Page 61 of Shark Bait

She glances at me. “I wish I could tell you you’re not getting married.”

I shrug. “It’s okay, Val.”

“Val,” she repeats.

“Can I call you Val?”

She squeezes my hand. “I love it. Never had a nickname before, and it’s been ages since I hung out with a girlfriend.”

“How come?”

“We moved a lot when I was younger, so making friends was hard. We’re still moving around a lot, but now I’m older, so it’s easier to cope with solitude.”

I imagine it’s even worse for her to have lost her sister. “I like being alone.”

“Oh yeah?”

I nod. “I used to hear music when I was alone, and I would write it down and try to play it, make sense of it all, or at least get it out of my head before it drove me crazy.”

Val frowns. “You’re a songwriter?”

“I wouldn’t call myself that. It sounds fancy.”

“You’re fancy, Troy. Look at you.”

I blush. “You’re too kind to me.”

Val huffs. “Kind is all I can be to you. Unfortunately. I wish I could convince Alessio to recant the marriage order, but he won’t budge. I tried. You have to believe me that I tried, but I know my brother, and let me tell you, when he says he’s going to do something, you can take a hammer to his iron will, and the hammer will break before Alessio does.” She turns toward me, her fingers on her necklace. “After our sister died, Alessio became so protective about my safety and Leo’s that he kept us indoors for over a year. He bought the island and moved us here, where he controls everything.” She taps her pendant. “If he knew who collared me, he’d kill him. If he knew who my baby’s daddy is, he’d order him to marry me.”

“Are they not the same person?” And also, it’s a collar?!

Val blushes and shakes her head. “They’re aware of each other.”

“Oh wow. I’d love to know more.”

Val giggles. “It’s fun, to be sure. When I can get away from my controlling brother. But, terrible as he can be, he believes he’s protecting his family. Miro is family, and when he marries you, Alessio will extend his protection to you. But his chivalry, if you will, comes at a price, and it’s totally unfair because you didn’t choose any of this. Any of us. And yet you’re stuck with us.”

I open my mouth but close it again because there’s nothing to say to that. I am stuck with them, but I’m not sure the stuckness is bad. Val’s not bad people. She won’t hurt me. She’s looking outfor me and has, in fact, stuck up for me against her brother, a man I would never dream of confronting.

“Thank you,” I say.

Valerina hugs me. “Anytime.” She squeezes me and lingers longer than necessary, maybe thinking I need a hug. I do need a hug, so I squeeze back.

Another group of young men start hollering.

I roll my eyes, and we separate.

The trip to the OB’s office is short, and we park our carriage behind a hospital next to two other carriages, where a man helps us down, then leads the horses away. We enter the hospital and take the elevator to the first floor, where we’re greeted with refreshments while we wait. I guess people don’t need their insurance cards around here.

“Is this champagne?” I ask.

“It’s sparkling apple cider,” Val says. “Did you want champagne? I’m sure we can have a glass of champagne tonight for dinner.”

A tall brunette with gray eyes wearing a white coat over a blue suit walks up. She appears to be in her sixties and smiles in a way that’s both professional and carrying. She greets Valerina by kissing her on the cheeks and then turns to me. Valerina introduces her as Dr. Tatiana Morozova, and the woman shakes my hand.

“Nice to meet you, Troy. Val told me about you during her ultrasound this morning. Didn’t expect to see you so soon.” She gives Val a pointed look.

“I snuck in earlier today,” Val says.

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