Chapter 24

Benita sat quietly in their living room, staring blankly at the television screen but not really watching anything. She couldn't believe how complicated her life had gotten in the past few weeks. All she had wanted was a simple, happy life together with Alexander, but things just seemed to keep getting more and more complicated.

She rubbed her swollen belly, feeling the tiny kicks of their unborn child. How was she supposed to raise a child in this kind of environment? Growing up with a Mafia kingpin for a father was not the life she had planned for her child.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Alexander.

"Hey," she said, trying to keep her voice even.

"Hey," he said, sounding contrite. "I'm sorry for not being straight with you earlier. I should have told you everything from the beginning."

"And what exactly is everything?" Benita demanded.

"Well, there's a lot to it," Alexander said defensively.

"Then start at the beginning," Benita said firmly. "I want to know everything."

Alexa