Page 28 of Heartless Vows

“Fuck that. Tell me everything you know. Dig into her situation. Past and present. I need all the information you can give me.”

“You got it, boss. Want me to start now, or…”

As he sarcastically trails off, a black SUV turns into the parking lot.

“No, later. See if you can figure out why her parents might be desperate for a grandchild, too.”

“Wait, they want you to—”

I end the call and open my door as Madona Achilles emerges from the back passenger seat. Nearest to the office door, she waits on the sidewalk as the driver rushes around to open the other side. I close my door and engage the alarm before heading toward them.

My steps falter as Aurora exits the vehicle. Despite her flawless makeup and the dress hugging her curves, her vacant eyes and wooden movements can’t belong to the intelligent, sassy woman I met yesterday.

Was it only yesterday I felt her soft lips wrapped around my cock for the first time? It seems forever ago, yet each detail remains vivid in my mind.

I curse my overeager cock and ignore the restriction of my trousers as I close the distance between myself and my future bride.

She doesn’t notice when I take her hand from the driver. Doesn’t pull away when I guide her around the rear of the vehicle. Doesn’t react when I stop in front of her mother.

“Aurora, did you say good morning to Giorgio?” Madona asks.

Aurora startles and checks her surroundings with wide eyes. A blush colors her too-pale cheeks as she realizes I hold her hand.

“Mio Dio, I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep well and now I’m struggling with basic functions.” She glances at her mother before squaring her shoulders and meeting my eyes. “Good morning. I’m glad you could join us, even though you must be busy.”

I don’t like it. Something is wrong. Very wrong.

I cup her chin and watch as several emotions flash across her features.

“Of course, I’m here. I’d do anything for you, Aurora,” I say, mainly because it’s true, but partially to gauge the reactions of the Achilles women.

Aurora doesn’t believe me yet, but she will soon, while a hint of disgust slips through Madona’s polite mask. I note the change and focus on Aurora.

“Still, thank you. It means a lot.”

I can’t tell if she’s telling the truth or putting on a show for her mother, so I kiss her on the forehead and tuck her against my side.

Her lack of spunk as I lead her into the office and follow the doctor to the little nook used to draw blood worries me. When I guide her to sit in the chair with a hand on her shoulder, she settles without fuss and lowers the arm rest as though she’s done so a million times. After draping her arm over the padded bar, exposing the crook of her elbow, she looks around with unhappy eyes before reaching up with her other hand and weaving her fingers into mine.

Surprise sharpens my senses. Her show of trust nearly brings me to my knees, even as my mind screams for her to run away from me as fast as possible. I’m the last person she should trust after the way I failed my sisters, but I can’t deny her the support when she so willingly reached out to me, so I give her digits a reassuring squeeze and sidle closer, offering her my bulk to lean her head on if she wants.

The nurse chatters away as she draws blood. At first, I worry her bubbly personality will annoy the shit out of me, but when Aurora slowly animates, I thank the woman for her thoughtful play-by-play as she explains what she’s doing and the distraction she provides as she makes small talk. After filling several small vials with Aurora’s blood, the nurse thanks us for our patience before disappearing down the hall.

When the same male doctor as before leads us to a room and instructs Aurora to strip for an examination before trying to usher me out into the hall, I stop him with a raised hand.

“I’ll remain in the room. You’ll find a female doctor and will not return today. I can’t promise your safety if I see your face again this visit.Capisci?”

His audible swallow satisfies the beast lurking within me. He rushes to agree with me and hurries from the room.

I don’t know how my father settled for such a pushover physician. If I had my way, I’d never see the weasel again. Ever.

Is this the same man who helped bury the trauma my older sister Camilla had to endure?

I turn to Madona, paste a smile on my face, and hope my cold lethality doesn’t shine from my eyes.

If this woman hurt Aurora, she’ll never lay eyes on her again. I don’t care if she’s her mother. No one will touch my woman but me.

“Thank you for bringing her this morning. I drove here, so she can ride with me for the rest of the day. I’ll drop her off at home before dinner,” I say.

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