Chapter 31: Chapter Thirty One

*Enzo*

I stare at the woman in dumbfounded confusion.

I had been out in the fields with Orlando, showing him the difference between a good vine and a bad one, when Gabby came speed walking down the aisle in heated fury. It was on the brink of my tongue of asking her what was wrong when she blurts,

“You have a visitor. And I’m pretty sure you’re going to want to take this one. Don’t bother looking for me for the rest of the day, asshole.”

With that she turns right back around and stomps away from us. It left me so confused that all I could do was stand there in complete shock. Orlando whistles lowly as he looks away and continues to do what I was showing him.

What the fuck just happened?

Curiosity overruled the confusion and slight anger of her calling me an asshole. I just wasn’t expecting this.

A redheaded woman stood in the living room with Nonno, who must have seen Gabby run off and was curious himself, they both sat on the couch talking. And apparently tears were involved. The woman’s eyes were red and puffy as she turns to look at me.

“Enzo, it’s been a while.” She stands up and gives a tiny smile.

I don’t return it. I vaguely remember her. A couple months back. I was pretty sure she had been a one-night stand. But what the fuck was she doing here in my grandfather’s house? And upsetting Gabby of all people.

Something dreadful enters my gut, and I instantly knew I wasn’t going to like whatever this is one fucking bit. Especially since my grandpa looks downright cautious and a bit disturbed. When she stood, he stood up as well.

“I’ll leave the two of you alone.” He mumbles and goes to leave the room. He places a hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

But it was the sad look on his face that was getting to me.

I wait until he leaves the room where it was just me and her. Once it goes quiet, I walk to the other side of the room and wait for her to sit back down before I did the same.

“I’m sorry to barge in like this-” She starts out.

“Then why did you?” I curtly ask.

It wasn’t in me to be rude, but she made Gabby upset for some reason and I didn’t like that. I found it hard to believe that her presence alone would get my girl pissed off at me just because she showed up. No. She had to have said something to her to get her riled like that and stomp off in that adorable yet frustrating way.

The woman, who I couldn’t even remember the name of, was thrown off guard a bit. She readjusts herself on the cushion and clears her throat.

“I know what we had was just a one-time thing. Honestly, it was the best sex I’ve ever had if I may be frank.” She gives what I was assuming was a flirty smirk.

It wasn’t doing anything for me. In fact, it was making feel disgusted that I ever even laid with her in the first place. My previous hookups were suddenly bringing me shame.

“We were both so intoxicated that night, I don’t think either of us had much of a thought of making sure that we were responsible enough.”

I frown at her words. What the hell was she going on about? My spine stiffens as I peer at her closer as she continues to spout out a bunch of nonsense.

“I always make sure that I take my birth control pills and always have a backup…”

I start to tune her out, my mind racing at what she was implying. Then it hits me, and an awful sense of foreboding unfolds in my chest.

“Did you tell Gabby that you’re pregnant? With my child?” I clench out, slow rage filling me up inside. Completely cutting her off again.

She looks a bit confused and shocked at my sudden change of attitude. “Gabby? Whose Gabby? I’m trying to tell you that I am in fact pregnant. And it is your child.” She stresses out.

My blood runs cold, and I couldn’t seem to move a muscle. Did this woman seriously come all the way here, at my grandfather’s farm, and start accusing me of getting her pregnant? There were so many flaws in this already.

“How far along are you?” I ask, fisting my hands together to keep them from bashing something in.

As if this situation hasn’t happened to me before. I didn’t know how many times women came to me with this same declaration of having my baby. Just for all of them to be false. I find this woman to be no different.

“I’m just thirteen weeks this past Tuesday. If you want proof, I have the pregnancy test and sonogram right here-”

“Those could be fabricated.” I snap at her.

She slowly closes her purse back as she was in the process of taking them out. “I can see that you are going to be difficult about this. I was hoping that-”

“That, what? That I’ll automatically believe you, take care of you, accept the baby as mine? How am I to know that you’re not trying to gain from this? You think you’re the first person to come to me claiming that I impregnated them? You’re not.”

I stand up now, looking down at her. She doesn’t move, doesn’t say another word as she just blankly stares at me.

“I also doubt that I was the only guy you slept with in that timeframe.” I snap ruefully.

“I never took you as a cold-hearted man that doesn’t own up to his responsibilities like a real gentlemen. I don’t know how else to prove to you that I am pregnant and that you’re the-”

“Enough!” I nearly yell at her. “There are a few flaws in your story. One, I don’t just get intoxicated. I happen to hold my liquor very well, especially in the case of sleeping with someone. Neither of us were that drunk because I don’t make it a habit to fuck women that are not able to make a conscience decision such as who they sleep with.”

I take a step back from her. “Another flaw is the actual timeframe. I remember every date I fall into bed with someone because of the accusations of this previously. I watch every step carefully.”

“So, you’re just going to deny your hand in this?” She was starting to lose her cool now. Almost like she was becoming desperate. “To deny that I am pregnant and-”

“I never said I denied that you’re with child. I’m telling you that I’m just not the father that you’re claiming me to be.”

She starts huffing in flustered anxiety now as she starts to grab her things. “I was an idiot for even coming here, thinking I could actually persuade you. My family and friends warned me about you and your reactions. I didn’t actually believe them to be true.”

“I don’t give a fuck what you or your family and friends think. If the child had been mine, I would have gladly stepped up and become that figure for them. But I know without a doubt that they’re not. Another thing I’m being highly pissed off about is the fact that you came here spouting that bullshit to a woman I happen to be in love with, upsetting her for no damn reason.”

She stops and stares at me with wide eyes. “In love with? Now that’s a first for someone who claimed to be a forever bachelor.”

I take a deep calming breath, wanting her off this property already. She continues to stare at me then her eyes light up in understanding. “Oh. Was it the young girl that came up to me when I was first knocking? She’s awfully young, Enzo.”

I snap my eyes at her in a fit of annoyance. What the fuck does she know? “Gabby happens to be twenty years old.” I clench out.

Shock shows on her face. “Oh. I thought she was maybe a teenager working on the weekends or something.”

A growl almost escapes me hearing that. I wasn’t even that much older than her, but I wasn’t stupid enough to know that Gabby didn’t look that young. I know what she was trying to do, and it was beginning to piss me off. I stand there not saying another word, crossing my arms waiting for her to leave.

“Regardless, I still think you need to let this sink into your head that you are going to be a father. I don’t want my child not being able to know who their father is and I’m sure you’ll regret neglecting them in return.”

“If you’re not going to prove it Enzo, then I will.”

We both swing our heads to Nonno as he stood there looking hard pressed and completely scowling in my direction. Was he fucking serious right now? He walks over to the woman and stands by her side as he continues.

“She’s claiming to be pregnant and with your child no less. It doesn’t matter if you think she’s lying. I’ll be damned to know that I have a great grandchild out there in the world not knowing who their family is. She stays until we can confirm whether or not this child is a Giordano.”

I open my mouth to argue but he snaps at me and says,

“Not another word, Tesoro.”