Page 37 of Heartless Vows

“My father doesn’t know it even exists. He may drive by it now and then, but it means nothing to him. He has no interest in that part of the city.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why do you think I picked it?”

She chews on her bottom lip as she digests the information, then gives a nod of acceptance.

“I’m okay with that, I think. You promise you aren’t trying to get me killed? If anyone knows this exists—”

“This is between the three of us. No one else will know unlessyoutell them,” I assure her.

“Okay. I trust you.”

My heart aches. She shouldn’t trust me, not after I failed my sisters. I cup her face in my hands and brush my lips over hers, but pull back when she gasps. I won’t be able to stop at just a taste, and my lawyer’s office is not where I want to take her virginity.

In fact, after watching her sleep for hours and still look exhausted, guilt creeps through me for even considering acting out my lewd fantasies. I’ll survive another day if I don’t slake my lust, but there’s no guarantee she’ll continue to trust me if I push her too hard.

I can’t lose her trust. I need it.

I tuck her against my side and lean back on the couch to wait for the lawyer to return with my copy of the paperwork. She remains stiff for a moment, but leans into me when I tighten my arm over her shoulders.

“You already gave me this much,mia topolina. Don’t take it away now.”

She aims quizzical eyes up at me, but the only lawyer I trust in New York City returns. I take the folder from her and rise, keeping Aurora plastered to my side, and thank the businesswoman before ushering my prize to the elevator. On high alert, I catalogue Aurora’s every lithe movement while noting each potential danger until I settle her in my car and shut the door. As I stroll around the hood, I send Fiero a quick text, demanding he leave his keycard to my townhouse—the only spare I have—on the kitchen counter in the next ten minutes before I drop into the driver’s seat and hit the ignition.

We make the drive in silence. Aurora barely moves as she watches the world outside the windows, and when I notice her keeping track of street names and familiar buildings, pride flows through my chest but tension coils through her when I open the electric gate and turn onto my townhouse’s narrow lot. Her eyes widen in shock as I pull into the single-car garage—a rarity for townhomes—and I wonder how she’ll look in the throes of passion. The gate and the garage door automatically close behind us.

“This is where you live?” she asks.

I nod, not trusting my voice. My phone chimes and Fiero’s text message displays on the dash.

Of course, the bastard had to leave a no context, highly suggestive and damning message.

Aurora’s eyes flash, but she turns away, hiding her face from me.

“Are you sure this place is safe?” she asks.

“Yes. The first thing I did when I bought it was upgrade the security.”

My fingers itch to weave into her hair, but I grab my phone instead.

“Who is Fiero, and why did he have a key to your place?” she asks, still facing the window.

“He’s the man I’d choose to make my second, if he’d agree to it.”

She swings her eyes to my face.

“But isn’t your uncle the Vivaldi consigliere?”

“He’s my father’s right-hand man, yes. Not mine.”

Her eyes drift toward the windshield as she works through the gravity of my words. Despite the exhaustion and emotional anguish lurking in her eyes, she’s still the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.

“Fiero is loyal only to me, not my father, so you don’t have to worry about anyone from my family finding out,” I say.

“No one from your family knows?”

“Fiero and I are the only ones.”

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