The Mafia's Undoing-Chapter 155: Option what?

Later in the afternoon, Pete knocked. Mandy was with him, and both of them were smiling.

"Hey! We brought cookies. Mandy insisted."

I tried to force a smile. "That’s sweet."

Mandy ran in and launched herself at me.

"Miss Katherine! I missed you!"

I hugged her back, fighting tears.

This little girl was just six years old. So innocent and sweet.

What will my own child be like?

"Miss Katherine, you’re crying. Are you sad?"

"Just happy to see you, sweetheart."

Pete noticed, looking concerned. "You okay? You look upset."

"I’m fine. Just... a lot on my mind."

"Want to talk about it?"

Yes. No. Maybe.

"It’s complicated." I managed to answer.

"Most things worth talking about are."

But I couldn’t. I can’t tell Pete I’m pregnant with another man’s baby.

I can’t explain that the man I left is the father of my child.

I just can’t burden him with my mess.

I watched Mandy play and watched Pete being a father.

He’s good. Patient, kind, and present.

Reading to her, playing tea party, and making her giggle.

Could Pete be that for my child? A stepfather?

The thought felt wrong, disloyal, and impossible.

This baby is Tony’s and will always be Tony’s.

Pete can’t replace that. He won’t replace that.

Even if I wanted him to - which I don’t- it wouldn’t be fair.

To Pete, to Mandy, and to my child.

That evening, Elliot visited, and I poured my anger on him immediately.

"Tony was here."

"You told him. You had no right-"

"I had every right. He’s the father, and he deserves to know."

I started crying again. Seems like all I do lately.

"I’m so scared, Elliot."

"I know. But Katherine, hiding it wouldn’t have worked. Eventually, he’d find out, and you damn well know how he’d react. Better now than when you’re showing or after the baby’s born. It’s better to deal with it head-on."

"What do I do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to go back in time. Before Tony and before the danger. When life was simple, and I wasn’t pregnant and terrified."

"That’s not an option. So what’s realistic?"

I was quiet and thinking.

"And you know what?" Elliot continued.

"What?" I asked

"Deep down, you know you never regretted Tony. So quit the you going back to time bullshit talk."

"I love him. I never stopped, but I’m terrified of his world."

"Understandable. But Katy, that world now includes your child. Tony’s right. Your baby will have the Marvin name, the legacy, and the inherited enemies. Whether you marry him or not."

"So I’m trapped."

"No. You’re a mother now, and you make the best choice you can for your child. Not for you but for them."

"Which is?"

Elliot shrugged. "Only you can decide that. But Katherine, for what it’s worth - Tony loves you. He’d do anything for you, and he’ll be a good father. Better than Thomas was to him. I’m statistically certain that you both would figure it out if you’re willing to try."

"How can you be certain?"

"Because Tony’s already choosing differently. He’s prioritizing family over business and is willing to upend his entire life for this baby. That’s not what absent fathers do."

One week later.

I’ve made my decision, and I called Tony.

"Can you come over? We need to talk."

"Sure. Give me four hours; I have a meeting to complete. I’ll be there as soon as I can."

Of course, he has a business to run. He won’t just drop everything and start running to me like I’m a distressed maiden.

But he said he’d come. That should count for something.

Four hours later. Tony kept to his word and arrived as promised. He looked nervous and worried, but with a glint of hope.

"I’ve made my decision," I said.

"Option one, two, or three?"

"None of the above."

Tony looked confused. "What does that mean?"

"It means..." I took a deep breath. "I want you in our child’s life to be fully involved and present for everything. But I’m not ready to marry you."

"Katherine-"

"Not because I don’t love you, I do. But it feels too sudden and rushed. We’ve been through too much trauma. We need time to heal, to rebuild, and to figure out how to be partners without constant danger forcing us together."

Tony was quiet.

"And our child deserves both parents in his or her life together, not forced together out of obligation or fear."

"So, option two. Co-parenting."

"Yes. But with conditions."

"What conditions?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I don’t need your money for me. You can provide for your child, and I want you to, but not for me. I take care of myself and my brother. My life."

"Katherine-"

"And you can’t interfere. You don’t control or try to manage every aspect of my life because you’re worried about danger. If this is going to work, I need autonomy."

Tony’s jaw tightened. "You know that won’t be entirely possible."

"Then you have to try."

There was a long silence from him.

"Fine. I’ll try. But Katherine, if there’s danger or threat, I’m intervening. End of discussion."

"I wouldn’t expect anything less."

"So we’re really doing this?" Tony asked. "Co-parenting while living separately?"

"For now. Yes."

"And later? After the baby’s born? What then?"

"I don’t know. We figure it out as we go."

"That’s not much of a plan."

"It’s the only plan I have."

Tony stepped closer and placed his hand on my still-flat stomach.

"Our baby is growing in there."

"Yes."

"Can I... can I come to appointments? Ultrasounds?"

"Of course. I want you there."

"And when you need something? When you’re scared or sick or overwhelmed?"

"I’ll call you."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

He kissed my forehead tenderly.

"We’re going to make this work."

"Are we?"

"Yes, because we have to. For this baby and for us."

I wanted so badly to believe him. I want to believe we can co-parent while apart and raise a child without being together.

But deep down, I knew.

This arrangement was only temporary.

Eventually, we’d have to choose. Together or apart. Family or separate lives.

But for now, this compromise was all I could manage.