Page 52 of Corrupt Vows

I scoff and barely hold back an animalistic snarl.

“If bythisyou mean Serenity, then yes. I’ll risk everything for her.”

“But the agreement—”

“Will be off if Camilla doesn’t get in the car in the morning.” I take the ice pack from him. “But don’t worry, Matteo,” I say as I place the ice on the back of Serenity’s hand, shift her to my side, and turn toward the door. “I’ll keep your daughter even without the contract.”

No one stops me as I ushermiaprincipessathrough the halls. The summer sun beats down on us between the front door and the car, but I tuck her in the passenger seat and rush to the driver’s seat before ensuring the air conditioning blasts as cold as possible.

I throw the car in drive and leave the Vivaldi family home without a backward glance. Serenity pulls her phone out of her pocket, but her hands shake so badly she mistypes the passcode on her first try. I reach across the center console and cover her hand with mine.

“That was fucking beautiful,principessa,” I say.

She blinks in an obvious effort to avoid tears and turns her face to look out the passenger window.

“I totally overstepped, didn’t I? Why did you go along with it? Why did you risk everything like that?”

I long to gather her in my arms, but refuse to put her in jeopardy, so I put both hands on the wheel.

“I’m not risking anything; I’m protecting everything.”

“That makes no sense.”

I pull over onto the sidewalk in front of one of the ritzy mansions, pinch her chin, and guide her face toward me.

“It doesn’t need to make sense. It just is.”

She sighs and rolls her eyes.

“You’re my everything, Serenity.” She squints in disbelief. “You and my family are the only ones who matter to me.” I can’t resist the allure of her soft mouth, so I run my thumb back and forth over her lower lip. “Which means anyone you care about becomes important to me by proxy. You’re the only one who saw Camilla’s state, and you know your family better than I do, so I trust your judgement.” She reaches into my chest with her expressive brown eyes and clamps a fist around my heart. I need her to believe me, but she remains skeptical.

“Your father already proved himself incapable of protecting Camilla. She shouldn’t stay in that house anymore. Find her someplace safe,” I snarl.

She accepts my response with a nod and pulls her face away from my grip. I hold in my sigh and decide to drop the conversation. Her haunted eyes torture me. I’d do anything to take away her anguish.

Guilt twists my insides as I realize I’m part of her troubles. The way she looked at her mother is too similar to how she looked at me in the car when I grabbed her during our argument.

I would never hurt her, not like that, but if she grew up under Bianca Vivaldi’s abuse, then any touch of anger might trigger her.

I focus on driving. After a few minutes of tense silence, Serenity sighs and reaches for the radio. I lift my hand to stop her but decide against it and move my hand back to the wheel. She flips through the stations until she finds a song she likes and then returns her attention to her phone.

“Natalie wants to go for coffee before we head to the shops,” she says.

I grunt in acknowledgement and change lanes.

We have an appointment to try on wedding dresses this evening. I didn’t invite Natalie, but it seemsmia piccola principessaneeds a buffer between us. I’ll allow it for today, since denying her a friend who’ll give her honest feedback on something as important as her wedding dress would be cruel, but we’ll finish this discussion before the end of the day because shewillbe in my bed tonight.

When she directs me to her favorite coffee shop, I warn her not to get out until I open her door and, to my surprise, she listens when I pull into a parallel parking spot.

I give the area a second scan before getting out and helping her out of the vehicle. She tucks her phone back into her pocket and crosses her arms over her chest, but doesn’t push my arm off her shoulders when I pull her to my side. The busy street poses too many dangers, but I’d be an idiot to deny my sister the coffee she craves, so I continue through the crowd. Most people give me a wide berth, reacting to my size and menacing aura even if they never look up from their phones, and the ones not tuned in scurry away when they get too close.

I open the door to the corner coffee shop. The bell rings and the barista calls out a greeting. Serenity returns her hello and basically skips the line for being a regular. No one complains as she turns on her sweet charm and thanks them.

The barista checks me out about a million times as she takes my order. I pay and usher Serenity along the counter without a word. She waves to Natalie—who sits in the corner booth with her bodyguards strategically positioned around her. I nod in approval when none of their countenances change when I arrive. They weren’t aware I’d be here, but they keep a solid work ethic even when I’m not watching.

But I’m always watching, and they know it.

We grab our coffees and weave through the tables to join my sister. Slivers of jealousy worm their way into my chest asmia principessabrightens and relaxes in Natalie’s presence. I guide her into the booth and sit beside her, blocking her into the corner. Natalie scoots in to be across from her. Their animated chatter eases the angst in my soul.

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