Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Thiago's POV ~

"I'm so fat Thiago." I rolled my eyes as my wife entered my office, without knocking, something she's been doing a lot lately. "You're beautiful Sophie." She shook her head and dropped down into the arm chair opposite my desk. "My jeans don't fit me."

"Sophie it's only been three weeks since we found out. Your bump can't possibly be that big yet." She shook her head in irritation and ran a hand through her hair. "It's not my bump, I'm bloated. Every time I eat I can't fit into my clothes Thiago. And I'm always eating!" I couldn't help but chuckle at her frustration causing her to glare at me. "Maybe you should stop eating so much."

"You don't know how it feels to be pregnant so don't give me stupid solutions. And don't laugh, you've got a flat toned stomach, I've got this." She gestured at her stomach which seemed pretty flat to me, I couldn't tell the difference between her normal self and her body now, but Sophie could definitely feel it. "What do you want me to do about it Sophie?"

"I don't know Thiago." She was silent for a while so I went back to reading through some paperwork to do with a new club I was opening soon. "Thiago." I hummed in response, my eyes running over the figures on the page in front of me.

"Can you make me some food please?" I rose an eyebrow at her sheepish tone, unable to hide the amusement on my face. "What?" I leaned back in my seat and waited for her to respond. "I'm hungry." I shook my head chuckling slightly. "I'll make you something soon, let me just finish this, Angelo needs it urgently."

She groaned and leaned back in her seat uncomfortably, I knew she was exaggerating to convince me. "That's not going to work Sophie." She sat up and glared me before getting up from her chair. "You're useless Thiago."

"Give me ten minutes tesoro." I gestured to her to sit back down which she did and she took out her phone to pass the time whilst I finished checking over all the numbers making sure it all added up. I had people do this for me before and they took the opportunity to steal from me, let's just say they didn't live for very long; now I only trust myself to do it.

My attention was taken away from checking that all the costs for the club added up when my phone rang. "Hello?" I listened to the person on the phone whilst I typed some figures into my calculator. "Boss, there's been a slight setback."

"What type of setback? What did I fucking say about wasting my time? Just tell me." I had no idea which of my men I was speaking to since I didn't save any of their numbers but whoever it was clearly scared of me, his voice quivered when he spoke. "Uh..someone attacked the club. It's all damaged."

"Have you found whoever did it?" He mumbled a no so I asked my next question. "Do you have an idea who did it?" Again he said no. "So what do you fucking want me to do about it? Find out who did it and tell Matteo, also fix up the club, I want it ready for the opening night, nothing is stopping this opening. Do you understand me?"

"B-but boss, it's been blown up. There's hardly anything left, we'll never be ready in two weeks." I chuckled as I listened to his attempt at trying to change my mind. "If it's not ready, it's your ass on the line. Don't think I won't kill you, I've killed people for much less than this. Don't fuck it up." With that I hung up my phone throwing it down on the table.

The opening of this club was much more than just a night of alcohol and strippers, it was all part of a plan to get someone at the same level as Dante on my side. I may be powerful, but I couldn't defeat someone like Dante on my own without risking the lives of my family and my unborn baby, which is an idea I wasn't even prepared to entertain. I hadn't heard from Dante since my father's birthday when everything went to shit, which only means he was planning something. Someone like Dante doesn't take being disrespected lightly, no matter how hard he tried to play it cool. That was only because he was outnumbered on the night since he was a guest at my party. It could easily be an equal fight though.I ignored Sophie's eyes on me as I continued working. I know she was annoyed about the way I spoke to the guy on the phone, but the way I speak to people beneath me will never change. I'm the boss, and they should know their place.

I finally finished and stood up to go and make her some food. Sophie followed me out of my office silently, lost in her own thoughts. She sat quietly while I made us both lunch, I don't know when I became the chef in this house but maybe it is for the best; Sophie couldn't cook to save her life.

