Cruel Betrayals (Savannah Sharks Hockey and Mafia #3)

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

ALEXANDRA

My phone chimes with a notification. Grabbing my phone off my coffee table, I see a new post from the Savannah Sharks social media account. Also known as the Director of Public Relations, who just happens to be Francesca Marino.

The picture shows the guys warming up before this afternoon’s game in San Diego. She must have asked a reporter or a fan to take the picture.

I spot Joseph in the background. His expression is hardened, like he’d rather be anywhere but there. Maybe work is getting to him.

They did just blow up Giuseppe Rossi’s house, and I’m sure the police are breathing down their necks. I’m honestly surprised no one has been arrested. Francesca thinks it’s because Rossi is nowhere to be found and only he can press charges.

I just hope they were careful and covered their tracks because if the video footage is leaked, it could ruin their hockey careers.

Grabbing the television remote, I turn on the game just in time to watch the referee drop the puck and the game begin.

I watched the Sharks’ last home game and silently cheered Joseph and the guys on. They played so well together, and the team dominated. Joseph got a hat trick, which made me want to congratulate him.

It was his first hat trick, after all, but I’m not ready to forgive and forget. We need to have a sit down and talk through everything first. Then, I might be willing to accept his apology and gifts.

A knock sounds on my door. Looking through the peephole, I see Francesca and Savannah holding up several bags of takeout from my favorite Chinese restaurant.

I open the door and eye the food. “Now you’re speaking my language. Come in.”

Savannah bounds through the door first. “We thought we would keep you company during the guys’ game today.”

“And you brought me food. How could I say no to that?”

Francesca walks past me. “You don’t, unless you want both of us to be sad and think you hate us. You know how we women tend to overthink.”

She places the bag of food on the coffee table and fake pouts, making me laugh.

“Oh good. You already have the game on.” She plops down on my couch and turns the volume up on the television so we can hear the referee give Rhett a penalty for interference.

I head to the kitchen and grab three plates, forks, and spoons before returning to the living room.

Once the food is laid out and our plates are full, I say. “I think we need to talk.”

Savannah sits on the couch next to me. “Uh-oh. When a woman says that, it’s usually not a good thing.”

“I’m not breaking up with anyone. It’s not about us. Well, not directly.”

Francesca places her plate on the table. “I have a feeling I’m not going to like what is about to be said.”

“It’s not bad.”

Both women raise their eyebrows at me.

“It’s not! I swear!” I chuckle before spitting out the news. “Emily is a mole. She’s working for Giuseppe Rossi. She must be close to them because she walked into my room unescorted. She even brought me food twice.”

Francesca barks out, “Twice? That’s all you were fed when they had you locked up there? We will deal with her later because I’m pretty sure she’s been working for the Reapers as well.”

I frown. “So she’s like a double agent? Or a triple agent? She worked for Arturo, Giuseppe, and the Reapers? How did she pull that off? Who was she really working for and who was she screwing over?”

Savannah nods. “If she’s working for Rossi, then she definitely is a double agent. I can confirm she’s double dipping in with the Reapers because I saw Emily at the Reaper party.”

“What Reaper party?”

At my confused look, she clarifies. “The Reapers hosted a party and me and Francesca crashed it and pretended to be waitresses. Emily was really cozy with the Reapers. If she wasn’t really working for them, then she fooled them and me.”

I blow out my breath. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Emily’s dead. Gage shot her when he came to save me.”

Francesca chuckles. “Good, because we have more pressing matters to worry about right now.”

Savannah and I glance at each other and say, “We do?”

Francesca grins. “I want to be godmother to your baby no matter what happens with you and Joey, and I want to throw you a baby shower. Every expectant mother and her baby should feel cherished and loved.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“I want to do it. Please. It would be an honor to celebrate my niece or nephew.”

“Alright, but please don’t go overboard. I don’t want a huge, elaborate party. Keep it small and intimate.”

Savannah cocks her head to the side. “Like just the three of us? We could celebrate over brunch with just the three of us. A baby shower should have many guests.”

Francesca types on her phone. “Do you want a co-ed party or just ladies?”

“Uh, co-ed I guess.”

