E. Jamie

Bree crossed her arms over her protruding belly. ____ fine. No one has shot at me in the last twenty four hours, and my family is talking to me again. Things are looking up._ He grimaced at the mention of her family. __ow fortunate for you._ Bree narrowed her eyes at him, picking up on the derogatory tone. __ell, you should know all about the importance of family. You__ do anything for yours, right? Bernardo says jump, you ask __ow high?_ _ Alessandro felt a sick twist of guilt in his chest, __ell, congratulations, Brianna. You__e worked very hard for the title of O__eiley doormat. I hope it__ all you__e ever wanted. I hope you__e happy._ __lissfully,_ Bree shot back and turned on her heel, leaving him there filled with anger and regret.

His eyes widened. __ain? Darling, you haven__ yet experienced the pain I can inflict when I__e been played for a fool. I__ in awe at your gall to try and fool me._ Bree went still as panic froze her. Oh, God. No. __h, the light bulb finally goes off,_ he purred against her face; his voice low and cold. Even knowing who he was, and the family he came from, Bree could say that deep inside, she__ never felt any real fear of him. She did now. He knew. The look on his face told her he knew that she had lied about him being her baby__ father. Frantically, she grasped for any foothold she could find. __ don__ know what you__e talking-_ __ON__!_ he snapped, grabbing the sides of her face.

He__ lying to me, Bree thought. I don__ know how I know, but I do. And really, wasn__ it better if she didn__ know for sure? Bree moved closer to him and pressed her mouth to his, inhaling the strong, musky scent that seemed to be his alone. Like a mix of spiced wine, dark chocolate and warm leather. Bree eased her tongue in and ran it across his teeth as his fingers moved up her spine to cup her head and bring her closer.

Bree rubbed her belly. Figured; Alessandro wasn__ one to live in quiet but strained tension. She stared up at the fabric of the canopy and then squeezed her eyes shut. __lessandro, considering that the outside world has the sterile hospital rooms, not to mention the epidurals, yeah. For goodness sake, Alessandro. You know we can__ stay here forever. I__ entering my eighth month here._ __ must say, I__ surprised you__e so anxious to leave._ __hy?_ Bree asked, turning to look at his strong profile. __ou know why, Brianna. As soon as we walk out that door, you and I are over._ Bree felt a guilty tightening in her chest. __erhaps that__ what you want, though._ __hat__ not fair,_ Bree whispered even as she feared he was right. No. He__ wrong. I love him. She wasn__ going to let anyone shake what she and Alessandro had built here. She__ let her family know that she wanted Alessandro in her life and that she wanted to be a family with him. __hanks for your confidence in me, though. Really.

Mmmmmnobaconeggsgottagostore_ She slowly ran her hand down his forearm and gave him a sleepy smile as she sat up. Her eyes remained closed as she rested her hand on his shoulder and before he could realize her intention or even remember his manners and stop her, her mouth was on his in a kiss that was so soft and sweet Alessandro could do nothing but fall into it with her.

Bree shot to her feet and glared at him. __ook all you want, Brianna. That was the deal, remember? Until Arturo is found, I__ not leaving you alone._ Alessandro stared down at her with immovable stubbornness. __ow am I gonna explain you to my grandfather? And what if the rest of my family is there?_ __ello O__eiley family, you remember Alessandro, the father of my child, the man that I love, the light of my life, ma raison d'être_ __re you done?_ Bree asked cocking an eyebrow. __epends, are you quite ready to go? Look, you can explain that I__ there for answers too. My father__ involvement in this vendetta directly influences my own future and that of my child.

