Chapter 27

~Unveiling~

Two Months Later

~*Bella*~

"A little cool, Bella." Dr. Cullen squirted gel on my abdomen.

I winced as the chilly goop spread across my skin. Sucking in a breath, I gazed at the monitor as he moved the wand.

"Nice, strong heartbeat. There's your baby's head"—he pointed to the grainy image on the monitor that resembled a large bean—"body, legs, feet. Active little bugger. Come on, stay still for me."

The baby squirmed and turned away as if aware of the intrusion, and I felt a fluttering tap each time. My mouth hung open. There wasn't much detail, but this was my baby—our baby—moving and growing inside me. Tears sprang to my eyes and trickled down my cheeks. "Such a miracle."

Dr. Cullen took some measurements, moving slowly. "A perfect baby, right on target. Would you like to know the sex?"

I hesitated. Tony was supposed to be here for the ultrasound, but he had been called away on family business. Then again, I wasn't known for my patience. "Yes, but I have a favor to ask." I explained what I had in mind.

"As you wish." Dr. Cullen smiled. "And I'll print you a few pictures if the baby ever stops moving around."

Once I was dressed, we sat in Jasper's living room to talk.

"Bella, you've been in the penthouse a long time. Since you're supposed to be . . . dearly departed . . . I'm going to assume you don't get much sun?"

"No."

"Your recent labs were normal with the exception of a vitamin D deficiency. I understand these are unusual circumstances, but I'd like you to get some sun. I'm also going to have you take a daily supplement." He opened his satchel and handed me a sheaf of ultrasound pictures and a bottle of vitamin D.

After Dr. Cullen left, I wandered over to the hallway that led to Jasper's terrace. Actually, "terrace" was an inadequate name for the rooftop garden. There were raised beds filled with flowers and vegetables and a partially covered sitting area. The garden was strung with white lights, and a scattering of heaters was strategically placed for chilly nights.

I rested my hand on the ornate doorknob, dragging in a deep breath. My heart pounded, and I started backing away from the exit. I hadn't left the penthouse since the funeral. I was afraid to go out on the roof. Tony and Jasper had assured me nobody would be able to identify me out there, but I felt exposed. Rational or not, I had a panic attack every time I thought about being in the open air.

This was for the sake of the baby though. I hurried back to the bedroom and grabbed my wig, tugging it over my hair before approaching the door again. My heart beat fast but gradually slowed to an almost normal rhythm. And then I was outside.

A warm breeze caressed my skin. The air was much fresher up here than down on the city streets. The faded denim sky was dotted with cottony tufts of clouds. Before long, I breathed deeply and turned my face up to the sun. The warmth felt glorious. Why had I shied away from the terrace for so long?

An idea started to form while I was sunning myself, so I called Angela and asked for her help. Two hours later, she showed up laden with groceries.

"Chica, you look radiant!" Angela put the bags on the kitchen counter and started unpacking them.

"I was out on the terrace today and got a little color. How's Santo?" I grabbed a cutting board and started chopping vegetables.

"He's dreamy." She sighed deeply. "It's getting hard to hide my feelings though, and now that the D'Angelos are under suspicion, my dad won't let me break things off with Lou yet."

I put the knife down and wiped my hands on a dishtowel. "Oh, honey!" I hugged her tight, swaying back and forth. "I'm sorry. I've had my head so far up my ass, I didn't realize what you've been dealing with!"

"Stop it, you! Talk about having a lot going on, you must be going batshit crazy." Her face softened as we pulled apart, and she eyed my stomach. "How's my little cousin doing in there? You're starting to show."

I'd worn a snug V-neck that accentuated my baby bump. I ghosted my hand over the swell of my abdomen. "Baby Masen is perfect. Dr. Cullen was here earlier, and he said everything is great. Well, except I need more sun. I have a vitamin D deficiency."

We continued working side by side in the kitchen, and it was the most normal I'd felt in a while. Once the lasagna was assembled in two baking dishes, I opened Jasper's oven and gazed inside.

"I don't think this has ever been used."

Angela laughed. "Really?" She bent down beside me and laughed again. "You're right. Oh, and are you having a dinner party you didn't tell me about? Why two lasagnas?"

