Never Say Love (21 page)

“She works for me,” Benito butted in, “and she can take as much time off as she needs.”

The doctor laughed, “A perk of being the boss’s girlfriend! Right, the toilet is just through there. She pointed Lucy in the right direction. See if you can do a sample for me.” She handed Lucy a little plastic cup and white-topped tube before returning to her desk.

“So how did this happen?” Madeleine looked at Benito as she typed up and scribbled more notes, her face studious as she fished for more information.

Aware that the doctor was pressing for details, to find out more of how Lucy sustained her injuries, he thought carefully about his answer and formulating his response. “Not far from our offices, Lucy had just gone to get some milk.”

“A mugging?” The doctor pressed.

“Yeah,” he wished the woman would just shut up asking questions about the attack and do what she was being paid, handsomely, to do!

Lucy returned, saving him from having to answer any further questions wandering into the office with the sample tube wrapped in a paper towel. The doctor stood, holding her hand out and took the paper wrapped tube from her. “Take a seat in reception. I’ll have this taken to the lab and come and get you when I have the results. It shouldn’t be too long.”

The wait in reception seemed forever as Benito held onto Lucy’s hand tightly.

“My dad’s coming over to stay for a few days; he will be here later today.” He said quietly, squeezing her hand.

“It’ll be nice to meet him. You’ve not met my mum and dad!” Lucy turned towards him. “Maybe we can get them all together, you know as we’re sort of living together. They should meet each other, really!”

“Arrange it if you want, but your parents don’t even know what’s happened. They need to be told that you were attacked.” Benito squeezed her hand as he looked at her, his face was serious.

Lucy looked fearful, “No, Benito don’t tell them. My dad will… no, just don’t tell them. I’ll just say cutting my hair was a mad moment, please don’t let them know.”

“But,” he went to speak.

Glaring at him, Lucy spoke firmly. “No, they’re
not
to know. Please, no!”

“Okay, okay.” Benito shrugged his shoulders, “As long as you’re sure?”

“I am, and don’t talk to Mikey either, I know you two get along.” She smiled, the first smile he’d seen since yesterday morning.

On seeing her looking just a little brighter, Benito pulled her into a hug, “I won’t say a word unless you want me to.”

“Miss Wilson-Hawley.” The doctor, called. Removing herself from Benito’s clutches, Lucy turned towards Madeleine, who stood at the edge of the waiting room. “Come on through.” She indicated with her extended arm in the direction to her office.

They sat in front of the doctor. Again they both watched as she read through a sheet of paper that had the printed results of her test.

“Right, it is pretty much all clear, no traces of anything that has given me any cause for concern, no kidney or bladder trauma. So, that’s excellent.” The doctor paused, looking at the couple in front of her, “But when was your last period Lucy?” She asked.

“I don’t know. Probably about four, maybe five weeks ago.”

“Well, as part of the tests we’ve just done, we routinely check hormone levels and yours are high, indicating that you’re pregnant.” The doctor looked at Lucy, her face dead-pan with no emotion. Madeline decided not to give anything away until she had judged her patients’ response.

“Oh,” Lucy gasped looking at Benito whose face took on a stunned expression.
Shit
! No way did he want to be a father. Hell, he couldn’t even tell her that he loved her, he certainly didn’t want to marry her and now he’d created a child! Oh Lord above! Someone up there was controlling his life big time!

“You don’t look terribly happy!” The doctor commented.

“It’s just a shock,” Lucy shook her head. “We haven’t been trying for a baby.”

The doctor looked confused, here in front of her were two, apparently intelligent young people, who had the wherewithal to seek out private medical care, yet seemingly unable to use basic contraception. “Well, do you use any contraception?” Her tone was bordering on sarcastic. “I take it you must know how to prevent a pregnancy?”

“We didn’t,” Benito chipped in.

