23
Dante
I don’t like the reports that I hear from Leone and Moreno that Nikki has barely touched her food.
Moreno had mentioned that she’s suffering from apparent morning sickness, and that’s probably why she hasn’t eaten.
Is it pure defiance?
No.
When she rushes into the bathroom, there is no faking her bringing up bile.
And somehow, she finds it in her to joke about getting her mouthwash.
I bend down and open the cupboard under the sink. I hand her a brand-new bottle of mint-flavored mouthwash.
She purses her lips and scrunches up her face. Apparently, she’s not as much of a snoop as I’d have thought.
Then again, it was in the bathroom that was for her to use. Maybe I should start listening to Moreno and let her out of her bedroom, give her a little more leeway.
But can I trust her?
She peels open the plastic and pours a small amount into a dixie cup, swooshing and spitting into the sink.
“Anything else? Soup? Crackers? Hot tea?” I suggest.
Things haven’t been great between us. I’m as much to blame as she is, but that’s beside the point. I’m honestly worried about her. I’m also concerned about the baby that she’s carrying, my child.
“As I said, I’m not hungry.” She brushes past me and slumps onto the mattress. It’s like the fire inside of her is blown out. Defeated.
I’m not used to seeing her like this.
I thought her lack of hunger was more out of a strike than anything else, but looking at her, examining her more closely, I’m concerned.
She’s lost a lot of weight. Shouldn’t she be putting on weight by now?
“I’m taking you to the hospital. Stay right there,” I say and step out into the hallway to find Moreno. I let him know that I’m concerned about Nikki’s well-being and to keep an eye on things while we’re gone.
He’ll have it handled.
Moreno brings my truck around to the front, freshly washed and detailed after its return. It’s been parked around the side, untouched.
I gather Nikki into my arms and carry her down the stairs and out the front door.
She squints under the evening sun that’s bright but not blinding. I should take Moreno’s advice and let her outside, but it’s hard for me to trust her. How can I when she’s Gino’s daughter?
At any moment, she could betray me.
How do I know that she’s not a plant to get intelligence for the DeLuca family?
It has certainly crossed my mind. Why else would he allow me the opportunity to marry his daughter? Just because he doesn’t want her to know he was behind her abduction seems far-fetched, even for Gino.
My stomach twists at the mere idea that Nikki is playing with me to gain freedom of my home. The office is locked, and the secrets that could destroy me aren’t kept out in the open for her to stumble upon.
I’m not careless.
Everything I do is calculated.