"One is for you to bring over to Santo's. I figured if you helped me make dinner, the least I could do is feed you guys, especially since you brought all the groceries." I put one pan in the fridge and left the other on the counter. "Do you want to cook it when you get there?"

"You're so sweet! Yes, I'll pop it in the oven later." Angela rested against the counter. "Where's Tony?"

I shrugged, trying to appear casual. "He got called away on family business earlier. That's why I went with lasagna. Who knows what time he'll be back."

Angela tilted her head and walked over to me, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Are you worried?"

"Maybe a little." Tears sprang to my eyes, and I blinked them away. "I feel so emotional. It's kind of embarrassing."

She hugged me and whispered, "I think those are pregnancy hormones."

The burner chimed with Tony's special tone, and I lunged for it.

Sorry I missed your doctor appt. It's been a grueling day, lots of BS. I should be back in a few hours. ~Tony

Can't wait! I have a surprise for you. Let me know when you'll be home. ~B

Well, now I'm intrigued. Love you, my princess. ~Tony

I love you. ~B

I sighed, cradling the phone to my chest. After Angela left with her pan of lasagna, I made a tossed salad with homemade balsamic dressing. A while later, I preheated the oven and put the lasagna in to bake. I set the table on the terrace, adding some candles, and plugged in the strings of white lights. There was a chill in the air, so I turned on the portable heater closest to our table.

Once I knew Tony was in the parking garage, I added a loaf of crusty Italian bread to the oven and started loading a rolling cart with everything we needed for dinner. My heart sped up when the elevator dinged, and I knew Tony would be stepping out any second.

"Something smells good! Where are you, princess?" Tony stood in the foyer, looking around. His hair was slicked back, and he was dressed in a suit.

"Here I am." I stepped into the foyer, allowing him a full view of my baby bump.

His eyes widened. "Whoa. I knew you were progressing, but I had no idea you were so . . ." He faltered, using his hands to gesture in front of him.

"Fat?"

"No! You're perfect." He was over to me in three long strides and dropped to his knees, grabbing onto my hips and pressing his cheek against the swell of my abdomen. "My baby, growing inside of my perfectly sexy, future wife."

I smiled, smoothing my fingers over his head to hold him close. "You always know just what to say."

Tony lifted my shirt, exposing my skin. "Oh my God." He molded his large hands to the shape of my belly, covering the bump entirely. He gazed up at me with wonder in his eyes and pressed a gentle kiss to my stomach. His lips were warm and soft. Despite the fact he was worshiping our baby, a jolt of desire rushed through me.

"Dinner is almost ready. Why don't you get changed?" I raked my fingers through the orderly strands of his hair and rubbed vigorously, mussing it up good.

Tony laughed and climbed to his feet, wrapping his arms around me. "You really don't like the mafia look on me, do you?"

I giggled, shaking my head. "I really don't. I love the just-fucked, wildly sexy look on you. Suits are okay, but I prefer you in jeans and a sweater."

"I'm relieved to hear you say so because that's my preference as well. I hate looking like an uptight wiseguy." He pointed at the chaotic spikes of hair jutting from his scalp. "And as you can see, it takes a fuckton of gel to wrangle this hair into submission."

While Tony changed, I finished loading the cart and rolled it out to the terrace. For a few seconds, my heart pounded in my chest; I felt exposed without my wig, and there was no mistaking my pregnant belly. I took a few deep breaths and scolded myself for being such a scaredy-cat. Instead, I focused on setting the table and then stepped back to inspect my handiwork. The fairy lights looked cozy in contrast to the dusk sky and created romantic reflections against the china and crystal. Pockets of cool air whispered against my skin, and I adjusted the heater closest to the table.

A scuff startled me, and I glanced at the doorway. Tony leaned against the wall, ankles and arms crossed. He wore a quarter zip cashmere sweater in a shade of seafoam that made his eyes gleam like emeralds and a pair of tight, dark-wash jeans that made my mouth water for something other than food.

"Whoa there, princess." He pushed away from the wall, stalking toward me slowly. "Did you cook dinner for me, or am I the meal?" He used a finger to tip my chin up until our eyes met.

I allowed the pads of my fingers to roam across the softness of the sweater, feeling the hard planes of his chest underneath. "Oh, no . . . you're definitely dessert."

