Chapter 32 Morelli POV

Mid- January

I feel my watch buzz and open my eyes. It's six am and time for me to get ready for work. Valerie Plum is not the most adventurous fuck, but she gives good head and allows me to fuck her any way I want, is still sleeping. I sigh. I don't know how often I've told her it isn't good for her to stay the night. I gently nudge her.

"Muffin, I'm going in the shower. It's time for you to get up. If you leave with me, you can still get the girls to school this morning." I tell her before heading into the bathroom. I quickly clean myself up, feeling another part of me wake up. Maybe I can get Valerie on her knees this morning.

I walk downstairs wearing only my jeans and a wife-beater to see Valerie placing my breakfast of eggs and bacon on the table. The toast is made, and she walks over to butter it after she pours and doctors my coffee. I quickly dig in, enjoying my breakfast.

"Thank you for making breakfast, but I have another need that you can take care of before I go to work," I say, stroking my length over my pants. Val walks over to me and goes down to her knees, undoing my pants and taking my throbbing dick in her hand. She deftly takes me in her mouth, and soon I'm shooting into the back of her throat. "Oh, yes, Muffin, that was great," I say, as I help her to her feet. "Go wash up while I finish getting dressed."

Ten minutes later, I'm waiting by the door. "Joe, before you go, we need to talk."

"What's up, Muffin? I'm going to be late for work."

"Joe, I'm pregnant, about six weeks along. The baby is yours."

Fuck! Oh well, she'll be a good Burg housewife. Marrying her will allow me to keep up my extra-curricular activities. She will turn a blind eye and be everything I want in a wife. "That's great, Valerie. I'm working late tonight, but tomorrow night, I'll take you out for a special dinner."

"You're okay with this? I know we never talked about our future, and I didn't try to trap you. I'm surprised. I didn't expect this."

"No, I'm okay with this. I do want to be a father. While this is a little sooner than I anticipated, I am thrilled. I know our mothers will be even happier."

Valerie smiles and leans in for a kiss which I return.

"I'll talk to you later, Muffin."

"I love you, Joseph Morelli."

"Same here, Val."

I walk Valerie to her car and give her a chaste kiss on her lips. I wait for her to pull out then get into my own car to drive to the station. I arrive and head to my office to follow up on a few leads after getting a cup of coffee from the shop next to the station. Unfortunately, I lose track of time when my phone buzzes. I check it, seeing that I have a meet at the motel over on Route 1. I grab my keys and log off the clock.

It takes me twenty minutes to get there, and I park at the back of the lot. I stroll to our room and knock once, then four times, then three times. Finally, the door opens, and I see Terry wearing a pretty dress. Still, it's not as form-fitted as the dresses she usually wears. I enter the room and give her a passionate kiss.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I ask her.

"We need to talk, Joe."

"What's wrong? Is Uncle Vito ill?"

"No, nothing is wrong, per se, but we do have a problem."

"What's that?"

Terry closes her eyes and sits on the edge of the bed, hands wringing in her lap. I've never seen Terry so nervous before.

"Amore mio, you're scaring me," I say.

"Joe, I'm pregnant. I'm about three months along now and starting to show. I won't be able to hide this much longer."

I sit down on the lone chair in the room. Fuck me! What am I going to do? Marrying Valerie Plum is the perfect solution because I could continue to see Terry. Still, if she is pregnant, and the baby is mine, Vito will want us to be married. If I marry Terry, who is Vito's right hand, then my career in law enforcement is over.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Joe, I am. I'm sorry. I didn't think I could get pregnant. I mean, my doctor told me that there was only a ten percent chance."

"It's okay. I'm just surprised. I…I need time to think things through. I assume you want to keep the baby."

"Yes, Joe. You know that it is a sin to kill the baby."

"I know. I was just checking. Are you sure you want to work for your uncle? I mean, we could relocate, and I could continue working as a cop elsewhere."

"You know that I can't leave my family."

"I know. I love you, Terry, and we'll figure this out together."

"I love you too, Joe."

After two not-so-quick rounds, I shower again and head back to work. As I enter the station, Carl Costanza calls out to me, "Morelli, the Chief wants to see you."

I nod in affirmation and head to his office. "Good morning, Bridget. Don't you look lovely today? Did you change your hair?" I ask, turning the charm on for his 50 something receptionist.

"Detective Morelli, I had it cut last week. Do you like it?"

"It fits you." So, I tell her, not noticing a thing.

"You can go right on in. The Chief is expecting you." I wink at Bridget, then walk into the Chief's office, knocking on the door twice, so he knows I'm coming in.

"Detective Morelli, have a seat," he states, barely looking at me as he picks up the phone. "We're ready for you," he says into the receiver. The door opens not even a minute later, with one guy from Internal Affairs and someone I don't know. Fuck! This can't be good.

"Detective Morelli, this is Agent Michael Weiss with the FBI Organized Crime Unit. Of course, you already know Detective Girardi."

I nod, suddenly wondering how much they know.

"Morelli, we have evidence that shows you have aided Mr. Vito Grizoli of Trenton, NJ, in carrying out some of his business. Most notable losing evidence and tipping him off about upcoming busts. We also have numerous accounts of you requesting sexual favors in exchange for not arresting prostitutes down on Stark Street. Finally, there is evidence showing that during your time in Vice, you would undercount the drugs confiscated and, in turn, return them to the street."

Shit. This isn't good. How in the hell did they find all this information out? I know that I have a right to a full investigation and a right to representation. I think it's time I invoke that right.

"Agent, I would like to call my union representative in, along with an attorney, before I say anything else to you."

I see him nod, almost happily. "That's fine, Morelli, as that is your right. However, you must turn in your gun and your badge until this matter is resolved. You are suspended without pay pending a full investigation.

I am livid, but I know better than to show it here. I'll get them back. They will rue the day they tried to mess with Joseph Morelli, the Italian Stallion. But, once I let Uncle Vito know what's going on, this entire mess will disappear, once and for all. I angrily hand over the badge and gun, and seeing that I'm dismissed, I storm out of the office and out of the station. I get in my SUV and drive off to my home. I arrive and can't wait to sit on the couch with a beer in hand.

I open my door, surprised to see two figures sitting on the couch. I turn to my right and come face to face with Chopper, Vito's primary muscle. Why me?

"Uncle Vito, what a pleasant surprise. Can I get you anything?" I ask my Burg upbringing taking over. I can't let it get back to mom or grandma that I was rude to a guest, especially Vito Grizoli.

"No, my son, have a seat." I sit on my couch, nervous. "Teresa told me the good news, that she is expecting a child and that you are the father. While I am excited for my niece to become a mother, I'm not thrilled with you being the father. You see, marrying a cop is not good for business. No, uno grande problema. So, I decided that you and Teresa would relocate to Sicily and run the Sicilian side of the Family business. My nephew, Nunzio, will come here and take Teresa's spot. Chopper will escort you to the airport, and when you land, you and Teresa will head straight to the church to get married. I'll smooth things over with Angie. I'm sure she'll be grateful for the swift intervention. You know how a bastard child would ruin your family name. Chopper."

Chopper comes next to me, waiting for me to stand up. I stand and face Vito. "Oh, and Joseph, make sure to call Valerie Plum and inform her that she and her child are on their own. You will not have anything to do with her child. I will know if you fail to comply.

With that, Chopper grabs my arm and escorts me out of my house into an SUV that wasn't here before. I know my hands are tied at this point. I can't help wondering if it would have been better for me to confess in the Chief's office and go to prison instead of being stuck married to Terry for the rest of my life. Why me?