The Mafia's Undoing-Chapter 153: Secrets and Lies

Two weeks after that night with Katherine.

I was back in Manhattan. Back at Marvin Industries and back to the grind.

Working Eighteen-hour days as we were moving into aggressive expansion and new acquisitions.

I did everything to keep my mind occupied.

But something was different this time. A flicker of hope I didn’t have before.

She still loves me. She proved it that night.

The way she kissed me, the way she responded, and the way she had said my name.

She’s not over us. Not even close.

Bella noticed immediately.

"You’re in a better mood," she observed during a board meeting. "Almost... hopeful?"

After everyone left, I told her. "Katherine and I... we had a moment. Two weeks ago."

Her eyes widened. "You saw her?"

"More than saw her."

"And?"

"And she still sent me away the next morning."

Bella’s face fell. "Tony-"

"But she loves me. I know she does... she’s just scared."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Give her time, but I would stay present. Let her know I’m still here."

Thomas found me in my office later that evening.

It was rare for him to visit, but he’s been different lately. More involved and more present.

"Heard you saw Katherine."

"News travels fast."

"You slept with her. Then she rejected you again." He sits. "That’s progress."

I laughed bitterly. "How is that progress?"

"Because she’s conflicted. If she truly wanted you gone, she wouldn’t have let you touch her. She’s fighting herself. Not you."

"So what do I do?"

"Give her time, but stay present. Let her know you’re there. Waiting. Don’t disappear and don’t give up."

"I won’t. I can’t."

Thomas nods. "Good. That woman is the best thing that ever happened to you. Don’t let her go without a fight."

I decided on subtle presence.

Not stalking or surveillance. Just being available.

I sent flowers weekly with no card. She would know who they’re from.

I made anonymous payments to upgrade her consulting firm’s security systems. She’d never know it’s me.

I’ve also been monitoring Hassan Patton’s trial, making sure he stays locked up. It’s a life sentence with no parole.

Being there, even if Katherine doesn’t see it.

Luca reported weekly as promised.

"Katherine’s still in the same town and still seeing Pete Anderson occasionally."

My jaw clenched. "How occasionally?"

"Dinners and park visits with his daughter. But it’s platonic, I’ve confirmed it. No kissing and no intimacy. Just friendly."

I felt relief. "And Elliot?"

"He’s back at Columbia. We have a full security detail. It’s discreet but present. No incidents."

"Good."

Luca hesitated. "Marvin... when are you going to tell her?"

"Tell her what?"

"That you’re still protecting them, still paying for security, and still watching from afar."

"Never. She asked for space, and I’m giving it to her. From a distance."

"That’s not exactly space-"

"It’s the space I can give. Take it or leave it."

Luca smirks. "You’re impossible."

"I’m in love. There’s a difference."

Four weeks after our night together.

I was at the office late, reviewing some acquisition proposals, when my phone rang. It was Elliot Blaire.

Unexpected since he never calls me.

"Mr. Marvin. We need to talk."

His tone was serious and urgent.

"Is Katherine okay?"

"That depends on your definition of okay."

I sat straightened. "What does that mean?"

"It means she’s pregnant. With your child, and she doesn’t know what to do."

I stiffened.

"What?"

"Four weeks pregnant. Apparently, from your night together. She’s terrified, overwhelmed, and confused. She asked me not to tell you, but I believe you have a right to know."

I was having difficulty processing this. Katherine is pregnant with my child.

Our child.

"She doesn’t want me to know?"

"She doesn’t know what she wants. She’s conflicted and scared. She left you to protect me. Now she’s carrying your child. It complicates everything in ways she can’t reconcile."

"I’m coming there tonight. Now."

"She’ll be angry I told you."

"Let her be angry. This changes everything."

"Does it? Or does it just complicate an already impossible situation?"

"That’s my child, Elliot. My family. I have a right to be part of this."

He paused for a long time, then continued. "Yes. You do. Which is why I called, despite Katherine’s wishes."

"Thank you."

"Don’t thank me. Just... don’t hurt her more than she’s already hurting."

The line went dead.

I moved, grabbing my jacket, keys, and phone.

My mind was still echoing from our conversation - pregnant. Katherine’s pregnant.

With my baby. Our baby.

I was going to be a father.

And Katherine tried to hide it from me.

The drive to her town felt endless.

The two-hour journey might as well be two years.

My thoughts were racing. Pregnant, baby, child, and family.

I knew she was previously on birth control, but it’s possible she must have stopped since our breakup.

My mind still reeled that she was carrying my child. In that small town, and away from me.

Planning what? To raise our baby alone and keep me out?

"Like hell." I roared to myself.

I called Bella from the car.

"Katherine’s pregnant."

She was silent, then gasped. "Oh my God."

"I’m going there tonight. She needs to know I know."

