Page 76 of Omega in Hiding

There’s a stunned silence.

“Pregnancy?” Dario frowns.

I wince as they all stare at me waiting for an answer. I wanted to bring up the pregnancy more subtly, but the cat’s out of the bag now. “Yes, Connor is pregnant. We were going to tell you, but everyone started yelling about him being a Murphy. I didn’t have a chance.”

“Jesus.” Valentino grits his teeth. “You got a Murphypregnant, Paolo?”

I look up at him angrily. “He’s not a Murphy anymore. He renounced his family. How many times do we have to tell you that?”

“Wait a minute.” Dario narrows his eyes. “I thought Connor was barren?”

Connor sits up slowly, and his color is better now. “I thought that too. That’s what two separate doctors told me.”

Dario scratches his head. “So now you’re not barren?”

Nico laughs. “Not if he’spregnant.”

I help Connor to his feet. He leans on me, and I slip my arm around him. “Maybe you should sit.”

“Okay,” he mumbles.

I lead him to a chair, hovering over him nervously. He’s still paler than I’d like, but there is a little pink in his cheeks.

Valentino watches us, frowning.

Mother brings a glass of water to Connor, and Nico sits beside him. I feel a spark of hope watching them tend to Connor. If Nico and Mother accept Connor, Dario and Valentino will follow suit.

Dario comes to stand beside me, hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “Is he really pregnant?”

“Yes.” My voice is clipped.

He clears his throat. “And you’re sure it’s yours?”

I turn to him, balling up my fist. “Say one more disrespectful word and I’ll punch you, Dario.”

He holds up his hands. “I’m just asking, kid.”

“Yeah, I know exactly what you’re implying,” I snap. “The baby is mine.”

“Okay, okay.” He shrugs. “Never hurts to ask.”

“It’ll hurt if you askagain,” I growl, holding up my fist.

He laughs. “I’ve never seen you like this, Paolo. You’re unusually feisty.”

Valentino joins us, looking grumpy. “Frankly, I preferred the lazy disinterested Paolo to this belligerent version.”

“Since when?” I frown. “You nagged me constantly to step up and act like a Syracuse. Well, that’s what I’m doing. You and Dad were always bullheaded about going after what you wanted. I guess it’s my turn now.”

Valentino shakes his head. “You’re actually in love with Connor?” He looks confused. “Even though he’s Irish?”

Dario nods. “It is a strange idea.”

I scowl at them both, but address Valentino. “Do you only love Nico because he’s Italian?”

He blinks at me. “Of course not.”

“Then why would Connor’s heritage have anything to do with why I love him? It’s the person we love, not whether they’re Italian or Irish.”

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