Chapter 121

2 MONTHS LATER

Luca’s POV

I was sitting in my office, going over my import and export logs when my phone dinged. It was a message from Rex, immediately grabbing my attention. ‘Mrs. isn’t feeling well today’, is all it said. I furrowed my eyebrows. I know that she looked a little pale this morning, but she swore up and down that she was okay.

I immediately called Rex. “Boss”, his whispered voice filtered through the line. He must be in the classroom or in the hall. “Rex, what’s going on with my wife?”, I asked, cutting straight to the point. “Uh, well, I don’t know for sure. But, I think she has thrown up at least twice this morning, and she keeps falling asleep in class. I’ve already woken her up three times. And this last time she threatened to break my nose if I bothered her again”, Rex explained.

My temper flared up, “Why didn’t you call me earlier? Like when she threw up?”, I bellowed, ready to rip his throat out. I was already out of my office chair and grabbing my car keys. “Well, she asked me not to. She said she was okay. But, that’s why I am telling you now. She obviously is not feeling well”, Rex said.

“Don’t let anyone disturb her. I’m on my way”, I commanded, before hanging up. “Boss?”, Cal asked, as he watched me walk past him. Right now, I am a man on a mission. That is evident in my posture and face. I threw my keys at Cal. “To Mara’s school. She doesn’t feel well”, I demanded. “Yes, boss”, Cal nodded.

The concern was clear in his eyes, but he did not speak as we headed to the university. My men and family have all come to love and respect Marabella with force. So, of course, they are going to show concern if she is not feeling well. She has done so much for them as a whole that they would all lay their lives down willingly if it meant she would be okay.

We made it to the school in half of the record time. I walked straight to Mara’s agriculture class, since that is the one she would be in at that time. The professor looked bewildered at my presence in his classroom. “I am just here to get my wife. Carry on”, I said, walking straight to Mara’s desk, where she sat with her head laid on the desk, asleep.

I could feel the wondering eyes of her classmates. Some of them know me, some of them don’t. However, none of them are what matters right now. I pushed Mara’s bangs off of her face, and stroked her cheek. I noticed she was running a slight fever, and had broken out in a cold sweat. Marabella crinkled her facial features at my contact.

“Mara, baby”, I whispered gently, squatting down next to her. I placed my hand on her upper thigh, “Baby”, I whispered again. Mara sat straight up in a panic, and started to frantically push my hand away, until her eyes met mine. She immediately gripped my arms and released a breath of relief. “Luca”, she breathed softly. My chest ached at her reaction. My poor baby has PTSD.

“Come on, my love. Let’s get you to a doctor”, I uttered. I scooped her up into my arms, bridal style, and turned to Rex. “Grab her things and go back to the villa”, I ordered. “Yes, boss”, Rex nodded. I turned and walked out of the classroom with my wife in my arms. Everyone’s eyes were on us. Some filled with curiosity, some filled with envy.

I ignored all the stares and solely focused on getting Marabella to the doctor. “Tell me where it hurts, piccola”, I said, as we walked down the hall. “I’m nauseated and tired. No pain”, she muttered. “You smell so good”, she said, burying her face in my neck. “I’m not wearing any cologne, baby girl”, I chuckled.

“The different smells have made me sick today. Yours makes me feel better”, she uttered sleepily. “What smells, baby?”, I questioned, as I carefully navigated us from the building. I want to be able to understand her symptoms so that I can better help her. “It was mainly colognes and perfumes. Half the school smells like French whores today”, she complained. I could feel her face crinkle in disgust against my neck after her comment. I laughed, “Any other smells, my love?”, I asked.

“One of the professors was heating up their lunch today. It was chicken. That smelled horrible”, she shuddered. “Okay, baby. hang tight. We will find out what’s wrong, piccola”, I assured her, as I climbed into the back seat of the Maybach with her still in my arms. “Take us to Dr. Len”, I told Cal. Cal nodded and immediately started driving to Dr. Len’s clinic. Dr. Len has helped my family on many occasions. I trust him to care for my wife. He’s older, so I can’t always call on him. Some of the medical emergencies that we have experienced may have just been to much for his fragile heart. So it was best to spare him those cases.

We pulled up at the clinic and I got out of the back of the car with Mara cradled in my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck securely and buried her head in my neck. “Hmm, I love you, Luca”, Mara mumbled. I smiled, “I love you, Marabella”, I whispered, as I placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Mr. Barello, what brings you in today?”, the young receptionist asked, as she eyed Mara wearily. “I need to see Dr. Len. My wife is not feeling well”, my voice was cold and annoyed. Isn’t it obvious? “Just have a seat, Mr. Barello. We will call you back in a moment”, she chided. My eyes narrowed, “You will tell Dr. Len that Luca Barello is here with his wife and needs to be seen now”, I demanded coldly.