"Here." I placed her food down in front of her causing a cheerful smile to stretch across her face, she quickly picked up her fork and dug in causing me to chuckle. "Slow down, that's why you're so bloated." She glanced up to give me a glare before going back to her food. By the way she was shovelling the risotto into her mouth you would think she hasn't eaten since I brought her to Italy.

"Oh Sophie. My family are coming to Milan." Her happiness quickly faded and she gave me a look of pure panic. "What?" I frowned and rested my elbows on the table leaning closer to her. "They're coming here, so I can tell them about the baby."

"But..all of them..?" I nodded slowly and her face soon grew paler by the second. "Sophie what's wrong?" She stood up and began pacing around the kitchen. "I don't want Carlotta or Mia in this house Thiago."

"Why not?" She shook her head recalling the memories from our trip to Sicily months ago. "They hate me. Seriously Thiago, with this baby, I can't take the stress." I stood up and made my way over to her, I gently placed my hands on her cheeks to make her look at me. "They're not going to do anything because I'll be with you every second. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"But Thiago...Carlotta hates me. You didn't listen to me when I told you what she said to me." I shook my head and placed my lips on hers to silence her, I pulled away and rested my forehead on hers. "I did baby, and trust me when I see her I'll tell her she was wrong. But you don't have to worry about her, she's not going to do anything to you; don't forget you are carrying her niece or nephew." Sophie scoffed before pecking my lips once and walking past me back to her food. "My baby is going to hate her, aren't you?" She looked down at her stomach with a loving smile, rubbing it with one hand as she had another spoon of her risotto. I rolled my eyes at her and took my seat again.

Just as I went to finally eat my food the door bell rang causing me to groan. "I would get the door for you baby but you told to me not to. Remember?" She glanced up at me with a smirk and I rolled my eyes before standing up. "Wait until something bad happens, then you'll understand." She stuck her tongue out at me as I passed her. "How old are you again?" I heard her chuckle as I made my way to the front door, I opened it revealing my favourite two people.

"What do you want?" Matteo grinned in response to my question and pushed me out the way, he and Angelo made their way into my house going straight for the kitchen. "Come in why don't you?" I shut the door and followed them into the kitchen.

"Thiago, mom and dad are coming tonight." As soon as the words left his mouth, Sophie began to choke on her food. I quickly made my over to her, patting her back until she stopped. I handed her a glass of water before turning back to my brother, still rubbing her back soothingly. "They said two weeks."

"I know, mom has some sort of thing in a few weeks so they decided to come earlier. Carlotta and Mia are coming too." Sophie let out a groan of annoyance causing Angelo to chuckle, I sent him a glare before turning back to Matteo when Sophie spoke. "They're not staying here, are they?"

"Don't worry they're staying in a hotel. They're not going to interfere in your adult nap time." Matteo sent Sophie a smirk causing a blush to instantly rise on her cheeks. "Stop it Matteo." The two idiots chuckled and took a seat at the table next to Sophie. "I just want to eat my food in peace." I sat down and started eating, frowning at the cold risotto. "Do you want me to heat it up?" I shook my head at Sophie and carried on eating. "I need to go and finish my work, this is taking too damn long." She went silent in response to my cold tone laced with irritation. I wasn't used to being interrupted so many times throughout the day, I chose not to go to the head quarters today since I needed to concentrate but I forgot that schools were on a break so Sophie would be home. She didn't stop teaching when we found out about the baby but I made sure that the school is constantly being watched and that she is protected. There's also numerous guards outside our house now. I wasn't risking anything.

"The house isn't even ready. They're coming here?" The two nodded in response to her question and Sophie sighed. "Thiago you need to help me." I shook my head and pointed at the two next to me. "Tell them, I've got too much to do. I'm already behind, I still have to go and see someone today, it's getting late."

