Before the Council Named Me Donna Chapter 04

Before the Council Named Me Donna Chapter 04

I thought I would fall apart after blocking Matteo, but what came instead was a tired, practical calm. There were documents to sign, a flight to arrange, a child to protect, and a life in Florence waiting if I was brave enough to reach for it.

The clinic called the next morning. Because of the pain I had reported, the doctor wanted one more scan before clearing me to fly, and the appointment required a local emergency contact. I refused to list Matteo, refused to involve my parents before I had a plan, and booked a discreet patient advocate through a private concierge service

At ten, I stepped outside the serviced apartment and stopped cold.

Nico Ferretti leaned against a black car, holding a tablet with my appointment name on it.

“Good morning, Mrs. Nobody.”

I stared at him. “You have got to be joking.”

“If you wanted a stranger, you should have chosen a cheaper service,” he said, opening the passenger door. ” Expensive ones sell privacy until someone richer buys curiosity.”

“Nico, leave.”

“You look like you’re about to faint on the sidewalk, Elena. Get in.”

I wanted to argue, but the cramp low in my abdomen tightened, and pride did not count as medical support. I got into the car without thanking him.

The clinic had no name on the door and too much marble in the lobby. At the front desk, the nurse asked for my emergency contact, and before I could invent one, Nico took the form, wrote his name, and handed it back.

I looked at him. “You understand what that means?”

His expression did not change. “Someone should be responsible.”

During the scan, he stood near the door and faced the wall with exaggerated politeness. I kept my eyes on the ceiling until the room filled with a fast, tiny heartbeat.

The doctor smiled. “There it is.”

My hand tightened around the sheet.

Alive.

Still here.

When the doctor left, Nico finally looked at me.

“You’re keeping the baby.”

“Yes.”

“And Matteo doesn’t know.”

“No.”

“Good,” he said.

I frowned.

“Good that you’re not giving him another reason to think he owns you.”

That silenced me because it was exactly what I was afraid of.

Outside, Nico walked beside me without touching me.

“You’re not going back to the penthouse,” he said.

“No.”

“Does he know?”

“He has a lawyer’s notice coming.”

Nico gave a short laugh. “That will ruin his afternoon.”

“I’m not doing it to ruin anything.”

“I know. That’s why it will.”

Back at the apartment, he stopped the car but did not unlock the doors right away.

“Elena, when he comes looking, don’t meet him alone.”

“He won’t come that quickly.”

“He will. Men like Matteo notice the door only after it closes.”

I looked at the building, one hand resting over my stomach.

“Then he can stand outside it.’

For the first time that day, Nico smiled without mockery.

“There she is.”