Page 80 of Corrupt Vows

“Was that—?” Nico rumbles through a thick throat.

“I… I think so,” I whisper.

He drops his forehead to mine and we take a shuddering breath together.

Natalie knocks again.

Nico Russo, the most dangerous man in New York City, takes my mouth in the gentlest, most reverent kiss imaginable.

A tear slips down my cheek. He pulls back and wipes it away with his thumb.

Natalie shouts something about runaway brides and angry mafia men from the other side of the door in her typical irreverent manner.

I give a watery laugh and peck Nico on the cheek before scooting off the counter.

Knowing she’ll forgive me if I give her second dibs, I fling open the door, catch her wrist, and press her hand to my lower belly.

After a few seconds, she stops trying to tug her arm away and flattens her hand despite the skepticism in her eyes.

“Isn’t it too soon for this?” she asks.

I shrug and press her hand harder against my belly.

Kara Russo, Nico’s sweet stepmother who already feels closer to my heart than my birth mother, steps up behind Natalie and chuckles. The twinkle in her gaze brings fresh tears to my eyes.

“You may not remember, but I was only thirteen weeks along when you felt Bella for the first time. Serenity could be sixteen weeks already, and I dare say she’s thinner than I was,” she says with a happy smile.

Joy blooms on Natalie’s face when the baby flutters against her palm. She squeals and calls the rest of the ladies over.

Nico slips out without a word. His stepmom gives him a knowing side look. Natalie scowls when she sees him but beams a cheerful smile, forgiving him, before he leaves. Bella rolls her eyes when she sees my ruined makeup and gives an exaggerated sigh.

He stiffens as he passes the sitting area where my mother and the women of my extended family wait, but when he swivels his head to look at them, the expression on his profile drops the bottom out of my stomach.

I push Natalie aside and stalk through the group of women I trust to the ones I don’t and stop toe-to-toe with my mother.

“What did you say to him?” I demand.

She has the audacity to square her shoulders and look down her nose at me.

“We didn’t even exchange greetings,” she says.

The accusation in her tone infuriates me, and the need to protect the father of my child overrides all else.

“And why should he greet you when you were probably gossiping about us?”

“It’s not gossip if it’s true,” she quips.

My palm itches to slap her across the face, but I need to flush out what she said to make my husband look so torn.

“Oh?” I push through my clenched teeth.

“We’d all feel a little better if he’d caught the man behind your kidnapping.”

The hairs on my nape stand on end.

She’s right. We would. If Ralf’s body hadn’t disappeared, Nico wouldn’t have tripled our already intense security, but not one person beyond our immediate family should know about his disappearance. Not even my aunts or cousins should know.

I square my shoulders and step closer, forcing her to shuffle backward.

---