Chapter 108: Postwedding

Pregnant women don’t get periods.

Besides, my post-wedding sex life with Ramzi wouldn’t affect my body that quickly. It’s too soon.

“Pregnant women can bleed,” Melanie says. “My mom always does.”

“But that’s not normal,” I murmur.

“It’s risky, but I have five siblings, so apparently it works anyway,” she jokes.

I can’t find the humor in the situation.

I’m far too shocked.

“How do you know all this?” I ask, searching for a flaw in her logic.

The teenager simply smiles, lifts her phone, and goes back to whatever she was reading.

My heart starts racing.

Could I really be...?

Oh my God.

It’s too much to process.

I’m a tangled mess of fear, excitement, and anxiety, and all I want right now is someone to talk to.

Someone other than this random teenager who apparently knows more about pregnancy than any adult woman I’ve ever met.

Dan’s wife’s face appears in my mind, and suddenly I desperately need to talk to her.

Milena has been through this before. She knows more than I do about symptoms and everything related to pregnancy.

Besides, maybe she has a test at home...

And maybe I’ll have the courage to take it and settle my doubts.

Before talking to Ramzi.

After all, I don’t want to get his hopes up only to disappoint him if the result is negative.

I glance out at the party and see Rebecca chatting gracefully, every inch the perfect first lady. My bodyguards are still distracted by the girls, and I don’t want to bother anyone right now.

“Can you do me a favor?” I ask Melanie.

She nods without looking away from her phone.

“Can you tell my mother-in-law that I’m going to Dan’s house?”

“Uh-huh,” she murmurs.

I sigh and head toward the widow’s front door, taking advantage of the fact that everyone is gathered outside in the backyard.

I find a taxi at the end of the street, give the driver Milena’s address, and hope he can take me there.

Here's the English translation:

“Sereia, does Ramzi know you’re here?”

Dan’s deep voice cuts through the room, and I immediately turn my head to see him standing in the doorway.

I’m sitting on the floor playing with Alice, and I’ve completely lost track of time. Being with her made me imagine what it would be like to be with my own child, and the thought filled my heart with happiness.

I still haven’t told Milena about my suspicion because, on the way here, I decided I wanted to take the test with Ramzi. But when I arrived at her house, my sister-in-law greeted me so warmly that Alice immediately stole all of my attention.

“Dan—” Milena tries to intervene, but he shakes his head. His dark eyes remain fixed on me.

This is one trait he shares with his brother.

“No, Witch. We’re not getting involved in my brother’s marriage.”

“I asked Melanie to tell your mother,” I reply.

“That teenager?” Dan scoffs in disbelief. “She told her you went to another man’s house.”

“It was supposed to be yours!”

“Well, apparently she forgot my name, and that made my brother lose his mind.”

I don’t know what to say. I stand up while listening to Alice’s protests.

“Auntie! Auntie!”

The little girl calls after me, but I can’t answer.

Dan keeps staring at me.

Ramzi doesn’t know I’m here.

Seeing my silence, my husband’s younger brother pulls out his phone and growls irritably.

“Fuck.”

He types something and raises the phone to his ear, making it clear he’s calling my husband.

“She only came to see Alice! If you call your brother, he’ll take Sereia away, and she wants to stay here for a while.”

“I’m not going to stop my brother from coming to get his wife, Milena.”

“Don’t be an idiot, Dan!”

Milena confronts him, but he’s too stressed. And the last thing I want is to cause problems for the family of the person who welcomed me into their home.

“I didn’t...” My words die before I can finish them.

“Ramzi is insane, Sereia. Nothing about my brother is rational when it comes to you. He’s already killed three soldiers this morning because they took their eyes off you.”

His tone is irritated until the call seems to be answered.

“She’s here.”

Dan nods at whatever Ramzi says and slips the phone back into his pocket.

His eyes remain locked on me as he places his hands on his hips and sighs.

“I know my brother changed after the accident. But the effect you have on him goes beyond that. Ramzi acts like a jealous, territorial animal whenever he’s around you, and I swear you’re going to kill him if you keep pulling these stunts. He’s the Don, for fuck’s sake. But he’d burn Chicago to the ground for you.”

“Dan!”

“No, Milena. She needs to face the consequences of being married to a mobster.”

Then he looks back at me.

“He’s never going to let you leave. He’ll die before he allows another man to touch you. Ramzi used to be balanced and rational, but he loses control because of you. He kills soldiers, breaks alliances, threatens and hurts important men... all to mark his territory. So, for fuck’s sake, work out your problems behind closed doors and stop dragging the Outfit into this shit.”

His words hit me like a bucket of ice water.

I want to argue.

I want to scream.

I didn’t do anything on purpose. I was confused. I wanted the company of someone I trusted. I didn’t want to bother anyone.

I don’t deserve to hear all of this.

But I’m in Dan’s house, and I won’t disrespect him.

So I look at Milena and force a smile.

“Thank you for having me. I’m leaving.”

“Your husband is on his way.”

“I’ll go by myself. I know where the exit is.”

I lift my chin stubbornly, and Dan rubs his face, exhausted.

I’m about to walk out when the sound of tires catches my attention.

A car pulls up outside, and judging by the force with which the door slams shut, I already know who it is.

Dan rushes forward and opens the door before his brother can break it down.

The moment Ramzi walks in and our eyes meet, I understand exactly what Dan meant.

A jealous, territorial animal.

Ramzi is practically snarling.

His eyes burn with fury. His jaw is locked. His fists are clenched.

His dress shirt is rolled up to his elbows, and I notice his knuckles are split open and smeared with blood.

“Ramzi,” Dan says when he notices the state of his brother.

But Ramzi never looks away from me.

“Get in the car, Sereia.”

“Ramzi—”

This time it’s Milena who tries to intervene, but he ignores her too.

“Get in the fucking car before my patience runs out.”