Page 75 of Omega in Hiding

Valentino gives Nico an impatient glance. I’m sure he’s annoyed that his omega isn’t agreeing with everything he says. “Sometimes they deserve blaming.”

Nico meets Valentino’s gaze. “Maybe that’s truesometimes. But so far, no one has actually accused Connor of anything tangible. It’s just a lot angry generalizations about him being Irish. With all due respect, dearest, I think that’s bullshit.”

“Well,” Valentino sputters. “I… I don’t.”

“If you ask me bringing Connor into the fold is like bringing a rattlesnake into a cage full of mice,” Dario says.

Nico laughs. “I’d hardly equate the Syracuse family with mice. In this scenario, I feel sorry for the rattlesnake.”

Valentino ignores Nico and moves closer to Connor. Connor doesn’t exactly wilt, although he takes one step back. I step in front of him, scowling at my brother.

“Back off,” I hiss. “Don’t try and bully Connor.”

“I’m not bullying him.” Valentino studies Connor. “Your father wants me and everyone in my family dead. Would you want someone like that inyourfamily, Connor?”

“I’m not my father. Ihatemy father.” Sweat breaks out on Connor’s face and his breathing picks up speed. “I’m not like them, that’s why I left. They hated that I wasn’t like them. They berated me constantly because I wasn’t like them. I don’t know what else to say other than I’m nothing like them,” he says hoarsely.

Valentino sniffs. “How can we be sure?”

“I don’t know,” mumbles Connor. “I don’t know how to prove anything to you.”

“You don’t have to prove anything to him, Connor.” I put my arm around Connor’s shoulders and glare at my brother.

Valentino scowls. “You do if you want my blessing.”

Nico stands. “Isn’t it proof enough that Connor protected Paolo and Baby Joesph? I think that speaks volumes for Connor’s motives. We know that the Murphy Clan helped orchestrate that hit with the O’Sullivan Clan. If Paolo had been in on that, he’d have let Paolo and Baby Joesph die that day.”

“Exactly.” I nod. “I wouldn’t be here if Connor had been in on that. He risked his life for mine. He got right in front of me. He didn’t have to do that.”

Valentino grimaces. “Unless he was just trying to trick us.”

I roll my eyes. “No. If he was on the Murphy’s side, he’d have been only too happy to watch me die. Come on, Valentino, you know that’s true. As much as the Murphy’s hate us?”

Rubbing his jaw, Valentino looks thoughtful. “Maybe.”

Connor shifts uneasily and when I glance at him, he looks very pale. “Are you okay?” I ask softly. He nods, but the sheen of sweat on his face makes me nervous. “Why don’t you sit?” I gesture to a chair a few feet away.

Connor clears his throat and takes a step toward the chair, but his legs buckle. He crumples to the ground in a heap. I leap toward him, panicked. Kneeling beside him, I gather him in my arms. “Connor? Connor?”

Nico kneels beside. “He’s so pale.”

“Yeah.” I stroke the hair off of Connor’s forehead. “Connor, are you okay?”

Everyone circles around us, although Valentino and Dario look skeptical. I swear they think he’s faking.

Assholes.

I stroke Connor’s pale cheek. “Connor,” I whimper. “Wake up.”

“Should we call an ambulance?” Mother asks.

I grimace. “I… I don’t know.”

Connor’s eyes flutter open suddenly, and he looks scared and confused. When his gaze focuses on me, relief paints his face. “Paolo,” he says softly.

“You scared me,” I mutter, bending down to kiss his forehead. “What happened? Why did you faint?”

Connor closes his eyes. “I think I’m anemic from the pregnancy.”

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