“Well, I’m not going to lecture you on the why’s and wherefore’s, but this is what happens if you don’t!” Madeleine spoke with a motherly tone, as if reading the riot act to a child, with a serious look crossing her face. “Look. You are battered and bruised. You’ve been through enough
trauma for a year, let alone a day. There’s nothing physical that you need to worry about now, but, can I suggest both of you go home, talk about it and come back and see me, if you need to. Okay?”

Standing, Benito nodded to Madeline before slipping his hand around Lucy’s waist and guiding her out of the office.

The ride home was silent, neither one of them speaking a word. Lucy’s thoughts racing around her head, how could she have been so stupid? Wracking her brains, she tried to think when her last period was. How had she missed that she’d skipped her cycle! Could she be a mother? She was only 22! It was against all her principals to do anything radical, like terminate her pregnancy, but it was just completely unplanned.

As Benito drove, his mind on thoughts of how he could have been so reckless, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. My God, his father would be overjoyed,
if
he knew. His mother, bless her, would be ecstatic. But, was
he
ready to be a father? In short,
no
; he knew there was no way he could be a father.

Smiling to himself, his thoughts were changing track. If it was a boy, Lucy wouldn’t get a look in, they’d be off doing
boy things
—motor racing; yes, he could just imagine himself watching Ferrari racing at Silverstone or at Monza or even taking the little lad to Maranello, maybe to collect a new car! Wow, Franco would really love that! If it was a girl, well she’d be taught how to bake, how to cook and how to look after a family, just like Sophia had done.

Maybe he
was
ready for a family? Smiling, he turned to Lucy. “Are you pleased?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She shook her head, breathing deeply. “No. Yes. I don’t know. Are you?”

He remained silent. His knuckles returning to their normal colour as he released his grip on the steering wheel. Lucy lowered her head as she waited for the condemnation from him, the lecture that it was her fault, that she should have taken precautions.

“Yes, I am,” he whispered, “I am, tesoro, as long as it’s what you want?”

By late afternoon, Lucy had a new haircut. It was short and sweet; it looked gorgeous Benito told her. She hated it. “I want it to grow back quickly.”

While Benito met with Lee and Jake, he ordered Lucy to rest in bed for an hour, whilst the heavies told their boss what they had found out when battering the shit out of the bastards that took her.

The arseholes who had abducted Lucy were hired by a rival security firm. It appeared their main gripe was not the high-end business that Benito had bought to the UK, but the standard, run of the mill stuff but the club front-of-house business that they had lost. In particular, a group of seedy clubs that bought in very little, compared to the other establishments that Abelli Security now dealt with. Lee explained, “They’re a small outfit, and not particularly well qualified. The cheaper end of our market was bringing in most of their income. You’ve hit them hard.”

Benito shrugged, “Get rid of the business then,” Benito looked between Lee and Jake, “It’s not like it brings in a lot of cash. We don’t need the hassle, and I can’t have anything like this happening again. She could have been hurt, and I mean really badly if, they had kicked her any harder.”

“Kicked her?” Lee asked, “You never said that when I spoke to you.” He frowned as he questioned his employer.

“Lee,” Benito hissed, “she’s pregnant. They kicked her in the stomach!”

“Shit!
Fucking hell.” Jake cursed. “I got kids boss. I’d do anything, and I mean anything, to protect them and my missus.”

Benito nodded, “Exactly, we look after our own, and that includes you guys, all of the time. Nobody messes with my family. How long do you reckon the thugs will be out of action for?”

Lee laughed hysterically, “Probably forever. I’ve never seen anything like it. Him,” he pointed to Jake, “had an absolute ball. I tell you, in all of my days in service, I’ve never seen
anything
like it. He was like a whirling dervish with that fucking chain. I thought he was going to decapitate one bloke.”

Jake grinned broadly, “I like using the chain!” he half laughed, his eyes twinkling as he recalled what he had done to the bastards with the chain.

Still feeling very bruised and traumatised, Lucy changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a loose fitting shirt. She put a little make up on and messed around with her now short hair. She hated it, tears filling her eyes as she stood in front of the mirror trying to make
herself a little more presentable for Franco’s visit.

