Page 100 of Savage Vows
“Who’s the father?” I blurt out, still stunned.
Bella’s smile falters. “Actually…I’d rather not talk about that. Not yet.”
I give her a look. “Don’t do that to me, Bella. I need something to distract me from losing my mind.”
She just shakes her head, managing a tiny laugh. “You’ll know soon enough, trust me. Right now, I just needed to tell someone.”
I sigh. “That’s not fair.”
“Not fair?” she says, her voice dropping. “You told me to get you tests and then completely dropped off the face of the earth. Do we get to be pregnant together or not?”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “I was scared, still am. I haven’t taken a test.”
She opens her bag. “Well, I did get you a few since you asked. You know, when you texted me, I thought you were pranking me, thought you’d found out about me somehow. I had no idea you were sleeping with Dante.”
My cheeks color. “It happened a few times.”
She gives me a look. “Aren’t you a sneaky little thing. You won’t believe me, but I always thought something might be going on. You make such an adorable couple.”
She might be the first and the last person to think that. My husband is a Greek god, chiseled jaw, bright blue eyes. And I’m, well, me. I shake my head. “You’re one to talk. What about your sneaky link or whatever the kids are calling it these days?”
Before I can push her for more, my phone rings. I grab it, breath catching when I see Dante’s name.
I answer on the first ring. “Dante?”
His voice is steady, calm. “I’ve found her. I’m bringing her home.”
Relief crashes through me so hard I almost drop the phone. For a second, all I can do is close my eyes and let the tears fall.
The moment Julianne sees me, she tries to smile, but her knees buckle. Dante catches her before she hits the floor, scooping her up into his arms with a quiet strength I’ve only ever seen in moments like this.
My heart stutters. He holds her so carefully, protective but somehow gentle, his jaw tight with concern. It’s ridiculous, but jealousy flares in my chest—a wild, ugly thing. I remind myself Julianne is my sister. Dante is just helping her. But for one unguarded second, I see how natural it looks, the way he carries her, and my mind spins out with thoughts I hate myself for.
He says nothing, just walks past me and Bella, carrying Julianne straight to the guest bedroom. I trail after them, chewing my lip, Bella’s hand pressing to my back in silent support.
He lays Julianne gently on the bed, checking her over for injuries. There’s a scrape on her cheek, but otherwise she looks unharmed—just exhausted, skin drawn and gray. I hover in the doorway, wanting to touch her, to comfort her, but feeling like I’m on the outside of something intimate and unspoken.
“Is she okay?” I manage, voice trembling.
Dante looks up, eyes dark and serious. “She’ll need rest. She’s in shock, but she’ll be all right.”
I nod, trying to focus on my sister’s face, not on the way Dante’s arms linger around her for a moment longer than necessary. I tell myself I’m being ridiculous. That I should only feel gratitude. But I can’t shake the storm of emotions tearing me up from the inside out.
Bella slips past me to sit beside Julianne, taking her hand, whispering reassurances. I lean in the doorway, arms wrapped tight around myself, wishing I could turn off my heart and just breathe.
I finally move into the room after Bella, forcing myself to focus. Julianne is propped up on the pillows, still shivering a little. I grab a glass of water from the nightstand and press it into her hands. She takes a sip, her grip shaky, and I wrap my arms around her shoulders. She winces, but hugs me back tightly, burying her face in my hair.
“I was so worried about you,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I kept calling and calling. When I realized Luka might beinvolved with the missing girls—” I pull back, searching her face. “Julianne, is that true? Did he hurt you?”
For a moment, her eyes are blank, like she doesn’t understand the question. But then something in her face hardens and she nods. “I…I got scared of him. He changed. There was this look in his eyes, Adi. I thought he was going to do something awful.”
“You’re safe here now,” I say, brushing hair from her forehead. I want to believe it’s true. “I promise.”
She glances over my shoulder, her gaze landing on Dante. “He saved me,” she says, her voice soft but clear. “Dante found me. I don’t know what would’ve happened if he hadn’t shown up.”
Her grateful smile catches him off guard for a moment, and I see something shift in his expression—something warm and protective that makes my heart twist with emotion I don’t want to examine.
We leave Julianne to rest, Bella fluffing her pillows, whispering that she’ll be right outside if she needs anything. I hesitate at the door, watching my sister drift toward sleep, but Dante stands in the hallway, arms crossed, already impatient.
