Page 164 of Peasants and Kings
“Please,what?” I snapped. “I’ve been here for days and no apology has passed your lips. Not yours, not your brother’s, not your father’s. You married me off to a sociopath—and for what?”
“Why didn’t you confide in me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”
I raised my brows. “Aside from the fact that Raphael threatened my life if I told you? I still had hope that Hadrian was coming for me, so I wasn’t going to doanythingto endanger my own safety or the life of my child.”
“Sterling, I—”
“Which brings me to another point,” I interrupted. “You wanted me to believe that Hadrianwasn’tcoming for me.”
“At first I thought he would, but after days of silence I didn’t think he was coming,” he stated. “I’ve never—I’ve never witnessed that kind of love and devotion before.”
“My mother sacrificed her life to protect me. Hadrian fought to the death for me. You, Tor, all of you didnothingto protect me. You know what I think, Luca Moretti? I think Moretti men are fuckingcowards.Get out of my sight. You make me sick.”
Without waiting for his response, I opened the door and went back into the bedroom. I slammed it shut, my breath coming in rapid pants.
“If I hadn’t already been awake, that crashing door would’ve done it,” Hadrian said. He was propped up in bed, and though his expression was amused, his eyes coasted over me, as if looking for physical injuries.
“I’m sorry,” I said, immediately contrite. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.”
“Did you hear my fight with Luca?”
“I think the entire house heard your fight with Luca.”
I rubbed my third eye. “Angelo wants me to have dinner with the family. He used Luca as his messenger.”
Hadrian paused for a moment and then said, “Luca came to see me.”
“What? When?”
“A few days ago. You were out with Gisella.” His eyes met mine. “We discussed…things.”
“Things? What kind of things?”
“Don’t judge your cousin based on your uncle’s actions. He could no more go against his father’s demands and edicts than you could.”
“Are you saying—are you saying I shouldforgivehim?”
“I’m saying Luca isn’t—he’s not as archaic as Angelo. He’s willing to flex with the times.”
“He’s still a Moretti.”
“Aye.”
“He still wants to further his own family’s power.”
“Aye.”
“Stop sayingaye,” I barked.
“Your temper and high blood pressure aren’t good for the bairn,yarta.” He patted the spot on the bed next to him.
I reluctantly went to him, dragging my feet.
“You want what’s best for Gisella, don’t you?”
I looked at him in confusion. “Of course I do.”
