Bride by Initiation: Secret Society Mafia Marriage Pact (The Underworld Book 1)
Bride by Initiation: Chapter 32

One Month Later

The woman behind the front desk stops and calls out, ‘Mrs. O’Malley?’

I stop and turn toward her. ‘Yes, Sheila?’

‘The mailman said you need to start emptying your box, or he’ll have to take it to the post office. He won’t deliver anything again until it’s picked up,’ she relays.

I wince. ‘Sorry. I don’t know why we keep forgetting.’

She smiles. ‘No worries. He said you have until tomorrow. Do you want to use this box?’ She grabs one from behind the desk and puts it on the counter.

‘That would be great. Thank you,’ I say, and pick it up. I go over to the mail area and unlock the metal container.

It’s stuffed to the max. I tug several envelopes out before I can pull more than one piece at a time. I drop everything in the box and take it to the penthouse.

Yawning, I set the box on the table, remove my heels, and sort through everything, separating bills from junk mail. I get to the last piece and freeze.

Social Security Administration is marked on the envelope.

I yawn again, wondering why I’m so tired lately, then open the envelope and stare at my new Social Security card.

Zara Luciana O’Malley.

I smile, put the card on the table, then toss all the junk in the trash can. I set the bills in the basket and then glance at the time.

‘Shoot,’ I mutter and pick up my phone.

I go into the bedroom, take off my work suit, and pull on an oversized sweater. I step into my jeans, but I can barely get them zipped.

My body is going rogue.

I better start counting some calories.

I yank off the jeans and slide a pair of black leggings on. They feel tighter but not as bad as the denim.

My stomach growls, and I scold, ‘Stop that!’ then I step into the bathroom and pull up my sweater, staring at my stomach.

How did I gain weight and not notice?

It’s just my belly, I tell myself in relief, then freeze.

My boobs look huge.

My gut flips as I try to recall the last time I got my period.

Panic hits me. I order a pregnancy test online, select the expedited delivery option, and it arrives within ten minutes. I take it to the bathroom, open the foil, and pull out the stick.

My heart races.

No time like the present.

I sit on the toilet, pee on the stick, and set it on the counter. For the entire two minutes, I stare at it with anxiety flaring and then exploding when a plus sign appears.

I pick it up and gape at it.

Holy shit.

I’m pregnant.

What is Sean going to think?

We haven’t talked about kids. Everything was about The Underworld. Now that we have our seats, the new worry is how to get out of Sean’s debt without Fiona having to marry Kirill. And since we don’t know when the Omni will decide it’s time, we know the clock is ticking.

Sean gets flustered whenever we discuss it. We always end up in bed, with Sean on a mission to outperform our last sex session.

I’m not complaining, but it’s made him a tad mentally absent lately. I don’t know how he’s going to react.

I enter the kitchen, grab my Social Security card, and go to my office. I open the closet and pull out my crate of gift wrap, sorting through different bags until I replace a small black box with a gold ribbon.

I stick the pregnancy test and Social Security card in it, then secure the ribbon.

Within minutes, Sean arrives with bags of Italian food. He sets them down, kisses me on the lips, then wiggles his eyebrows, asking, ‘Are you ready for parentgeddon?’

I groan. ‘Let’s hope it’s not that bad.’

He kisses me on the forehead and states, ‘I think we’ll be good.’ He takes a tray of lasagna out of the bag.

‘My dad did promise to try and forgive you for ruining all his fatherly wedding dreams,’ I add, recalling the conversation where I made peace with my parents and told him I wouldn’t dig into his past anymore. But I also stipulated he needed to get over his animosity toward Sean. Mom agreed.

Sean cringes. ‘Can’t say I blame the guy. If I had a daughter, I’d kill the guy who married her and didn’t ask me for her hand in marriage.’

‘Well, aren’t you old school,’ I tease.

He shrugs. ‘She better marry someone I approve of, or he’ll be six feet under.’

My butterflies take off. I reach for the box and hold it out to him. ‘I got you something.’

His lips twitch. ‘You did?’

‘Yeah. Well, two things, actually.’

‘Why do you look nervous?‘

‘I’m not,’ I lie.

He looks excited yet cautious. He unties the bow, lifts the lid, and goes still.

I babble, ‘I only planned on showing you my name change, but then I couldn’t fit into my jeans and realized I hadn’t had my period. Since you can’t keep your hands off me, and I kind of forgot to refill my birth control, well…well, now we’re having a baby.’

He slowly lifts his gaze to mine. ‘You forgot to refill your birth control?’

My gut dives. ‘Yeah. Sorry. There’s just been a lot going on.’ I bite on my lip.