He took a step back and stared down at her, and she watched the cold mask slowly slip back over his face. __o_that__ it? You just decide I__ not good enough to be with and-_ __h, Alessandro no! You know that__ not-_ __ell, let me tell you something, if you think you__e going to keep me away from my baby-_ __o,_ Bree promised. __ou can see him anytime you want_at my apartment._ He laughed bitterly and sniffled. __ou know something ironic, Brianna? You__e probably the only woman who could have turned me into that man that you deem worthy of your love,_ Alessandro walked towards the door and opened it. __addy?_ a small voice called out. Both Alessandro and Bree turned to Will wearing identically stunned expressions. __an you stay wif me __ill I go sleep __ain?_ Alessandro choked on a sob and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

She took one look at Alessandro and Bree and placed a hand on her chest. __esus, Mary and Joseph. Francesca, lass. Is that you?_ And then she fainted. __oly shit!_ Bree rushed to the fallen nun's side, ignoring Sister McReady__ scowl of disapproval at her language. __ommy! You killed da penguin lady!_ Will cried out in surprise. Bree lightly slapped the old woman__ face and felt a rush of relief when the Mother Superior stirred. The last thing she needed on her conscience was a dead nun. The old woman__ blue eyes opened and anger filled them when her gaze shifted to Alessandro. __ou. You spawn of the devil. Why don__ ye take yerself back where ye came from and leave our poor Francesca alone?_ __h, Mother Superior, yer confused is all. Come now. On yer feet, mum,_ Sister McReady said helping the old woman up. __h, I__ sorry. Sister. Francesca was my great aunt. My name is Bree._ __ree? Jaysus but it__ a ridiculous resemblance it is,_ the old woman panted, holding her chest. __nd you?_ She asked turning to Alessandro. __f course yer not Adriano Dardano, of course but I__l be a drunken fairy if yer not the spitting image of that demon of temptation, sent to corrupt our poor Francesca. Such a good girl she was,_ Sister Brannigan murmured, tears filling her eyes. __uch a good girl.

She walked slowly towards him, taking in how he looked so eerily still. __kay you,_ she said, her voice choked. __e have to have a talk. I know you__e a Dardano, but a wedding reception in the ICU? Not so classy._ She lowered her head, her attempt at levity falling flat under the weight of her heartbreak. She blinked back her tears and cupped his face. __ou listen to me, okay? You are not leaving me. You__e not allowed. You__e going to fight, understand? Alessandro, I will not bury another husband. Do you hear me? I refuse to grieve for you. That is not even an option because you are my life._ She kissed his forehead, the beeping of the heart monitor and the respirators the only sounds in the room. __unny huh? I spent so much time pushing you away and here I am begging you to stay. Not just for me, but for our boys. Will__ already lost one father, don__ you leave him too. And Gianni_don__ you dare leave him nothing but stories about some man in a picture frame._ Bree took his hand, rubbing his ring finger. __lease, Alessandro. Fight. I won__ survive without you. I won__._ She kissed his palm. __e__e fought too hard for you to just give up when we__e finally going to be happy. Dammit Alessandro, you owe me! You owe me a life, a happy life together. So don__ you dare die on me. Don__ you leave me to deal with that son of a bitch father of yours by myself._ She covered her mouth with her free hand to stifle her sobs. She leaned down and kissed his still mouth. __ love you_I love you so much_ Her tears fell on his face as she rested her forehead against his.

Alessandro gathered her into his arms and flipped her over so that she was on top of him, her blonde hair falling over him like a gold curtain. The strands tickled his face as she righted herself over him. She caught her lower lip between her teeth as he pushed up inside of her, and Alessandro reached up, bringing her mouth down, wanting to taste that swollen lip. Her breath wafted over his face, and he grabbed her hips, pulling her down as he pushed up deeper, wanting to fill her to her very soul.

She moved to get up, but the man held her down as her car exploded next. Bree lifted her head and looked back at the wall of fire behind them. __ell. We__e well and truly screwed now.

His scowl deepened. __f he wanted to hurt Will, he could have easily come here when I was at work, but no, he respected your feelings, and he allowed us to come together in our own time._ __s opposed to what? Dragging me up by my hair to the altar?_ Bree asked. __ell that was his suggestion. I suggested a more diplomatic approach.

