Page 66 of Shark Bait

Troy bites her lip.

“Please,” I beg.

“Don’t forgive him,” Val says. “Not today.”

Troy turns toward her. “No?”

“Forgive,” I say. “Please. Come on, baby.”

“Not today,” Valerina says. “If you forgive him now, he’ll take you to the altar. Make him tell Alessio he can’t marry you today.”

“Valerina,” I say. “This is bad advice. Alessio is set on today.”

“But you’re not.” Troy shoves at my chest. Last night, when she shoved me, I let her because I was falling on the bed, but now I plant my feet on the floor and don’t move.

Troy shoves harder. Valerina starts to help her until the two of them push me out of the ultrasound room. I grab the doorjamb and hold on while Valerina shouts, “Alessio, I know you’re here because I can smell your cologne. Come get your man right now, or I swear to God, I’ll move to New York, where I’ll date the president of some biker gang you can’t take down.”

Footsteps herald Alessio’s arrival. He strides down the hallway, fixing his cuff links. When he reaches us, without saying a word, he leans against the wall, which basically means we’re capitulating. I let go of the doorjamb and step back before they slam the door on my fingers. The bang when they do shut the door is loud enough to ring in my ears.

“You’ve made yourself as useful as possible, I see,” I tell him sarcastically.

Alessio keeps fiddling with his cuff links. Once done, he knocks on the door. “Valerina.”

No answer.

He raps on it again.

“Interrupt me one more time,” Tatiana says from inside the room, “and I’ll start to think you’re eager for a rectal exam without lube.”

Alessio shakes his head. “Why is everyone so violent today?”

“Newsflash, tyrant. You’re the one who’s pushing for the wedding.” I lean my shoulder against the door. Voices drift from inside, and I press my ear to the wood, trying to listen. Alessio does the same.

Tatiana is explaining the procedure, talking about the coldness of the gel and the pressure on the bladder when she applies the instrument to the skin. Troy’s silence makes me think she’s nervous. I wish she’d let me in so I could reassure her that it’ll all work out.

Rapid thudding comes from inside the room.

“This is the baby’s heartbeat,” Tatiana says.

Alessio lifts a palm.

I smack it.

We have a heartbeat. Thank God. Not that I thought there wouldn’t be since the baby was kicking, but confirmation is great news.

Tatiana’s moving along with the ultrasounds, describing different parts of human anatomy and saying the organs and measurements are all normal and good. As she’s talking about the baby, my chest swells with a kind of joy I’ve never experienced. I had no idea a baby would make me this happy. Hell, I never even thought about babies.

For fuck’s sake, last week, I didn’t even have a relationship. I didn’t date. I’m shocked I’m enjoying this as much as I enjoy my job.

If Troy hadn’t come around, I’d have spent my life thinking that eliminating threats was the most fulfilling calling of my life. But I would have died totally unfulfilled.

“I feel very full,” I whisper to Alessio and tap my chest. “In here. I’m swollen like a balloon of joy.”

He puts a finger over his lips. “Be quiet or you’ll give away our position.”

I give him a thumbs-up.

“Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” Tatiana asks.

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