He stares at me.

I blurt out, ‘Are you mad at me?’

He tosses the box on the counter and slides his hand around to the back of my head. He fists my hair and tugs it back.

I gasp, squeezing my thighs together.

He slides his hand over my belly. ‘My baby’s in here?’

‘Of course it’s your baby. Who else’s baby would it be? Don’t even start that with me because⁠—’

He slips his tongue in my mouth and kisses me until I’m whimpering.

‘Is it a boy or a girl?’ he mumbles, smiling against my lips, his greens twinkling.

I laugh. ‘I don’t know. I just peed on the stick!’

‘When do we get to replace out?’

‘Maybe we should let it be a surprise,’ I suggest, even though I’m dying to know.

‘No way!’ Sean declares.

‘So you aren’t mad?’

He grunts. ‘Don’t be a little brat.’ He leans into my ear and palms my ass, squeezing my cheek. ‘Don’t think this means I’m not going to bend you over my knee later tonight and spank you.’

The ache in my core burns hotter. I murmur, ‘Don’t tease me before parentgeddon.’

‘I should⁠—’

The doorbell rings.

I glance at the clock. ‘They’re early.’

‘No, I asked them to come now. I need to talk to your dad about work stuff,’ he claims.

I pout. ‘No work talk.’

‘Don’t worry. It won’t take too long. You and the others can catch up. But don’t you dare tell them about the baby until I’m here,’ he adds, walking toward the front door.

I grin, happy he’s as excited as I am about the baby. I toss the box into a drawer and follow him into the other room.

He opens the door to Bridget, Dante, Mom, and Dad.

We all exchange hugs and kisses and then Sean disappears with my father.

‘You aren’t going with them?’ I ask Dante.

‘No need,’ he says, and opens a bottle of wine. He pours a glass and hands one to each of us ladies. He holds his up and says, ‘Salute.’

‘Salute,’ everyone replies.

I pretend to take a small sip and then put it down. We gather around the island and make small talk until Sean and my father reappear.

I smile at Sean. ‘Everything good?‘

He beams. ‘Yep.’

Relief hits me. ‘Should we eat?’

He grabs my hand and kneels.

‘What are you doing?’ I question.

Nerves, mixed with a bit of arrogance, fill his expression. It reignites my ache as he says, ‘Zara, I didn’t ask you to marry me the right way. I didn’t give you the wedding I should have, and I didn’t ask your father for your hand. That’s on me.’

I bite on my smile, knowing the truth about how we were married and the circumstances we faced.

He kisses my hand and continues, ‘Since we got married, everything in my life is now complete. You’re the piece in my life I didn’t know I needed. So I want you to marry me again, in front of our families, like we should have done in the first place.’

I blink hard, but a tear drips down my cheek.

He pulls a ring out of his pocket. The trilliant cut, curve-sided, pink amethyst is as big as my wedding diamond. It matches the color in our brands.

I gasp, putting my hand over my mouth, gaping at it. Besides my wedding ring, it’s the most stunning gem I’ve ever seen.

He grabs my right hand and slides it over my middle finger. ‘What do you say, my pulse? Will you marry me once more?’

‘Yes! Of course I will!’ I reply.

He rises, tugging me into him and kissing me.

Our parents cheer.

He retreats. Mischief brightens his greens, and he teases, ‘I didn’t get you another diamond since I knocked it out of the park the first time.‘

I laugh. ‘You sure did! And this is equally as beautiful! Thank you!’ I kiss him again.

‘Let’s plan a wedding!’ Mom sings.

‘Don’t forget your other news!’ Dad exclaims.

I freeze and look at Sean.

He groans. ‘Luca!’

I point at him. ‘You told him, didn’t you?’

Sean shrugs. ‘Had to give him something so he would give me his blessing.’

‘What are we missing?’ Bridget asks.

Sean slides his arm around my waist, grinning. He looks at me. ‘Do you want to tell them?’

‘Tell us what?’ Mom questions.

‘We’re having a baby,’ Sean and I proclaim at the same time.

‘A baby!’ Mom and Bridget both squeal.

Dante pulls out the scotch. ‘This calls for something a bit stronger than wine, don’t you think, Luca?’

‘Agreed.’ Dad tugs me into him. ‘My beautiful figlia. I’m so happy for you.’

‘Thanks. You’re not mad anymore?’ I ask.

He takes a deep breath. ‘It’s time to move forward. We have a baby to spoil!’

I laugh, feeling more love and joy than I ever thought possible. I glance at my husband, remembering the night he told me to choose him.

Without a doubt, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.