Page 76 of Corrupt Vows

Natalie answers with exaggerated spunk as she moves to the empty side of my bed.

“Not only were you stabbed in the shoulder, but you also had shrapnel in your back and multiple other wounds that needed stitching. Doc Hennessy fixed you up in a mere nine hours, though.”

I scowl at Serenity as fiercely as my dulled senses will allow.

“And in those nine hours, you didn’t do a single fucking thing to take care of yourself, did you?”

“She paced outside the operating room the entire time, no matter how hard I tried to get her to sit down. I got some food and drink into her, but I doubt it was enough to keep up with all her pacing,” Natalie says.

Serenity doesn’t deny it. Instead, she lifts my hand to her lips and presses soft kisses to my swollen knuckles.

“You haven’t told anyone yet, have you?” I grumble.

She stiffens and lifts startled eyes to mine.

“H-how did you…?” She trails off, clearly at a loss for words.

“I found your purse at the crash site.” My voice thickens as fear squeezes my heart at the memory of the ruined vehicle. Her mouth forms an adorable O of surprise before memories darken her countenance.

Natalie starts to speak but gasps and clamps her hands over her mouth instead.

“I wanted to tell you first,” Serenity says.

“Then tell me,” I demand.

She swallows, extracts her fingers from mine, and pulls my hand to her chest before leaning over me. Her eyes volley between mine as she pensively studies my expression.

“I’m pregnant,” she says.

To the sound of my sister screaming into her hand, I wrap my fingers aroundmia principessa’sthroat and tug her face down to mine.

“Good girl,” I whisper against her lips before kissing her.

She tries to deepen the kiss, but I flex my fingers against her jugular and lift her away before I infect her with the gross taste in my mouth.

“You’re happy? You want a baby?” she asks.

“Yes, I do. I always have, but with you, I want an entire brood. I’ll have your belly round and beautiful with my children for years to come.” Her breath hitches as I rub my thumb over her jawline. “We’ll grow our family and create a loving, safe home for them.” I don’t say it aloud, since she’s been through enough stress, but with my declaration, I promise her our children will never know the abuse she suffered under her mother’s cruelty. Tears run down her face and gather on her chin. I catch them on my fingertips and smear them away.

“You’re my everything, Serenity.”

I’ve said it before, but she wasn’t ready to hear it.

She is now.

Fresh tears spill from her lashes as her breath hitches, and the love shining from her eyes broadcasts her words before they form on her tongue.

“I love you, Nico.”

I smirk as joy blooms within my heart.

“I love you, too, Serenity.”

She leans down and kisses me, and despite the dryness in my mouth, I give her everything. When she pulls back, the bloodstains on her borrowed shirt rub against my arm, and I bite back a snarl.

“I need you to take better care of yourself now,mia principessa, or you’ll force me to do it myself.”

She grips my face with surprising force and glares down at me.

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