“Good, that’s what I was thinking. The guys will want to be there. Now, do you want a certain theme or color scheme?”

“Like what?” I ask, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

“Teddy bears, ducks, rainbows, circuses, a cartoon character, or maybe sea creatures?”

Woah, that’s too much to consider.

She continues, oblivious to my mini freak out. “Ooh, we can do playful sharks because Joey plays for the Sharks, or what about greens and yellows, like a forest theme with all the baby animals?”

Her fingers type at the speed of lightning as she tries to jot down all her ideas.

“What about diaper cakes as the centerpieces? They are super cute and practical since you will use the diapers once the baby is born. What about games? I think we should do at least three, but do you think guests will want to play along?”

Savannah places her hand on Francesca’s, stopping her frantic typing. “Hey, I think you are starting to overwhelm Alexandra.”

“I’m already way past the starting line. That sounds like it’s going to be far from small and intimate.”

Francesca glances from Savannah to me. “I’m sorry, Alexandra. That was not my intent. Just leave all the tiny details to me and Savannah. We will plan the perfect baby shower for you.”

“Thanks. I would appreciate that. I don’t even know which hospital I’m going to deliver in. There are too many decisions to make, and I shouldn’t have to make them alone. I don’t want to make them alone, but I can’t just forgive what Joseph has said and done.”

Francesca and Savannah share a look, but neither of them speak.

“What is it? What are you two hiding from me?” I ask before taking a bite of my fried rice.

Francesca clicks and swipes on her phone before turning it around to show me the video footage from the gym at the arena.

Joseph, Rhett, Spencer, and Gage are working out and talking.

I pause the video. “Should I even be watching this? Where did you get this from? This is their private conversation.”

Savannah interjects. “Yes, you should. You need to watch this. Aren’t you curious to hear what the guys talk about when they are alone?”

“Sure, but it’s none of my business. If they wanted me to know what they talked about, they would tell me.”

Francesca hands me her phone. “How do you think I even knew about their conversation? I was told to download the video and show it to you.”

“By who?” I can’t imagine Joseph telling his sister to show me the video of a conversation he had with his three best friends.

“Just watch it, please.”

I huff and pout while debating if I should watch the video. “I feel like this is the moment I’ll see on replay as I stand at the pearly gates. They will ask me why I chose the immoral choice to watch the video instead of turning it off and asking Joseph directly.”

“I’ll defend you and tell them I made you watch the video. I will take all responsibility for this event and you can get into Heaven with a clear conscience.”

Savannah nods. “Me too. I’ll take the blame off you.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine, but I will remember this moment and haunt both of your asses if I can’t get into heaven.”

Francesca reaches over and presses the play button on the screen.

Joseph hops onto the treadmill and presses the speed button a dozen times until he is practically sprinting. “I need to figure out a way to fix everything. I need to make things right. I need to show Dad I’m mature enough to take on more responsibilities and run the empire.”

Gage chokes on his water and slaps his chest several times. “Is he retiring?”

Joseph’s face turns red, and he pants as he continues his fast-paced run. He clicks a few buttons to turn the speed down and says, “No, he’s not retiring. At least not yet. Not as long as I’m on the team.”

“Do you want to take everything over?”

Joseph shrugs. “That has always been the plan. I’ve followed in his footsteps, and I’ve learned how to run the business side of things as well as the political side of things.”

Rhett interjects. “But that doesn’t mean you want to take over the Marino empire. Would you rather take over the family side of things or continue with your hockey career?”

“Honestly? I’m not sure. I love hockey, I love the game, and I love skating, but I’m tired of all the travel. I always figured I’d play until Dad retired or I started a family, and now that Alexandra is pregnant, I want to be stationary as much as possible.”

Rhett raises an eyebrow. “Are you thinking about retiring from hockey?”

“If Alexandra takes me back, it’s a conversation I plan on having with her.”

Spencer clears his throat and glances around the gym. “Just playing devil’s advocate here, but what if she doesn’t take you back?”

He presses his lips together. “I guess I’ll still have that conversation with her. I don’t want to be a part-time parent. I want to be involved in my child’s life. I want-”

The video shuts off, leaving my mind spiraling as it tries to process what I just watched.

