Page 92 of Vicious Heir

“He’s not that stupid. He knows I’d burn this city down to get revenge.” Adriano scowls and gently presses a handkerchief against my head. “He just hit you and used you as a shield. The fucking coward.”

“Where is he now?”

“Vittorio and Luca are chasing him. I’m here with you now, baby. I’m going to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice choking. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“No.” He sounds fierce and angry. “I’m the sorry one. You’re in this position because of me. It’s my fault. I did this. Lucy, I’m so—” Then he stops. He’s frowning at something on the ground nearby. He reaches out and picks it up, head tilted to the side.

It’s the pregnancy test.

“Surprise,” I say softly, crying in earnest now. “I’m pregnant.”

He stares blankly from me to the test and back again. Then he lifts me into his arms and carries me to the car.

Chapter 34

Adriano

Ifinish drawing a hot bath. There’s a radio playing soft jazz in the corner. Steam rises into the air. I head back into the main room and help Lucy into the bathroom. I undress her slowly, rage simmering in my stomach at the sight of her bruises. Then I help her into the tub.

She sighs, leaning back. Her eyes flutter. “Thank you,” she whispers.

I join her, slipping in behind. She leans her smooth back against my chest with a content little sound. It takes a lot of willpower not to get rock hard, and I still partially fail. She doesn’t comment on my half-hard dick.

“Doctor said to take it easy.” I kiss her hair softly. “You’re lucky though. Only a minor concussion.”

“And all the bruises a girl could need.” She touches her throat. There’s a ring of them like an ugly scar ripped into the earth. Anger flutters in my heart again.

“I’m going to kill him.” I kiss her neck and breathe in her scent: honey and lilacs. “I’m going to do it for you.”

It should’ve happened already. Vittorio and Luca went after him when the coward smacked his gun into Lucy’s head and shoved her away. He knew that hurting her but keeping her alive would distract me.

Somehow, the bastard got away. There was a car waiting for him nearby. Vittorio and Luca tried to gun him down, but they couldn’t land a killing shot.

Demir’s still out there somewhere, biding his time.

The man who hurt my wife.

“For me? Oh, what a gentleman.”

I go quiet as she leans into me. Her breathing is slow and steady. I watch her chest rise and fall and study the line of her neck.

She’s a perfect angel. A woman like her doesn’t deserve to get assaulted in a dirty alley by a pig like Demir. None of this would’ve happened if she hadn’t married me.

It’s hard to ignore. Right now, I’m trying to focus on nursing her and taking care of her, but the voice in the back of my head won’t shut up.

This happened because of me.

This is my fault.

I did this to her.

“When did you know?” I ask after sitting with her for a while. I turn on the water to warm up the tub again.

“Hmm?” Her eyes flutter open. “Know what?”

“The baby.” I reach through the water and press my hand against her belly.

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