Page 67 of Ruthless King

“I wanted to take you somewhere nice. After what you’ve been through …”

I rest my head against his chest and let him hold me in his arms. “After what we’ve been through. Are we going to talk about it?”

“If you want to.”

“We lost our child, Nico.”

“I know. It fucking hurts. But we can always try again.”

“Our chances aren’t good. What if I can never have children?”

“Adoptions an option.”

I glance up at him. “You really think an adoption agency would let a man like you adopt a child? You have a reputation, Nico. Even if it’s not who you really are, you still have it.”

“I know. But as the doctor said, we shouldn’t put pressure on trying for another baby right away. We can let things happen naturally for the time being.”

“You won’t leave me?” I ask. That’s my real insecurity—losing everyone I’ve ever cared for.

“I won’t leave you.”

I believe him when he says it, and that’s more terrifying than anything else because Nico has the power to break my heart.

We wander around the garden for a while, content to just be together. I’m tired of thinking about having a baby. I’m tired of thinking about Beatrice out there, waiting to pounce. I just want to be with Nico and feel happy for once.

Of course, nothing can ever go that smoothly.

I don’t see her until she’s practically next to us.

“Nico!” I shout.

He spins and catches Beatrice’s arm right as she aims a gun at him. He forces her arm up, and the gun fires into the sky. The bullet goes through the glass ceiling, raining glass down on us.

Beatrice growls and tries to shoot Nico again, but he grabs the gun and turns it around on her.

“How did you find us?” I ask.

“You know I have my resources,” she says.

“How did you get past our guards?” Nico demands to know.

“A sniper. Shot them all dead. You have no one protecting you. I’m here to finish the job my niece couldn’t.”

Nico frowns. “What are you talking about?”

Beatrice flashes me a smug smile. At this moment, I know she’s going to tell Nico everything.

And I can’t let that happen.

I grab the gun from Nico and shoot her in the head. She jerks, then falls to the ground. She can join my father in the afterlife.

Nico stares at me for a long moment before gently taking the gun from me. “Why did you shoot her? You didn’t want her dead.”

“She was trying to kill you. And she made us lose our baby. She had to die.” And I had to kill her before she ratted me out to Nico.

“Aurora,” he says carefully. “You just killed your own aunt.”

“I know.” And the truth? I don’t feel any remorse.

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