Page 4 of Beautiful Vows

My gaze locks with Dominic’s, and for a fleeting instant, I see trouble in his eyes.

He cautiously moves forward, speaking in a barely audible voice. “Believe me, I never wanted you to be caught in this world. Neither of us did.”

I’m taken aback by their sudden change in tone. Suspicion still lingers, but curiosity gets the better of me. Cautiously, I lean back to see both men.

“The two of you?” My eyes flicker between the two men as the room remains hushed.

The silence only broken when Antonio walks to his desk.

A surge of determination courses through me as I try to work out what this means. And as I gather my thoughts, I glance at my gun on the floor.

Taking a deep breath, I steel myself as I ask again, “Will you lower your guns?”

Antonio lowers his weapon, his hand trembling slightly as he places it in front of him on his desk. “Aurelia.” His eyes meet mine as he begins. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

I push my shoulders back and say, “Go on.”

My heart skips a beat as my eyes lock onto Dominic’s, his silent stare sending shivers down my spine as he reluctantly slides his weapon back into its holster.

He gives me a quick nod, and I turn back to Antonio’s gaze. “You may think we’ve ruined your agenda, but there’s something more at play here.” He opens his drawer and takes out a ring box.

My brow furrows in confusion. “I’m already married.”

He laughs. It’s hearty and surprises the heck out of me.

Then he takes a deep breath. “Aurelia, you could be the key to a new beginning. But there are forces at work that don’t want that.”

I gasp.

I feel a lump forming in my throat as I struggle to process his words.

My heart skips a beat, my hand instinctively moves to cradle my belly. I move it away as though it burned me.

His words echo through the chambers of my mind.

Antonio’s expression softens further, a hint of vulnerability seeping through his hardened facade. “You’re like your mother. You have the same strength within you. A determination that burns in your soul. It’s powerful.”

I don’t react despite the realization that everyone knows who I am, hitting me like a bolt of lightning.

Dominic and Antonio glance at each other as conflicting emotions swell within me, but I hold them back.

My father tried to warn me, tried to protect me with my training.

He hated the mafia, wanted me to stay away from these people. Whereas, Jove insisted I needed to eliminate the threat and exact revenge. But this is more than revenge, and for the first time since this started, I’m uncertain of my next move.

“How did you know I would come here?” I inquire, shuffling into my seat as I stare at his gun.

“Your tracker,” Antonio responds, his voice calm and collected.

My eyes widen in shock, and I gasp, struggling to process his revelation. “You know,” I murmur.

He nods, a ripple runs down his throat as a hint of shame flickers in his eyes. “I put it there.”

The knowledge hits me like a punch to the gut. “How? When?”

“The night you ventured into my mafia world. The same night you were nearly killed and one of our own needed to be eliminated instead of you.”

I swallow, knowing exactly the night in question.

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