Vulnerable

As I sit there quiet as a mouse the thuds are getting louder, I hear gunfire, a lot of it. And with each bang I flinch, I hear heavy footsteps before I hear the lock being fiddled with. I scoot back against the wall not knowing what awaits on the other side, the sloppy man swings the door open and pulls me up by hair to throw me over his shoulder.

I fight back as much as I can but I'm no match for this man. He waddles his way down the hallway as he says "I'll get praise for bringing you to the boss, you do anything stupid and you die right here" with all the adrenaline I have I spit out venom "I'm glad to hear you're happy to die for your master you pig!"

I hear faint footsteps behind us, the sloppy man eases into a hidden passageway at the end of the hallway, he sets me down and holds his hand over my mouth pressing me against his disgusting body. We both hear footsteps pacing around outside. I hear muffled voices I recognize one of them.. it's Vinny!

Being as brave as I can I kick the bottom of the door with my foot, I get one kick just hard enough to draw attention to us. But not before the man uses the steel in his hand to Crack me in the forehead and with that I fall to floor making an even louder thud to the hidden door. It all goes black again.

*Dom's POV*

I send my men to search every single inch of this trap house, there's hidden areas and traps everywhere. I haven't found Coraline yet but I know she's here. I can smell her, a scent I've come to yearn for. I try to follow the baby powder perfume but the room it's strongest in is empty.

Meathead found Ryan almost immediately, the fucking coward damn near pissed his pants when we caught him. He's knocked out and tied up in the trunk. All of the other men are dead as far as we know, but I still can't find her. My heart is racing until I hear a gunshot and see Vinny walking out with her limp body in his arms.

I fall to my knees clenching every muscle I possibly could. Vinny gets closer and says "C'mon boss I got em but we have to go NOW! The house is rigged and I think he tripped the timer!" I take Cora from his arms and my heart stops. She still breathing thank God!

She's hurt so bad though. We race to the rover and take off quickly and within forty seconds there's a big boom. Vinny was right! I have Coraline in my arms, on my lap. I brush her hair away from her eyes, I cup her face examining all the wounds her beautiful little face has and I clench my jaw.

Her eye is black and swollen and there's blood all over, her lip, her nose and her forehead along with a huge lump with a cut, there's a bit staining her pretty blonde hair. The whole way home I hold her just thinking of all of the ways I'm going to hurt Ryan. I could skin him alive, take his life with my fists, burn him... I'm not sure but the coward is going to die slowly.

We finally arrive home and I carry Coraline up to our bed as I lay her down gently. I go get Sophia and bring her up, I need her help to help Cora, seeing her like this makes me see red. Even more so since she's carrying my seed, I'm glad I found her before it was too late but I'm the reason she's in this condition.

I pace and pace before Sofia grabs my arm and pulls me onto her arms giving me a loving hug before pulling back and saying "Honey the only thing we can do right now is watch her, she is going to need medical attention, I'll call Dr. Kline. He'll be here soon I'm sure" her words reassure me but only enough to keep me from completely losing my shit.

I go to my study and grab the test quickly shoving it into my pocket and grabbing my hundred proof whiskey and make my way back to the room. I drink my anger down enough before I hear a knock on the door. It's Sofia and Dr. Kline, he comes in shakes my hand and immediately sits down beside Coraline and does the standard stuff, he does feel all around her head and takes notice to all her bumps and bruises. Most noticeably the goose egg on her forehead and the black eye.

Dr. Kline grabs his bag and pulls out a box with a few foil packs inside, he hands them to Sofia and says "You said she's pregnant, over the next few days she's going to have to test a few times, she's been hurt bad there's no telling if the baby survived, outside of going to my office where my fetal equipment is. If you're trying to keep this on the low this is the only option there is right now."

My blood boils and my heart aches hearing this. I watch as Dr. Kline takes his stethoscope out and puts it on.

*Coraline's POV*

I feel a cold hit my chest that wakes me up, I see a blurry stranger before hearing "Hello Miss Delacroix, please don't try to sit up!" As my vision clears I see a middle aged man in a white coat, I hear a familiar voice "Oh thank the heavens!" It was Sophia. Tears fall from my eyes as I realize I'm back home, I quickly realize how much pain I'm in before holding my stomach.

I watch Sofia grab the doctors hand and walking him out talking with him. I see Domenico with watery eyes as he glares down at me. I can feel the pressure in face from all of the damage I have endured through the night, I must look hideous. Dom sits down beside me as I sit up, he pulls me in for a hug as I bawl into his shoulder.

The pain in my eye is intensified from the pressure of crying. He holds me so tight rubbing my back. He lays me back before saying "I'm soo sorry Amorè, none of this should've happened!" I can see the guilt in his eyes and face. I look up at him and say "Dom you saved me and our..." I stop myself as I whimper, he doesn't know and I can't drop it on him now.

But I don't have to, I see his eyes drop before saying "You can say it little dove, our child!" I grip my stomach and groan. I know this is a vulnerable time and the beating and mental trauma I've been through leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, leaves me fearing the worst.

I watch as Dom pulls the test from his pocket rubbing it before handing it to me. "Sofia found it and gave it to me, she was really fearful, she really enjoys you, she was terrified as was I" He says. I lay there eyeing the two pink lines.

Dom stands up and says "I'm going to clean you up and run you a bubble bath, I'm not leaving your side, I need to make sure you're well taken care of Amorè" I nod as he walks into the bathroom starts the water and comes back with a wet rag. He gently wipes the multiple dry blood spots and I hiss in pain.

He grabs my hand as he steadies me, instead he swoops me and carries me, he sets me down in front of the tub. He slowly pulls my shirt up and off of me, he crouches as he's pulling down my leggings as I hold his shoulders for support. A light kiss to my navel gives me a smile. He turns me around and helps me step into the warm bubble bath.

As I lay back and wince at the pain I feel literally everywhere, I hear Dom say "When you're healed up a bit, I have a surprise for you, something I think you'll quite enjoy!"