I understand Mrs. Donovan is a free woman, Mr. Dardano. It__ all for a good cause after all, isn__ it?_ __ifty thousand dollars,_ Alessandro countered, deadly calm though inside he was fairly trembling with rage. __ne hundred thousand dollars,_ Hadley countered, getting to his feet, appearing to enjoy the spectacle of all eyes being on the two of them now. Alessandro stood, his fists clenched tight at his sides. __wo hundred and fifty thousand dollars,_ Bree was staring at them both, her mouth open. Kevin smiled at him. __hree hundred thousand dollars,_ __ne million dollars,_ Alessandro shot back, his eyes clouding with rage. So help him, if the son of a bitch opened his mouth, Alessandro was gonna shove his fist down his throat. The entire ballroom was dead silent. Holding its breath. __h_Going once?_ Alex announced. Kevin met Alessandro__ gaze, smirking. __oing twice?_ Kevin lifted his hands in surrender. __he best man won. I hope you get more than a dance, my friend,_ __old,_ Alex announced, slamming the little gavel down. Alessandro felt a rush of both victory and relief as he stared at Brianna. He walked up to her and extended his hand. __arling?

We have nothing!_ Bree reached out and slapped him with all her might. He couldn__ know the baby she carried was his. Not ever. Alessandro__ dark eyes flashed angrily at her for a split second, making Bree__ insides tense in anticipation of his rage, but then he smiled at her, his hand going to her thigh. __ell, I was hoping we__ get to know each other a little better before delving into S & M, but I__ game if you are, sunshine._ __ want you to get out,_ __nd I want you naked screaming my name, now that you know it,_ Alessandro growled, leaning in so that his breath brushed across her face in a tantalizing caress.

Mommy, how come Dona Duck don have no pants?_ Will sat on the couch eating cookies. Bree looked up. Then she glanced at the Donald Duck cartoon on the TV. __e have top but he no have bottoms,_ __ood point,_ she said. And yet the duck always wore a towel after he showered. __at__ odd,_ Will remarked. He leaned over his plate and began to split his cookies into two piles. __nd where his pee pee go? He a boy right, mommy? But he don_ have no pee pee. How he go to bafroom?

Last night, Bree had been taken. Thoroughly, utterly taken. Gently or roughly, it didn__ matter. This man had reached into the darkest part of her mind, had brought out and laid bare the desires she admitted to no one but herself in her most secret, quiet moments. Her hunger had been allowed to run free. There__ been no guilt, no remorse. Nothing was __rong_. And God, the feeling of freedom was damned addictive. What did that say about her? How could she love Michael, yet give a part of her she__ never felt comfortable sharing with Michael to this stranger.

Alessandro watched as Luke burrowed his nose in the snow and then shook his small body. __ell, that depends on whether you want a male or a female horse._ __mm. I tink I want a boy horsie. Girl horsies have babies and dat__ too much trouble._ Alessandro bit back a laugh. __ale horse it is then. Let__ see. My favourite horse__ name is Abbott._ __ But?_ Will asked laughing. __bbott,_ Alessandro corrected. __himney,_ Will suddenly decided, stopping. Alessandro blinked in confusion. ____ sorry, did you say __himney_?_ __t make sense,_ Will assured him. __anta come down da chimney and he is my pesent, right? So his name be Chimney._ __ agree. Quite logical,_ Alessandro nodded. __ell, dat one ting on my list. Der be more._ __uly noted,_ he said.

She realized he wasn__ listening to music and gave him a curious look of amusement as she picked up the cover to an audio book. __hat To Expect When You__e Expecting._ God forgive me, I love this man. __hought I should be informed, you know?_ Alessandro explained sheepishly. Bree tried to tear her gaze away from his gleaming chest. __lus all the lactating and dilating and placenta talk does wonders to crush any man__ libido.