"Hold on, we only came to give the message, we're going to see a movie." I glared at Angelo who sent me a small smile and ushered Matteo out the kitchen. Sophie stood to her feet taking her empty dish to the sink, at least one of us got to finish. "Come on Thiago, we need to go shopping so you can cook later." I resisted the urge to groan as she picked up my car keys and made her way to the door.

Remind me to never get married again.

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

I sat opposite my mom, Carlotta and Mia, on my right was Sophie and on my left was Matteo with my father sitting at the head of the table. "So Thiago, how is everything going? I hope you've sorted something out to deal with him ." I shook my head and sighed. "I'm trying, my plan was to meet with someone at the opening of the new club but there's been an attack on it so that may not be happening." My father just shook his head in disappointment and stayed quiet. I frowned at his reaction but didn't question it, he probably just disagreed with the way I'm handling the situation.

Sophie cleared her throat next to me to break the awkward silence. "Paola how have you been?" My mom sent Sophie a smile and nodded. "Good, I have a runway event in a few weeks to raise awareness for breast cancer, so I've been busy organising that. As you can imagine it's stressful." Sophie frowned slightly in confusion but nodded nonetheless.

"Mom is fashion designer." I looked over at Carlotta who was glaring at Sophie, my fists clenched under the table at the look she was giving her. I decided this was the perfect time to break the news to everyone, just to see the shocked look on my sister's face when she finds out.

I stood up and pulled a reluctant Sophie up with me. "We have something we would like to share with you all.." I glanced down at Sophie who kept her eyes down to avoid looking at anyone, I squeezed her hand reassuringly before I spoke.

"Sophie is two and a half months pregnant." The room fell completely silent as I faced four shocked faces. My mom was the first to speak, tears were threatening to spill from her eyes as she stood up. "I'm going to be a grandmother?" I nodded in response to her question, a small smile playing on my lips.

The tears soon fell from her eyes as she rounded the dining table to give Sophie a hug which she accepted. The two embraced as my mom mumbled quiet things to Sophie. When they separated Sophie had tears in her eyes causing me to frown but my mom quickly caught me off guard by tackling me into a hug. "I'm so proud of you my baby, you'll both make great parents and I'm sure you'll raise a beautiful family together." I closed my eyes holding on tightly to my moms petite frame. "Thank you." She pulled away from me and gave me one last smile.

"Oh look what the two of you have done to me. I'm going to the bathroom to freshen up." She chuckled to herself as she made her way out of the room, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. As soon as she left the room fell silent again, neither of my sisters had spoken once since the news had been announced. Sophie and I sat down and I rubbed my thumb over her hand which was gripping mine tightly."Congratulations Sophie." Mia smiled at Sophie who gave her own tight lipped smile in response. "Thank you." The tension in the room was thick as everyone avoided making eye contact with one another. I glanced over at my father who was frowning at his plate, he didn't say a word.

"Are you guys excited then?" I looked over at Matteo who was forcing a smile trying to eliminate the tension which seemed to be impossible at the moment. Sophie took a sip of her water and cleared her throat before she spoke. "Yeah, it was unexpected but we're happy." He nodded whilst sipping his wine before throwing me a smirk. "Shits about to get crazy for you bro." I chuckled at his comment and nodded.

"Matteo, if you're going to spend time around me or the baby when it's born, you need to stop swearing." Sophie's tone was firm when she spoke to my brother who was frowning before he pointed at me. "He swears more than I do."

"It's rude to point Matteo." I gave him a smirk but it faltered when Sophie turned to me with the same look she gave my brother. "And you. No swearing around my bump."

"So you think you can tell everyone what to do just because you're pregnant now?" Sophie looked at Carlotta who was glaring at her with pure anger blazing in her brown eyes which ran through our family. "You can't, Thiago and Matteo may have gone soft on you, they may have fallen for your charm , but no one else has. Not even my mom."

"Carlotta. Shut up." My sister glared at me and opened her mouth to retaliate but my father beat her to it. "That's enough!" Both my sisters jumped at the booming sound of my fathers voice just when my mom came back into the room.

