Chapter 32

Pregnant?!

Ariel is pregnant with my child, and she is eight weeks already? How come I didn’t notice the signs?

We have been together every day ever since her mother passed away.

I had my doubts that she was sick, but I have never thought that she might be pregnant.

But to think of it, we have never used protection before. And it is all my fault all over again.

I have ruined her future by making her pregnant so young. And after what had happened, this would be too much to handle.

She is fragile and weak emotionally and physically. What if she decided to have an abortion?

Do I have the right to tell her no and I want to keep that baby? I don’t want to be selfish again.

I looked at Ariel as she slept peacefully. The frown on her face looked permanent and her expressions were ones of pain.

I caressed between her brows and she sighed softly, making me smile to myself. Then I looked at my brother as he breathed deeply.

Michael patted her hand after making sure that her breathing evened and then he began to check her body for hidden injuries.

When we found her on the floor, she was a crying mess, then she fainted. I held her in my arms and just left.

Leo and Michael were talking with the cops who were arresting Lola, but I had my eyes only on my woman.

We have come late, and someone had called the cops. Lola was caught in the act.

Blood and gores were everywhere. She was standing on top of Giovanni’s still body, panting and holding a kitchen knife.

Ariel was sprawled on the floor screaming while looking at the dead bastard.

We all stood frozen, watching the scene taking place in front of us. It felt surreal.

Leo, Michael, and I weren’t sure if this was actually real. We have forgotten about our fear and worry and kept watching.

I have never thought that this sweet girl can do something like that, but I guess I should be grateful to her for saving my beloved.

Lola glared at us the moment she saw us enter the messy room and took a defensive stance in front of Ariel.

But when she saw that it was us, she relaxed a little. That’s when the police rushed inside after us.

Lola crouched in front of my shaken woman and whispered something into her ear.

And when she kept mumbling incoherently to herself, not seeing or hearing anything, she slapped her hard.

Ariel turned to look at her with her buffy red eyes without blinking, but she nodded when Lola talked faintly for her ears only.

The police seized her after that and we couldn’t do anything about it.

Leo and Michael tried to tell them not to manhandle her, especially when she dropped to the ground with her hands above her head.

But it was useless. She was caught red-handed. I had to ignore her when I saw my Ariel fall to the ground unconscious.

All that mattered to me at the moment was her. I know Lola is a strong girl and I would never let her be poisoned.

She is my sister too, and I know she is important to my brother. Everyone can see that since the day she was born.

Michael has been protective and territorial over her even though he never said anything, but we all knew.

These two have been in love for a long time ago, but my brother didn’t say anything.

He waited for her to become an adult before even entertaining the thought of confessing his real feelings.

My brother stood and gave her another calculated look before leaving the room.

I kissed the love of my life’s forehead slowly and then I rested mine above hers.

“I promise you that I will accept whatever decision you take my Ariel. You are enough for me and if you want to......I...I will not ask you for anything. Just be safe for me, my love.”

I gave her another quick kiss before standing up and leaving the room.

Now that I’m sure that she is safe and sound, I need to address my other problems.

Jason and my boys, then Lola’s situation. Leonidas must be back by now after making sure that she was well, too.

The place was silent and gloomy. Everyone was away after all of this. And I easily can see the damage everywhere.

Their plan was perfect, and fate must have interfered when the girls decided to go out.

I just can’t understand why Giovanni would go after her. I mean, he must have known that we will be on his tail.

The man can’t be that stupid to throw everything away and corner Ariel. Was this his last attempt at revenge or something?

But why not just leave the country and escape? I couldn’t get to him all this time.

I stopped when I saw Leo dragging his legs tiredly to the kitchen.

I followed him silently and found Michael was there already, with a glass in his hand.

He poured one for me and Leo the moment he saw us enter after each other.

“How is she doing?”

I asked Leo after ten minutes spent in silence. He drank slowly before looking at it with an impassive face.

“She is ok. I made sure that she was comfortable there, and I talked to an officer we know to look after her.”

I nodded my head and gave my brother a side glance. He was looking away from us with a blank expression on his face.

“I will never let her be there for long, I promise you, brother. Lola is my sister too, and I’m in her debt for saving Ariel.”

I said while patting his shoulder. He turned away and nodded his head, spacing out.

I gritted my teeth. How did our life get that wrong? We have been living peacefully till that fucker Alessio attacked me.

Something crashed, and I heard the thud of a body falling to the ground.

I looked at the entrance of the kitchen and saw Jason on the floor, groaning and panting.

He was holding his side and biting his teeth from the pain. I stood up and was about to help him stand, but Leo beat me up to it.

