Page 42 of Heartless Vows

She gasps and slams her fork onto the marble counter. I jump at the unexpected sound as it cracks through my ears.

A gigantic shape rushes past me. Nico snatches Serenity off her feet and pins her to the fridge.

Thick fingers weave into my hair and yank my head back as a massive arm wraps around my front and tugs me back against Giorgio’s hard body.

“What happened? Where are you hurt?” he snarls.

“I-I’m not hurt,” I say.

His melted dark chocolate eyes check me from head to toe before narrowing on my swollen eyes.

“You were crying,” he accuses.

“She’s allowed, Giorgio.Mio Dio, what is wrong with our parents?” Serenity hisses.

“You scared the shit out of me,mia principessa. Calm down and explain what your parents did this time,” Nico demands.

“How old are you, Aurora?” Serenity asks.

“Eighteen,” I answer.

“She’s three years younger than Natalie! No. You can’t. Giorgio, tell me you won’t,” she growls.

Before he’s forced to anger his sister further, I respond.

“It’s not his fault, Serenity. Neither of us has a choice, so don’t take it out on him.”

She takes a deep breath and shakes her head.

“No. You’re not ready for a baby.”

Her outrage on my behalf soothes all the pain caused by my parents. I still want their love and protection, but knowing there’s someone in the universe who cares enough about me to fight for me erases the worst of my agony.

Even though she doesn’t understand how dangerous pregnancy would be for me, she’s still against me having a baby so young.

“Thank you. I mean it. Thank you.”

My throat closes up, but I refuse to cry, so I swallow.

“Don’t tell me there’s abutafter your gratitude,” she snarls.

“There is. It’s okay now. I trust Giorgio and I trust myself. We’ll handle this how it needs to be handled.”

“I think they will, too. You’ve been on your feet too long,principessa. Let’s get you in bed,” Nico insists.

“Don’t go all high-handed on me right now. I’m pregnant, not sick, and we’re in the middle of a conversation.”

He scoops her into a cradle hold. She sighs.

“Naps are boring without my tablet. Why’d it have to go allblue screen of deathright when I’m trapped at home?”

“What type of tablet is it?” I ask without thinking.

Serenity has already helped me so much; I can’t leave her without entertainment if it’s an issue I can fix.

Which I can. She answers my question, but it isn’t important.

“Can I look at it? I’m pretty good at solving tech issues.”

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