was expected to be the heir to a mafia who hated my father. Just no...

"Nicky said you should avoid coming into the cafeteria when they have chicken. Chris almost bumped into you when you were leaving Monday. He said you immediately wrapped an arm protectively around your stomach. If that doesn't tell me anything, I must be stupid."

"Ryder, I just can't be pregnant at a time like this. Who knows what will happen if anyone finds out that I'm pregnant?"

"Tia, you don't have to deny it any longer. We'll go to the clinic tomorrow. If you're not pregnant, I'll drop it. If you are, you have to tell everyone on your own."

I nodded. He unlocked the car door and I shot out. I couldn't stay there with him any longer. Ryder called out to me, but I ignored him and unlocked the front door. Mom was just passing by when I walked in. She stopped.

"Tia--" I ran off to the bathroom. "Ryder, what's wrong with her?"

"...I think she's pregnant," he said.

I barely managed to lift the toilet seat before I hacked up my insides. A scream erupted through the halls and I knew Mom was excited. At least there was one person who found this okay. I didn't want this. I wanted my child to grow up normal and not know that he might be an Italian don one day. I would like it if he could just have regular friends and grow up to know that no one is coming after him.

Hot tears blinded me and my sobs racked violently through my body. This couldn't be. I took all my pills. I even took the morning after just in case. Apparently I didn't do it right. I feel so dumb. A hand stroked my back, making me cry harder.

"Cynthia," Mom said softly. "It's okay to be pregnant. There's nothing wrong with that. It's not your fault--"

"It is my fault!" I wailed.

"...I guess it sort of is, but don't beat yourself up about it. That's a human you're carrying and if you harm it in any way, I'll murder you."

I stayed quiet. Or tried to.

"Now I know not to fry anything. Just don't...feel horrible. I was in the same situation once."

"...B-but, I don't want the child right now. Not ever," I sobbed. "I don't--I don't want it to grow up in the--in the mafia world."