“Wait. What does he want?” I glance from one woman to the other, hoping they have the other part of the video.

“You.” they say at the same time.

Savannah places her hand on my forearm. It’s a gentle and caring touch. “It’s up to you to see things through. Both of you are miserable and want to make things right. Take time to think about what you want for yourself and your baby and then go for it. Francesca and I will be next to you every step of the way.”

Francesca grins. “Speaking of your baby, I have a surprise for you and we need to head out right now, so take a few more bites and let’s go. Hell, bring the container of food. You can eat in the car.”

“Where are we going?”

“The sooner you grab your phone, wallet, and keys, the sooner you will find out. You actually don’t have to go far, just a few miles down the road.”

Eager to see where we are going, I leave the food untouched and follow them downstairs to Francesca’s car. She drives towards downtown but turns down a side road and parks in a doctor’s office parking lot.

When we walk inside, we are immediately shown to a room where a doctor is waiting for us.

“What’s going on?”

“We thought we would surprise you with an ultrasound so you can see your baby.”

The doctor looks at the folder on her desk. “You’re also getting a 4D ultrasound, correct?”

Francesca nods. “Sure are. Well, if she wants one.”

“That would be amazing.”

The two women walk to the door to leave, but I stop them. “Wait. Why don’t you two stay and watch? I promise it won’t be weird.”

They close the door and sit in the seats next to the table.

I lift up my shirt so the doctor can squirt the gel onto my stomach. Unlike my last ultrasound, this gel is warm.

As if she can sense my confusion, she says, “I hate using cold gel on my patients. I find the warm gel to be more soothing and relaxing.”

“Well, you would be nice. I braced myself for the cold but was pleasantly surprised.”

The doctor grabs the wand and runs it over my stomach, locating the baby. A whomp whomp whomp sound echoes through the room. It sounds like someone is waving a large sheet of plastic.

“That’s your baby’s heartbeat. It’s very healthy and strong. She’s already a fighter.” The doctor explains.

“She?” I ask, while scanning the screen for confirmation.

I’m having a girl?

“She or he. I always seem to go with ‘she’. It’s an old habit. One that I should really try to break. You are still a little too early for us to tell with certainty.”

I shrug. “Well, boy or girl doesn’t matter to me. As long as I have a healthy baby, I will be one happy mama.”

She continues with the ultrasound, showing me the baby’s face, hands, and teeny tiny feet.

I feel overwhelmed, but in a good way. Tears temporarily blur my vision as a ball of emotion lodges itself into my throat.

That’s my baby. My little girl or boy. My perfect little baby.

“Your baby is growing so much.” Francesca says, like the proud aunt she is.

The doctor prints several pictures and saves the heartbeat to a disc before switching to the 4D ultrasound.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or experienced before. I can see my baby. I can see its little button nose and its tiny fingers.

My baby opens its hand and reaches out toward the ultrasound wand.

A chorus of awws sound through the room as all three of us are amazed at what we are seeing.

The baby opens its mouth and kicks its leg out to stretch.

“Ow. That one hurt.”

The doctor laughs. “Be prepared for bigger kicks the bigger the baby gets.”

“Gee, Doc, you’re making me look forward to the later months.” I chuckle as the baby flips off the camera.

Francesca laughs. “Oh yeah, that’s a little Joey alright.”

The doctor finishes up and prints several pictures for me and puts the entire ultrasound on a flash drive.

When we are back in Francesca’s car, I let the tears flow. Both women stare at me with worry in their eyes.

“These are happy tears. I promise.” I swipe my tears away as I hold the ultrasound pictures close to my heart. “Thank you for this. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Like really.”

Francesca’s eyes glaze over as if she’s on the brink of crying, too. “Thank you for letting us sit in there with you and experience this together. When it’s my turn, we will all have to do this again.”

“Maybe in a couple of months.” I say with a grin.

“From your lips to God’s ears.” Francesca says before backing out of the parking spot and driving back to my apartment.

This was the best surprise ever and I’ll cherish these memories for the rest of my life. I just wish I could have shared this experience with Joseph.

Maybe there’s still hope for us.