Regrets of My Disloyal Ex-Husband

I spent five years by Casey Fusco's side, turning him from a beggar in the slums to a mafia Don.

On the second day he put on the family ring, his first love came knocking on our door with an ultrasound report. Casey pushed the divorce papers toward me with a sorry look on his face. "She's pregnant. I have to give her the position of Donna."

My brethren tried to talk me out of doing something foolish, since I had nearly lost my life while trying to help him climb up the ranks. But contrary to their expectations, all I did was sign the papers calmly without making a fuss.

"Congratulations on having your wish come true, Don Fusco."

When Casey Fusco pushed the divorce papers toward me, his gun was right by his hand. It was a Colt M1911. The barrel of the gun looked cold and unfeeling, much like the look in his eyes.

"Sign it."

Casey was seated in the red velvet high chair that represented the power of the family's leader. He had a cigar between his fingers. The smoke from it wisped in the air, blurring his features.

"Rowena is pregnant. It's a boy."

He flicked the ashes from his cigar and spoke to me like he was negotiating a losing deal on arms. "The family needs an heir, and you can no longer bear any children. This child is very important to me."

I looked at the ultrasound on the table. The shadowy clump in the ultrasound was like a dagger to my heart.

My name was Nicole Sabato.

I had been with Casey since he was kicked out of his family and ended up as a beggar in the slums. I had experienced numerous bloodshed by his side before I finally became the woman of Don Fusco.

Five years ago, we were sharing a piece of moldy bread while shacking up together in the slums. I helped him get rid of his family's competitors by assassinating them on a rainy night.

I served a term in federal prison for him and even helped him get a corrupt senator, who was difficult to handle, on his side. I drank so much that my stomach bled internally, and I nearly died on the negotiating table.

The incident that left me almost dead was when I took two bullets for Casey, who was already a Capo then. One bullet was lodged an inch away from my heart, while the other bullet got me in the abdomen.

Both bullets took away the first child I had with Casey and also my right to become a mother.

Casey knelt in front of my hospital bed that day and kissed the back of my hand, which was covered with needle pricks. He swore to me, "Let's not have any children, Nicole. If any of those stubborn old coots in the family dares to say a word against you, I'll kill them."

I could still hear his vow, which