Tony grinned down at me wolfishly, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Hmm. We shall see who gets eaten"—he grabbed my hand, planting a kiss in the palm—"and who is left a boneless heap, twisted in the sheets."

Liquid heat simmered low in my abdomen, and I squeezed my thighs together. "Who needs dinner?" I grabbed his hand and tried to pull him into the hall, but he tugged me back.

"Patience, princess." He cupped my face, looking down at me with amusement. "Is that all I need to do to get what I want from you?"

"Yes. Always."

He swept the pad of his thumb over the curve of my cheek. "You're so beautiful." He leaned in and brushed his lips against my forehead.

"Lower," I whispered.

I felt his lips curve into a smile. "You need to feed this beast if you want him to consume you later."

I pushed against his chest. "And you need to stop saying shit that makes me forget the world exists."

"Agreed. Now what's on the menu?"

We settled at the table, and Tony laid out bowls of salad and scooped lasagna onto our plates. We stayed away from heavy subjects, just enjoying our time together. He fed me pieces of warm bread, and I slipped my shoes off, playing footsie with him under the table. He stared into my eyes, dark promise lurking in the depths of his. We drank goblets of sparkling cider, and I ate more than I intended because I was nervous.

Tony wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Well, you know how to feed a man."

I smiled, a flush warming my cheeks. "I'm glad you liked it."

He tilted his head to one side, eyeing me like a kid at Christmas. "So . . . you mentioned a surprise?"

I pulled a wrapped box from under the table and handed it to him. "This gift is for both of us—if you want to know the sex of the baby."

Tony lifted his eyebrows and eyed the box cautiously. "Do we . . . want to know?"

"Yes. I had Dr. Cullen fill the box, and I wrapped it." I shifted in my seat, lowering my voice to a whisper. "It was really hard for me not to peek inside."

He clasped my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Let's find out about Baby Masen, then."

"What are you hoping for?"

He looked at me for a long moment before answering. "Healthy. I'd love a beautiful princess who looks like you or a little guy I can play catch with." His forehead creased, his mood turning somber. "Bella, what I want is for you and our children to be safe. I don't want to worry about my family's enemies coming after us."

"Don't forget about my family's enemies."

He sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to ruin this wonderful night." Lifting my hand, he brushed his lips across the back. "I promise you I'll find a way to keep you and our children safe."

"I know you will. I believe in you." I pulled my hand away and pushed the box toward him. "Can we open it now?"

Tony unwrapped the box and held it between us as he tugged the lid off. Blue confetti spilled over onto the table. A boy! Tony wiped the glittery bits out of the way and lifted a blue onesie from the box with "Chip" written across the front. He laid that aside and pulled an adult-sized, blue T-shirt from the box that said "Old block."

"Clever." Tony stared at the confetti decorating the table, an odd look on his face.

"Are you okay?"

He smiled. "Yeah . . . I am." Getting up, he came around to my side and pulled me into his arms, swinging me around. "We're having a boy. Our son is growing inside you."

"I hope he looks like you. A little Tony, running around breaking hearts."

"And getting into trouble, if he's anything like I was."

After clearing the dishes, we turned up the heaters, put some music on, and slow danced under the twinkling lights and a canopy of stars. I closed my eyes, pressing my cheek against Tony's chest, and sighed with contentment. If only our lives could be this uncomplicated all the time.

I felt a slight nudge against my stomach followed by a much stronger one. "Oh!" I pulled back and grabbed Tony's hand, pressing it against my abdomen. "Wait for it . . ." Baby Masen kicked again, hard, and that spot on my stomach protruded slightly.

Tony's eyes widened, joy filling his face. He dropped to his knees, spreading his palms over my belly. "Hey, little guy! It's your dad. Your beautiful mom and I love you so much. We can't wait to meet you."

A sudden movement by the entrance to the terrace startled me, and I instinctively grabbed onto Tony's wrists. It was Jasper and Alice, so I relaxed.

"Nice setup." Jasper glanced around, tightening the arm he had around Alice. "Sometimes I forget how romantic it is out here at night."

Alice poked him in the ribs and gazed up at him with mock affront. "You showed me your bedroom fast enough but not this little gem?"

