Page 179 of Salvatore

“Don’t give me allowances. I promise I’m fighting the devil trying to keep you free from me. If only you understood what it felt like to know you carry my child. I’ve never been so mindlessly possessive of anything in my entire life.”

I tense, refusing to let my body continue its giddy responses to toxicity. “Why don’t we talk about your craving for dictatorial authoritarianism once you’ve had some sleep?”

“Sleep won’t change anything.” He reaches behind him, switching off the bedside lamp. “But I guess it’s necessary ifI have to deal with my siblings again tomorrow.” He presses another kiss to my knuckles before returning our joined hands to the crook between my breasts. “Good night,mi reina.”

“Good night.” I shift onto my side, wincing—partly at the finality, mostly at the resonating throb of my abdominal injuries that make it known my choice to ride Thor’s hammer wasn’t exactly doctor approved.

I bide my time, my thoughts drifting from one complication to another as I cling to the comfort of his hold until it’s clear he’s asleep. Then I gently inch off the bed, careful not to wake him, or tweak my injuries further, before finally escaping his room.

I could use a few Tylenol and a million mozzarella sticks, but I settle on the leftover club sandwich in the fridge and the knowledge that the doctor will come searching for me soon enough.

I eat at the shadowed dining table in the darkened house, contemplating all the feels choking my insides as the rippling glow from the underwater pool lights reflect off the ceiling.

I’m not an idiot. I know I should listen to Salvatore’s warnings. But there’s so much of him that doesn’t align with his concerns. And so much of me that refuses to acknowledge I might be wearing rose-tinted glasses.

The most restraint I can muster is returning to my own room and my own bed instead of succumbing to the allure of his.

I’m woken by the doctor shortly after. Then every two hours on repeat.

When I wake for the last time it’s to a bright room and the sound of chatter humming through the house.

I groan, not knowing what’s worse—the constant dull throb in my belly or the mental torment of knowing a new day is likely to bring new drama.

I reach for my cell on the nightstand and read the summary of notifications on my locked screen?—

Liv:Buzz me when you wake up.

Instagram message from Allison:I miss you.

AHT Bank Transaction:$1,000,000 has been deposited into your?—

I rise onto my elbows in a rush, my aching stomach wounds morphing into a full blown cramp. I curse through the pain as I unlock my screen and navigate to my banking app, certain the text is a phishing scam until the measly $1,345.78 that’s meant to be in my bank account now resembles $1,001,345.78.

I barely breathe as I click the transaction details.

The deposit came from SAMC Fiducia Servizi—a name I don’t recognize. I don’t even know what country it’s from.Fiduciameans trust in Spanish, butServiziis something else entirely.

The only thing I’m sure of is the memory of Gabriel’s financial bribery attempts when I filed for emancipation all those years ago.

He could be trying to get me back. To convince me to return.

“Morning.”

I gasp, my gaze snapping to the door where Salvatore’s sister stands, stunning in a charcoal pantsuit, her loose blonde hair draped over her shoulders.

“Sorry for the jump scare.” She smiles and raises two large shopping bags. “I come bearing gifts.”

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