"Dominico? What's the matter?" My father held a hand up signalling my mom to stop speaking; she may act like her marriage is perfect, but the truth is she's just not as fiery as Sophie. My father was the same with her, he controlled her, the only difference is she allowed it, Sophie doesn't.

"Thiago. This has gone too far." My father stood up from his seat at the head of the table, the chair dragging across the floor as he focused all his attention on me. "This girl , isn't one of us. Any wife of a De Mancuso should know her place and should know to respect someone above her." My father turned to Sophie giving her a disgusted sneer. "The way she spoke to Dante should have had her killed, or if not, then punished severely. Instead you reward her like the

puttana that she is and now she's pregnant."

(whore)

"Dad." He ignored me and continued his rant. "I want that baby aborted Thiago. I want her gone, she cost us our alliance with Dante! She has brought shame and humiliation on our family!" I glared at my father, I tried to keep my temper under control but as soon as he mentioned killing my baby, I lost my composure.

"Why? Because she stood up for herself?! I agree she shouldn't have done it but Dante deserved it, and we can replace him. As for my baby and Sophie, I will protect them both with my life, for as long as I live." My father scoffed and let out a dark chuckle.

"So romantic. First you force her to come here, now you love her, very nice." At the mention of the word 'love' I gritted my teeth in an attempt to stop myself from shouting at my father; someone who I had been taught to respect.

"Son, if you don't take care of it . Then I will, I can easily have someone put her down."

"If you do that then I will have you killed." My cold words lingered in the air, I glanced over at my mother who was staring at me with pure shock. I never thought I would say those words either, but I wasn't playing about with my baby's life.

"Don't forget I'm head of the mafia now, not you. You may have some loyal men left but everyone answers to me. So don't you dare threaten my wife or my child again." The room stayed silent as I held my fathers stare, he nodded and made his way over to me. I watched his movements carefully as he stood just an arms width away from me, the coldest glare I had ever seen etched upon his face. I stayed firm on my feet when his hand drew back and delivered a blow to my right cheek.

"You aren't fit to rule the mafia. Matteo should have taken over. If you can let your love for this bitch blind you, then you're not the man I thought you were. You no longer have a place in this family." I kept my face emotionless, ignoring the stabbing pain in my heart as I glared into my father's eyes. The one thing I had always worked tirelessly for was my family, especially my father. My main goal was to make him proud.

"In your eyes I may not be the man for the job, but nothing you say can change it. As for the family, there's no real family here anyway. You just control mom and the girls, Matteo is my brother and my best friend and I'm confident he will remain by my side; no matter what."

"Let's see then. Your mother and I are leaving now. We'll see where their love really lies." My father's eyes moved to Sophie who shot up out of her chair. "This is ridiculous! You may hate me, but don't take it out on your son! You can't make them-" She gestured over at Mia and Carlotta who were watching the whole ordeal with tears pouring down their faces. "- choose between their parents and their brother. That's not fair."

My father ignored every word she said and made his way over to my mother who was still standing in the same place. "Thiago is my brother. I'm staying with him." Matteo came and stood next to me, placing his hand on my shoulder to comfort me.

"I should have known, both my sons are pathetic." I shook my head at my father who glared at the two of us. "Girls let's go." He put his coat on and began to walk towards the door but Carlotta's voice stopped him. "He's your son, and you're walking away from him? That baby is your grandchild."

He stopped in his tracks but made no effort to turn around. "You disgust me." Carlotta glanced over at Sophie and I before looking at my parents. "I'm staying with my brothers." She turned to Mia who was observing the situation, all eyes were on her as she slowly stood up.

"I'm sorry Thiago." I frowned as I watched my younger sister make her way toward my parents. My father wrapped his arm around her shoulders and shot me a smirk. "You were never good enough to be a De Mancuso, Thiago." With that he walked out of my dining room and out of the house, my sister and mother followed quietly behind without sparing me another glance.