"Tony, if Elliot told you against her wishes-" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"I don’t care. That’s my child. My family. I have a right to be part of this."

"Just... be careful. Don’t push too hard. She’d be vulnerable right now."

"I’ve been careful for four months. Look where it got me. Alone and miserable. Apparently, about to be a father without even knowing about it."

"Tony-"

"I’m done being careful, Bella. I’m done respecting distance. That’s my child, and Katherine’s the woman I love. I’m fighting for my family."

"Good. It’s about time."

I reached Katherine’s town at midnight.

Her apartment was dark, indicating that she was sleeping.

I parked outside her building and waited.

Preparing what I’d say and how I’d convince her.

She’s pregnant with my child. That already changes everything.

She can’t push me away anymore.

We’re having this baby together. Whether she liked it or not.

Morning came slowly.

I’ve been sitting in my car for seven hours and have barely moved.

I had been planning, thinking, and preparing.

At 7 AM, I saw Katherine emerge with coffee in her hand, heading to her car.

She looked tired, pale, beautiful.

And pregnant with my child.

She saw me and stopped dead in her tracks.

I saw shock, fear, and anger - all crossing her face.

I got out of my car. "We need to talk."

"What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk. About the baby."

Her face went white, and the coffee cup in her hand nearly dropped.

"Elliot told you."

"He had to. Katherine, you can’t keep this from me."

"I can do whatever I want-"

"Not with my child, you can’t."

She was shaking now, seemingly angry, terrified, and overwhelmed.

The neighbors were already emerging, doing their morning routines, and some people passing by were watching.

"Get in the car," I said. "We need to talk now. Privately."

"You had no right to come here."

"I have every right. That’s my child."

"It’s my body. My choice."

"And I respect that completely. But you’re not making this choice alone. Not this time. We’re in this together, whether you like it or not."

Katherine looked around and realized that the neighbors were definitely watching now.

She couldn’t have this conversation in the parking lot either.

"Fine. Inside. Ten minutes. Then you leave."

"Whatever you want."

We went into her apartment.

The same one where we made love four weeks ago.

Where our child was conceived.

I closed the door and really looked at Katherine.

She was pale, exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes.

Still beautiful as always.

"How long have you known?" I asked.

"Two days."

"And you weren’t going to tell me."

"I don’t know. I don’t know what I was going to do. I’m still processing!"

"There’s nothing to process. We’re having a baby."

"I’m having a baby. You’re just-"

"The father. I’m the father, Katherine. And I’m going to be present. Fully present for all of it."

She was crying now. "I’m getting sick and tired of your huge ego, Tony. You can’t just show up and demand-"

"I’m not demanding. I’m claiming what’s mine. My child. My family."

"We’re not a family-"

"Yes, we are." I step closer. "Marry me."

Her laugh sounded broken. "Are you insane?"

"Marry me and let me protect you. Both of you. Our child deserves both parents together."

"Your world almost killed Elliot-"

"And now you’re carrying my child!" I was already shouting, barely controlling my anger to make her see reason. "My world is your world, whether you like it or not! Our baby will have the Marvin name. The Marvin legacy. The Marvin enemies. You can’t hide from that!"

Those words hit her hard. Because she knew deep down they were true.

She was crying harder now. "This wasn’t supposed to happen."

"But it did. And now we deal with it together."

"I can’t marry you-"

"Why? We love each other. We’re having a child together. What else matters?"

"Everything! The danger, the fear, the constant threats-"

"Will exist whether we’re together or not. At least if we’re together, I can protect you both."

She shook her head. "I can’t. I can’t do this."

"You don’t have a choice anymore. Neither of us does."

"There’s always a choice-"

"No. There isn’t." I was gentler now. "Katherine, we’re having a baby. Our baby. That changes everything. You can’t run from this and can’t hide from it. We’re in this together."

"I’m so scared," she whispered.

"I know. So am I, but we face it together."

"What if something happens? What if our child gets hurt because of you?"

"Then we deal with it. But we don’t let fear stop us from being a family."

She was quiet now. Thinking and processing.

"I need time," she finally said. "To think. To figure out what I want."

"How much time?"

"I don’t know. A week? A month?"

"Our baby’s growing every day. Time is running out."

"I know that!"

"Do you? Or are you stalling? Hoping this will somehow resolve itself?"

"I’m not hoping anything! I’m terrified and confused, and I don’t know what to do!"

I pulled her close. She resisted briefly, then collapsed into me.

"We’ll figure it out," I whispered. "Together. But Katherine, I’m not going anywhere. Not this time. That’s my child, and you’re the woman I love. I’m here for all of it."

She sobbed into my chest. "This is so messed up."

"Yeah. It is. But we’ve survived worse."

"Have we?"

"Yes. And we’ll survive this, too."