Page 132 of Massimo

Vincenzo snorts, and Marco starts to protest.

Massimo's dark brown eyes lock onto mine. With the coiled rigidity of his large frame and his outburst—his usual calm and control on the verge of snapping—I expect him to put a bullet in Vincenzo's brain. But as he stares at me, the tumultuous rage swirling in the depths of his eyes begins to bank, and he lowers his gun. Gabe and Gemma keep theirs aimed at Vincenzo.

Massimo engages the safety on his gun, holstering it beneath his suit jacket, before walking toward me.

"Nova is mine to protect. She is my wife." The intensity of his gaze pins me in place, and I feel my world spin once again. "And she's carrying my child. My heir."

I open my mouth, but no sound comes out.

Massimo catches me just as the world tilts completely, then fades to black.

Chapter 55

Massimo

Chaosreigns.

I catch Nova as she falls unconscious. She's so fucking pale, I'm panicking.

Gabe grabs Vincenzo and hauls him to one of the rooms in the basement. Maybe not the best move given who and what he is, but I need him contained and not more of a threat than he already is while I tend to Nova.

ZioMarco is shouting and arguing with Gemma.

I cradle Nova in my arms, sitting in a chair while she starts to stir, and Jerome hovers close by to help with whatever I need.

Then Vito and Creed both barrel into the kitchen.

Vito had been with me during the meeting with Ash and Dom, where we discussed Ivan Everhart and the evidence we'd gathered from the car bombing at my gates. When Damien called, telling me that Marco and Vincenzo had arrived and that he couldn't get a call through to Gabe in the house to warn him, we rushed back home.

My uncle has clearance to enter, but given the current situation, the guards are under strict orders to notify Gabe of any visitors. The biggest questions are why wouldn’t any calls go through, and why hadn’t Damien sent another guard ahead to warn the house? Heads will roll if needed—but my priority was getting to Nova, so Vito stayed back at the gates to interrogateour men.

Right now, I'm unsure why Vito is in the kitchen instead of at the gates, and I'm definitely unsure of why Creed is here at all.

The looks on both their faces tell me this isn't a social call from my baby brother.

Nova is slowly coming to, and I help her sit up.

"You're safe, Nova," I reassure her as she trembles and push her creamy blonde hair back from her pale face.

"Zio," Vito barks. "Cease the fucking shouting and arguing."

The chaos in the kitchen quiets, but my uncle's face remains dark as he glowers at Nova

I level him with just as dark of a look. "Nova is my wife, and you will treat her with respect,Zio."

Creed stiffens in shock, but he remains silent.

Marco's face turns red as he swallows back a hateful retort and demands, "How did this happen? And why?"

"I don't need to explain myself or my actions."

His nostrils flare, and he looks at Nova again. She leans into me as if shrinking from him. And that won't fucking do.

"You will respectmy wife. Am I clear,Zio?"

Nova's spine straightens, and she makes to get up, but I refuse to let her go. She twists to look at me—there's strength in her gaze but also a resigned sadness. When she pushes against me again, I finally let her go. I rise to stand beside her; to be by her side in solidarity—a king standing beside his queen—and to catch her if she faints again.

She looks at me, then turns to my family. "I know my father has done horrible things to your family. I'm not asking you to defend or protect me, and I won't come between the love and loyalty you all have for each other."

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