His Heart Begged, His Hands Destroyed

"Luca." I hit the door, trying to keep my voice steady. "Luca, I'm bleeding. Open the door. I need the hospital."

No answer came. I heard Ava sniffling, Luca asking if her wound hurt, and the medicine kit opening.

I hit the door again. The pain was so bad I could barely stand. "Luca, I'm not lying. My stomach hurts. I'm really bleeding."

This time, he answered, his voice flat through the wood. "Vivian, I've known you for ten years. I never knew you were this good at acting. Ava is the one who's hurt. I pushed you once, and now you're screaming about blood. Your period isn't due until next week."

I almost broke. "Exactly. It's next week. So why am I bleeding?"

I didn't dare think about the answer. I had wanted a child for so many years that hope itself felt dangerous. A few days ago, I had lost my appetite. In the mornings, I felt sick. I told myself it was stress and didn't even dare buy a pregnancy test.

Now the pain terrified me.

"Luca, please." I slid down against the door, sweat coating my palms. "Let me out. I only need the hospital. I swear I'll explain the bracelet later."

Ava's soft voice floated from outside. "Vivian, you're really going to lie about something like this just to dodge what you did to me? Maybe she wants to run on the way to the hospital, Luca. She packed her suitcase tonight. If she leaves, what about the thirty million for the bracelet? And the South Harbor ledgers still have to face the Capos tomorrow. I don't even know if I can handle that meeting with my arm like this."

Luca's breathing grew heavy.

[Run away? Vivi, are you really trying to run? You'd even use blood to lie to me because you want to leave that badly?]

[No. Even if I have to lock you up forever, I can't lose you.]

I went cold all over. He didn't hear my cry for help. He heard only his fear. In his mind, Ava's cut, the South Harbor books, and the Capos' mood tomorrow mattered more than my pain.

At last Luca said, "Stay there and calm down. I'm taking Ava to the hospital."

"Luca!" I hit the door with the last of my strength. "I'm going to die."

For one moment, there was silence. I heard his heart tremble.

[Vivi, don't scare me like that. I want to open the door. But you always know how to make me soft. Are you lying again?]

Then his footsteps moved away, and the front door slammed shut.

The apartment fell dead quiet. I collapsed on the cold floor as the pain came in waves. Blood spread beneath my skirt, taking what little warmth my body had left.

Before my mind went dark, I remembered the pregnancy test in the bathroom trash that morning.

Two very faint pink lines.

I hadn't believed it yet. I had planned to tell Luca after the family dinner. I had imagined him being stubborn and saying it was trouble, while secretly grinning like an idiot inside.

Now all I could do was press my hand to my stomach in the dark.

"Baby, I'm sorry."