Chapter 121 Being safe
I have no fucking clue what is going on and I hate it.
Uncle Enzo is over at our house with two guns that I can see, who knows how many others he has on him?
"Mom, what's going on?" I want to know.
"I honestly don't know, baby girl." Mom shakes her head. "T.J. just said that Enzo will be here for security until he gets back."
Security in our own home? Something is definitely up with that phone call from Miguel, too, who said he wouldn't make it tonight.
I had this whole speech prepared about being pregnant. I had some time to think about things, and I think I want to keep the baby. I don't plan on giving up my career, though, we live in a new world where women don't have to choose. I can afford a nanny for the times I can't look after the baby myself.
At least that's what I think I'm going to do. The company has emailed me, telling me they would love for me to stay, they are currently looking for a new Creative Director, and that I can go back to classes on Monday.
I researched that I can still train, and to just be careful when I get heavier.
I'm having a baby. I'm both freaked out and excited. The timing is not perfect, and not something I really saw for myself. My parents are probably going to kill Miguel for sure, but I know this baby will be loved. And I know Miguel will want it.
He's not answering his phone, and it feels like forever before T.J. comes walking through the doors, with an expression on his face that I do not like.
"Is everything okay, T.J.?" Dad asks with concern.
"Miguel was shot at a block over."
"What!" I jump from the couch, my heart beating in overdrive. "Is he hurt? Where is he?"
Oh my god! Will his body even withstand more trauma? He got lucky the last time, but I don't think he would be able to withstand another.
"He didn't get hit." T.J. assures me. "But it was definitely professional, we reviewed all the camera footage in the area."
"Another professional hit like Armando." Even Dad looks pale.
Does that mean Ben knows about me and Miguel? How did he find out?
"He's also being followed, but he was very careful. He's not staying in his house, and he took a taxi, exiting from the back door of the hotel." T.J. frowns, shaking his head as if he too wants to make sense of it all. "So how did they know he was on his way here?"
I don't like the way T.J. is looking at me.
"Maybe Madison's phone is bugged." Uncle Enzo says, and the phone falls from my hand to the carpet.
It feels like I don't belong in this world. A world where people around me gets killed. It's like I'm a bad omen.
But I'm not the only one that I have to think of anymore. I can't just throw myself in Miguel's arms and hope everything will work out in the end.
I have to do something. I have to protect the life growing inside of me.
Everyone is making plans around me, thinking of ways how to keep me hidden and protected.
I corner T.J. when everyone is over having dinner, worried about me as is the norm ever since we found out about Katherine, but it feels like I'm in a prison. One that I don't want to be in.
"Can I talk to you in my bedroom?"
Everyone is so consumed with what is going on, Mom has even forgotten to check up on what I'm eating, not noticing the only thing I'm having is water and fruit juice.
He closes the door behind me once we're in my bedroom. "Miguel is safe, he went back to his hotel, trying to get into contact with Lucille."
I'm not even feeling bothered that he is still looking for Lucille. If she can help us in any way, then I would welcome her with open arms.
"This is not about Mifuel." I clear my throat. "I need to get out of the city, I can't stay here with people getting killed and shit."
"Okay." He nods in agreement. "You could visit Miguel's mom, you liked it there last time."
"No connections to Miguel!" I say vehemently. "I don't want to be traced back to him in any form, and I need to be close to a very good hospital."
Being close to Miguel means putting our baby in danger. I'm not willing to risk that.
"Why the hell would you want to be close to a hospital? Is there something you're not telling me?"
"What I'm about to tell you stays between me and you. Promise me that first." At the end of the day, T.J. works for Uncle, he may have his own company, but everything always leads back to Uncle, and I don't want anyone knowing because they would upend everything, and right now I don't want that.
"I promise." I believe him, he wants this family safe just as much as me.
"I'm pregnant." I hold my hands up at the shocked expression coming over his face. "Please, I don't need any lectures right now, but can you imagine the carnage if Ben were to find out?"
"Does Miguel know?"
"No, and you're not telling him either." I say sternly. "I need an out here, somewhere Ben won't find me, not until he's fucking dead."