Tony rose to his feet and covered his ears. "La, la, la . . . I don't want to hear about your sex life, squirt," he said in a singsong voice.

Alice broke away from Jasper and sauntered over to stare up at Tony, her gray eyes filled with amusement. "You sure have a weak stomach for a mafia boss. If it makes you feel any better, I had to make the first move on Jas. He fought a valiant fight, but I usually get what I'm after."

Tony pulled Alice in for a hug, resting his chin on top of her dark head. "Jasper didn't stand a chance, then." After a long hug, he held her at arm's length, his expression intense. "You need to be wary though. Jasper isn't part of this life. He has no hand-to-hand training and doesn't carry a gun. If news of your relationship leaks, it will place a target on your back."

"I know the risks. We're being discreet."

Rose hovered in the doorway, clearing her throat. "Sorry to interrupt. I have new information for you."

Tony's demeanor changed immediately, the frosty mafia boss emerging. He nodded. "I need to call Emmett."

"Already done. He's en route." The corner of Rose's mouth twitched as she fought off a smile. Maybe Emmett wasn't alone in his crush.

"Good. Thank you." Tony nodded.

Alice moved closer to the table and fingered the confetti. "Does this mean you guys are having a boy?"

I nodded. "Yeah, we are."

"A new heir to the Masen empire." Alice's eyes glazed over as if she were miles away.

Tony watched her closely. "And another secret that must be kept for now."

Once Emmett arrived, we gathered in the living room to find out what Rose had for us. Emmett made a fool of himself, mooning over Rose like a puppy dog. Thankfully, she was gracious about it. In fact, she seemed more at ease with all of us, which made me happy.

"Someone was arrested for the fire. His name is Anton Weyler, and he's done time for arson before." Rose placed the laptop on the coffee table and angled it so we could all see. She brought up a mugshot of a tough-looking, black male with dreadlocks to his shoulders.

Tony pointed at the screen. "I know this guy." He and Emmett shared a meaningful look, and Tony said to his brother, "Get Monty to post his bail before someone beats us to it."

"On it." Emmett pulled out his phone and left the room.

"What?" I looked at Tony as if he were crazy. "Why would you do such a thing?"

He turned my way, looking every bit the cold, calculating mafia boss, and my heart beat faster. I hoped his expression would soften when he gazed at me, but it didn't. His green eyes contained a growing storm, and his jaw was tense. "We need answers, and the cops aren't going to get them." He cracked his knuckles, and the message was clear—Tony was going to get Anton released so he could grab him off the street.

Emmett stalked back into the room. "It's in the works, E. Nobody will know it was us, so . . ." He punched his palm and grinned, a dark light in his eyes.

"Let's do this," Tony said. He glanced around the room, put an arm around my shoulders, and planted a quick kiss on the top of my head. Then they were gone.

Jasper didn't seem perturbed, maybe because he was used to it. Rose seemed shell-shocked but adjusted her glasses and started tinkering with her computer.

Alice's gray eyes were soft and concerned. She came over and put an arm around me. "It will be okay."

"I know." I angrily swiped away a stray tear.

I wasn't naive. I knew this life and the things that had to be done. What I didn't like was seeing Tony this way. When he looked at me, I saw only his steely determination, and I prayed his course of action wouldn't create distance between us. What would he have to do to extract the information we needed? A shiver worked its way up my spine, and I cradled the curve of my belly in my hands. He would do anything to protect us, but at what personal cost?

~oOo~

A/N: My apologies for the slow updates. I have a lot going on in my life, which took a turn for the worst, but I'm doing the best I can. I appreciate every one of you and your support more than I can say.

They're having a boy! And now Tony and Emmett are getting ready for an interrogation . . . *cracks knuckles*. What are your thoughts? You know how I love to hear them.

I'm working on the next chapter of Animal. Hoping to finish it up soon.

I post teasers and links to updates on Facebook in the No Rules Twilight Fan Fiction, The Twilight Fanfiction Finders, and It All Started With Twilight groups.

Thanks and gratefulness as always to my awesome betas, SassySue (chayasara) and Wendy (wmr1601). These ladies make my stuff much more presentable! (Translation: save me from sounding like a blathering fool)

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