“Why the fuck are you out of your bed? You have a damn concussion. I told you to wait for me, didn’t I?”

Even though his voice was angry and thunderous, his face looked worried and scared.

I stood in my place as he held him bridal style and then he sat on a big stool with Jason still in his arms.

“Fuck you. I won’t stay in my fucking bed while you are here alone, suffering from all this stress and anxiety. Lola is my friend like Ariel is and I will do all I can to help her, you fucker.”

Jason shouted angrily, and I smirked even though the situation was messed up.

Leo glared at him, but then he buried his face in the crook of his neck and breathed deeply.

“Thank you. I don’t know what to do. I feel powerless, as I can’t save my little sister.”

Jason hugged Leo and began to stroke his back soothingly when Leo’s voice cracked as he talked.

I looked away, my heart aching at the scene and the sound of his voice. My friend has never looked defeated like that.

“Shhh, don’t worry, I have already called someone who will help us. Trust me, if anyone can do it, it would be her.”

Leo raised his face a little and looked at Jason, confused. His eyes were full of questions, but he didn’t speak.

“Please trust me on this, ok. Isabella will be here soon. I have given her all of Lola’s details and she is on her way to the police station, then she will come here for updates.”

Leo swallowed hard, then he nodded his head as he buried it in Jason’s chest.

My brother’s glass clanked as it fell on the table, then he stood up.

I followed him as he walked outside the kitchen, then into the foyer, and when he kept on ignoring me, I grabbed his arm tightly to stop him.

He turned to look at me with narrowed eyes, and I did the same. This isn’t the calm collected Michael, no, this is his other self.

The dangerous one. The one we have been trying to keep him asleep.

“What do you want? I have surgery and I need to go back to the hospital after making sure that everyone was safe here.”

I let his arm go and scratched my head tiredly. This Michael, I don’t like dealing with.

“I just wanted to make sure that you are ok too, Michael. I know how much you care for Lola and I promise you that I will get her out of there.”

I spoke softly, trying not to agitate him further, but I saw his jaw clench and his eyes turn cold and distant.

“I know you will brother, that’s why I’m so calm about this entire ordeal and if you couldn’t get her out, I have my ways too.”

My little brother said as he stared at me through his broken sunglasses.

I nodded my head, and he gave me another cold look before leaving.

This isn’t good. I need to do something and do it quickly before he snaps.

People call me a monster for what I had done after my parents passed away, but they have no idea how I pale in comparison to my brother.

Since he was little and he had some issues dealing with intense emotions.

And the thing is sometimes he blanks and forgets everything he had done.

That’s why I have been trying to keep him away from this life, but I guess I can’t anymore.

I closed my apartment door behind me and went to the master bedroom.

I ran to the bed when I saw Ariel awake and crying. I hugged her tightly to me and she began to wail when I did that.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t do anything about it. Lola had to save me. I shouldn’t have left in the first place. It is my entire fault. But that man came to beg me to call you. He said that he was framed, and he didn’t kill mom. Then he became angry and was hurting me. Lola had to do something to save us me and….and….”

I pulled her in my lap and began to sway back and forth while stroking her hair and back.

After a few minutes, she calmed down and looked up at me with her teary eyes.

“You know?”

I nodded my head without asking about what she had meant. It was obvious she was talking about the baby.

“I want to keep it. The baby I mean ar... Are you ok with that?”

She asked me hesitantly as she caressed her little pump that I hadn’t noticed before.

I kissed her head and hugged her to my chest, sighing.

“Of course I’m. Nothing will make me happier than having that baby, Ariel, because it’s part of you. Thank you for giving me this gift. I was afraid that you might want to get rid of it.”

Ariel shook her head in a no and burrowed deeper into my embrace.

“I want to have a family with you, Gabriel. I know that you will be a great father and take care of us both.”

I pulled Ariel with me to sleep on the bed before covering the both of us and say.

“I’m not doing a great job so far, Ariel.”

She kissed my chin before holding my face and making me look into her eyes.

“No, Gabriel, you have been great to me and I’m sure that you will be a great father to that baby, too. And no matter what we face or the obstacles that will be in our way, I will be beside you and face them all because I love you.”

I leaned down and kissed her deeply, trying to tell her how much I love her and how much she means to me.

I wanted her to be sure that I would give anything to be just with her and our baby.

“And I love you too, my Ariel. Even though I’m not worthy of you and even though you deserve much more than this pathetic man, I will never give you up.”

My love chuckled and sat straighter, then she held my hand in hers before whispering something that took my breath away.

“I know it is not the time for this and we need to deal with Lola's problem but I know that you will get her out of this mess, so Gabriel, would you marry me?”