At eight in the evening, Franco arrived announcing himself at the main door to the building via the intercom.

“You stay there,” Benito looked at Lucy, “he knows some of what you’ve been through, he won’t expect any ceremony.” He knew his father would want to wrap Lucy in cotton wool and protect her, as this was exactly how he himself felt about her. In his heart, he knew he loved her, or at least he thought it was love. The feeling in his stomach that made him want to pull her close to him and never, ever let go. The anger, still there, towards the bastards who had done this to his girl and now, his child.

She looked at him with her big eyes, still feeling exhausted, and not having the strength or will to argue. She plonked herself down on the sofa as Benito walked towards the door and out onto the landing, returning a few moments later with a man. Lucy guessed he was in his late fifties, maybe early sixties. He was tall. Good God, Benito was big but his father was huge!

“Lucy,” he walked straight past his son towards her, smiling at the young blonde woman sat on the sofa. She went to stand as he approached. “No, don’t get up. How are you? Is he treating you okay?” Franco looked towards his son; his perfect English tinged with the thick Italian accent.

“I’m fine, and yes, he is.” Lucy looked up at the huge man, struggling to force a smile. Unconsciously, she raised her hand to the back of her head, to her short hair; feeling very underdressed without her long locks.

“Good. You tell me if he isn’t. He’s not
too
old to be taught a lesson!” Franco laughed.

Lucy smiled weakly and looked at Benito. “Ask your dad if he’d like a drink or something.” She instructed, “He’s just had a long journey!”

Turning towards his son, Franco laughed, “Yes, Benito. I’ll have a Scotch if you’ve got some!” He gave his order, while sitting down next to Lucy, putting his hand on her knee and winking at her.

Starting to feel a little more comfortable in Franco’s company, Lucy looked towards Benito. She saw him glaring at his father, the large hand resting on her knee. Lucy, although feeling like crap, forced a sweet smile at Benito and shook her head in a
“don’t say a word”
fashion.

Moving his hand and settling back into the sofa, Franco took in the surroundings of his son’s apartment. “So, you got the bastards?” he asked as Benito handed the scotch to him.

“Do you want a drink Lucy?” Benito asked. She shook her head, “No, I’m fine.”

Benito dropped into one of the easy chairs, answering his father’s question, “Yes. Lee and Jake took in a small team; they tell me they had a party.”

“Great.” Franco took at drink of the whiskey and turned towards Lucy, squeezing her knee again. “We look after our own, you know that don’t you?” He looked at her seriously, frowning. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re one of us. You want anything, anything at all, you ask him,” he nodded towards his son, “and you’ll have it. Okay?”

Feeling a little embarrassed, Lucy nodded. She liked Benito’s father. He seemed genuine and kind, just like her lover.

Watching his father’s hand drifting to Lucy’s knee again, Benito hissed under his breath, “Please
don’t
touch.”

Hearing what Benito had said, and knowing how he usually took one woman each night, never developing any feelings for them, Franco knew straight away that this relationship must be serious. “Sorry son, did you say something?” He looked up, smiling.

“I said… please don’t touch,” he mumbled again, “Lucy.”

Franco looked at his hand and then at Lucy, squeezed her knee again before removing his hand. “Is that better?” he addressed Benito.

“Yes,” the young Italian snapped.

Sensing a family argument brewing between father and son, Lucy decided it was time to move the conversation on. “I thought we could get together with my parents while you’re here. Is that okay?” Lucy asked.

Looking at her, resisting the urge to place his hand on her knee again, he looked between the two of them, “I would love to. Do they know what happened?” Franco addressed Benito.

“No!” Lucy snapped, “
and they’re not to know either. Please don’t tell them.” She looked firmly at Franco, a horrified look on her face as she spoke, “Please.”

Franco nodded, acknowledging Lucy’s request, “As long as you’re sure? If that’s what you want, we will respect that.”