“Luca”, Mara whispered, as she adjusted herself in my arms so that her legs were wrapped around my waist. “Non cosi forte, mio Re. (Not so loud, my King)”, she whispered. Her comment made me freeze, a fire starting deep in my core. “Non dire queste cose, mia regina. Siamo in pubblico. (Don’t utter such things, my Queen. We are in public)”, I growled in her ear. My little minx is about to call me out on it to.

“Non ti ha fremato prima. ( It didn’t stop you before)”, she smirked against my neck, making me growl. No, she’s right. It didn’t stop me before. But she doesn’t feel good right now, so…..

“Mr. Barello, how can I help you?”, Dr. Len asked, as he noticed us standing by the front desk. “My wife is sick, and we need to know why”, I said, trying to keep a steady baritone, to not upset Mara. “Right this way, Mr. Barello”, Dr. Len said, leading us to the back to a room. I shot the receptionist a cold look as we walked past her.

Dr. Len led us to a small examination room, with an exam table. I sat Mara on the table. She squinted her eyes as she tried to look around. She looked at the doctor, then at me and frowned. “Mrs. Barello can you tell me what’s going on?”, Dr. Len asked her. She reached out for my hand and pulled me to her, to bury her face in my chest.

I heard her breathe in a full breath of my scent before she sighed. Then, I remembered what she had said about the smells. “When she woke up this morning she was pale and barely ate. She has thrown up and smells are affecting her. She’s also been sleepy, and running a slight fever”, I explained, running my hands up and down her back.

Dr. Len smiled, “No worries. I am going to draw some blood and see if we can get to the bottom of this”, Dr. Len said. He went to one of the drawers and began to pull out what he needed. “And all of this started this morning?”, he asked. “Yes”, I answered, as I played with Mara’s curls. “Her right arm please”, he said, walking over to my left side. I grabbed Mara’s arm from around my waist and held it out for the doctor.

Mara opened her eyes and groggily looked to see what we were doing. “He’s going to draw blood, love. No worries”, I explained. She nodded and closed her eyes again. Dr. Len chuckled, “She’s definitely fatigued”, he commented, noting that Mara didn’t even flinch when he put the needle in her arm.

“What do you think is the matter with her, Doc?”, I asked, worried about her. “I’ll have to wait for the test results to come back for confirmation. But, I don’t think it’s anything too serious”, he smirked, like he fucking knew something I didn’t. “Just let her lay down and rest until I get the results”, he instructed. I nodded and proceeded to lay her down, as Dr. Len left.

After getting her to lay down, she grabbed my hand and tugged on it. “Lay with me, please. I’m cold”, she said softly. I immediately slid into the bed next to her and wrapped her up in my arms. She snuggled into my side and chest, then sighed. “Much better”, she mumbled. I smiled, as I kissed her forehead. She is so fucking adorable.

Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Len walked back into the room with a clipboard and a smile. “I have good news. She is not sick”, he said excitedly. “Okay?”, I said, skeptically. “She’s pregnant”, he chimed. Pregnant? I looked down at my sleeping wife and smiled. Pregnant? I reached out and caressed her stomach.

Awe, shock and happiness were written all over my face. I’m going to be a dad? I kissed Mara’s head, then forehead, then cheek, before I planted my lips on hers. “I’ll leave you two”, Dr. Len said, walking out of the room. I wasn’t paying close attention anyway, I was too busy showering Mara with kisses and caressing her belly.

“Hmm, what’s got you all happy?”, Mara mumbled. I planted my lips on hers and kissed her slowly, before pulling back to look at her. I thought she looked as if she was glowing, now I know why. “You”, I uttered, with a smile. “Me? What did I do?”, she asked, confused. I chuckled, “You bring me more happiness than I’ve ever experienced in my life”, I said, as I gently ran my fingers through her hair.

“Sarai una made meravigliosa, la mia bellissima moglie (You are going to make a wonderful mother, my beautiful wife)”, I whispered. Mara’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. Her hand found mine, that sat on her stomach. Our eyes didn’t leave one another’s as realization struck Mara.

“I’m pregnant?”, she asked. I couldn’t contain my smile and happiness as I nodded my head. “Yes, piccola. We are going to be parents”, I confirmed. Mara’s smile grew from ear to ear. I wrapped her in a hug, flooding her with my newfound emotions.