Chapter 42: Chapter 42

"How do you feel seeing your brother alive?" Ella probs once we were alone in the booth. My eyes flitting to Lucien, a soft smile appears on my face before looking at the cocktail my fingers plays on the rim of the glass.

Shrugging. I look again to Lucien by the bar who converse along with Santiago and the bartender. "I don't know. Happy, scared..."

"Scared? Why so?" Her brows twitching in confusion.

"I cannot hide the baby for so long. He will eventually know I am pregnant and who the father is. I just found out I'm pregnant and my brother is alive. His father doesn't want a family yet and Lucien won't have it that I have a baby with a Russian Mafia. It is all so confusing for me right now that I can't place my emotions. It all happened so fast, its scary to me." She nods as if getting the turmoil I battle with on the inside.

"I understand. But have you tried talking to Elijah. You won't know until you try Nia." Shaking my head furiously, I counter. A migraine crept in, expelling deeply I rub at my temples letting

out an exhausting groan out.

"I wish it was that simple. Elijah is a very difficult man, it's either his way or the highway." Her face morphs into a frown.

"You can't hide his baby forever. How will you explain the morning sickness and puking? Also you have to tell Lucien about Elijah, he is your brother which I'm sure he will have a change of heart." Chuckling humorlessly, it made me realise how far away she is close to knowing the man who has already claimed her as his. Lucien has very similar traits to Elijah which she doesn't know yet that she is in for the long run.

"It may have been years without him but Lucien is a Vatore. We are naturally adamant. Just please, don't say a word till both parties hears it from me."

"And when will that be? Huh?" Our eyes meets the men coming to us with drinks in their hands.

Solemnly, I mutter. "Truthfully. I do not know."

"Here you go ladies." Lucien says placing her drink in front of her while connecting his lips to her cheeks. She blushes furiously causing me to smile.

"Good to see him again right?" Santiago muse as a whisper placing the cool beverage I ordered for in my hand taking his seat.

"Can't over emphasize more on it."

"Just as I cannot over emphasize on the Vatore's mischievous sins." Groaning at the memory of what Lucien and I were being called as kids. And oh! So mischievous we were.

"Ugh, don't remind me. I am no longer mischievous, I am now a woman; a grown woman Santiago." Rolling my eyes scooting farther for him to see my show off, flipping my hair, a

teasing smile gracing my lips.

"I see that everyday still yet waiting for a taste." Someone clears his throat.

"We may have reconnected but more words like that about my baby sister and you won't like it." Raising his hands in surrender, Santiago knows fully well how protective Lucien is of me. Hence, being wise enough to keep his flimsy flirt safe from Lucien's ears. Not helping it, Ella and I burst out in chuckles.

Conversations began to roll in, talking about everything and anything randomly until Santiago got a call from his long awaited client. Feels good to deal in weaponry and not worry about your death sentence. Makes me remember how it was back then for us with the exception of Ella in our midst. Both he and Lucien helped me in the best of ways of becoming who I am.

Smiling at the fond memory, I watch him sit up.

"I'm out." He announces curtly to our little group downing his last glass at a go. Crouching low his breath tickles my neck whispering the words. "You still owe me a date baby girl." I don't know why my face suddenly got flush. Taking my eyes away from the piercing gaze directed at me from Ella, I look elsewhere enjoying the scenery of the bar. Feigned.

"I will be back." She says strutting off the corner. I thought I escaped till our eyes meet again and she gives me a knowing grin. Groaning internally, it makes me think how am I friends with her again?

********** conversation in Italian *********

Looking back and forth, Lucien notices been on alert. "We need to talk Lucien. Someone is after me by the name Leandro." Getting straight to the point.

"Leandro?"

"Yes. And if word goes out another Vatore is alive we may," Leaving the words hanging to which he understood. "I’m sure you get it. My sources are already working on it, so we need

to act fast and find whoever this Leandro is." Nodding he pulls out a tablet from his leather jacket.

"Do you have a picture?"

"No. Just a name. A ghost name." Ella comes back cutting our conversation short. Giggles left her lips telling us how obvious it is she is tipsy.

"Dance with me." Pulling me by my arm I got tempted to go but then again the timer I started to get me back to the suite before Elijah does went off.

"I can’t. I have to go." Snatching my kimono and shade of the table.

"Downer. You are a downer. Baby tell her to dance with me." Drunk Ella is a foul mouth Ella. Laughing it off, I faced Lucien who enjoys her little show.

"She is worse whenever she is drunk." Not glancing at me, he nods pulling her to his thighs forcefully.

"I know." Yelping, she begins to places kisses all over his face.

"Keep her safe. Okay?" At that, I quickly rush out of the bar flagging down a taxi which took me straight to the suite. Boycotting the main entrance of the building, I sneak in through the kitchen and laundry room hoping to evade any means of bumping into a furious Elijah because he always seems to be mad at nothing probably life itself; or worse my babysitters. Finally getting to our floor, I slot in the key card hurriedly getting in. A delightful sigh escapes my lips.

"And where the hell do you think you are coming from?" Shit!