Looking down at her knees, she spoke softly. “It is, they must never know. My dad, he’d be devastated if he thought,” she ran her fingers through her hair, cringing at the short strands, “that the reason my hair is gone, was
not
because I chose to cut it.” Tears pricked her eyes again as she looked towards Benito. “My hair,” she whimpered unable to stop the tears, a torrent now running down her cheeks. Both men stood, Benito practically pushing his father out of the way to get to
his girl
. Holding her tightly as her shoulders heaved.

Franco looked on his face white with fury shaking his head at Benito. “You sure you got them?”

Benito nodded as he held Lucy close, “You want to rest again,” he asked, “You need to look after yourself now.”

Lucy nodded, “You’d better tell your dad what we found out today,” she whispered as she pulled away, looking at him through her tear filled eyes.

“Are you sure you want to, right now?” he asked, looking intently, his eyes focussed on hers, a frown across his forehead.

“Yes, why not?”
She shrugged and forced a smile as she inched away a little, holding his hand tightly and moving to his side, his arm slipped gently around her back, pulling her close. They stood next to each other in front of Franco.

“We’ve got some news,” Benito addressed his father, looking at Lucy.

“Don’t tell me you’re getting married,” Franco smiled.

“No, better than that,” Benito turned to Lucy and then towards his father, “We’re having a baby.”

Franco stood looking at them, taken back by what he’d just heard. “Really?” he smiled.

Finding himself grinning broadly from ear to ear, feeling as though he was standing on air, Benito felt elated, “Yes, really. We didn’t know until earlier today. Lucy was, well she was hurt by the thugs; they kicked her in the stomach. We found out at the doctors just before lunch.”

Franco moved forward, first hugging Lucy and then shaking his son by the hand, “Congratulations to you both. Well done, so you’re finally going to make me a grandfather! I am so very proud. Are you going to marry?”

“No,” Benito answered quickly, “I think we’re happy as we are. Aren’t we?” He turned to Lucy.

She nodded, “Yes, very happy, but tired.”

Leaving Benito and his father, she took herself off to bed, listening to them talking quietly about what had happened before she must have slipped into a deep sleep.

Sending out for Chinese food, Benito and Franco sat talking; something they hadn’t done for months. The last time they’d talked like this was when Franco had told Benito that he was coming to London to grow the UK operation, and that was months ago.

“I wish you’d marry her son,” Franco said as they finished their meal.

Closing his eyes, and breathing deeply, “No, I can’t. You
know
why.”

Franco shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, exhaling loudly, “It’s up to you, but you know it would have made your mum so happy,”

“I know, but I can’t, I just can’t dad.”

“Please think about it,” Franco asked as he stood before heading to bed.

Leaving Benito on his own, he left the room. Shortly after, Benito took himself off to bed, curling around Lucy as she soundly slept.

Benito slept deeply, tired from the past 48 hours. His sleep was disturbed as Lucy screamed out loud, a horrified ear piercing scream. She thrashed around, the back of her hand crashing into Benito’s chest.

Franco woke on hearing Lucy’s panic stricken scream as Benito sat up, he turned the bedside lamp on., Lucy was writhing by his side, moaning, shouting and screaming, incoherently. The duvet crumpled around her as she kicked and her arms flailed. “Lucy,” Benito touched and then gently shook her shoulder as Franco knocked on their bedroom door, opening it slowly.

Looking at his son, desperately trying to comfort Lucy, to bring her out of her dream, “Nightmare,” Franco asked.

“I think so,” Benito shook her shoulder again, “Lucy, tesoro wake up.”

Mumbling again, she opened her eyes, full of tears she focussed on him, “Oh God, oh no, oh no,” she sobbed,

Franco stood in the door, shaking his head. “You both need some time away from here son, I’m telling you. When I go back, come with me for a week or two. You’ve got a team here now that can look after the business. Take it from me, she needs a holiday, take her down to Amalfi.”