Page 33 of United Reign (Valentino Empire 3)

“Sure, whatever you say, boss.” Neo pours three glasses of whiskey from the bar. He hands one to his dad, who always seems to be the quiet observer, then brings one of the glasses over to T.

“Drink it for me. I can’t drink for nine months,” T says, refusing the offer.

“Why the fuck not?” Neo grunts.

“We’re pregnant, and alcohol and fetuses don’t mix well together.”

“She’s pregnant, not you. That’s not how pregnancy works, moron,” Gabe grunts.

“Well, if Holly has to go without for nine months, for the sake of our baby, then I’m not letting her do it alone. We’re in this together, every step of the way.”

“Yeah, okay, remind me of that when it comes time to push the kid out.” Neo downs T’s glass of whiskey in one go. “Well, this has been great and all. But you know: things to do, people to extort and all that.”

“This conversation isn’t over, Neo.” Theo’s tone is unforgiving. I’m taken aback because I’ve never heard him talk to his cousin like that before.

“Sure, boss, whatever you say.” Neo walks out the door with a salute.

“Why do I feel like I interrupted something important?” I ask.

“You didn’t. How about we go get some lunch?”

“Nope, I’m not hungry. What’s going on? What are you all so uptight about right now?”

“Nothing you need to worry about, dolcezza.” T tries to placate me.

“Yeah, that might have worked with your previous girlfriends, but it’s not going to fly with me. Try again.”

At this, Gabe laughs but tries to cover it with a cough. “Theo never had a girl before you, Holly. Well, we all thought he had Lana, but you know how that panned out. Maybe youshouldtell her, T. We’re not living in the ‘50s. We can’t expect women to just take our word for gospel. The best way to help keep them safe is to give them information. How can she keep an eye out for monsters if she doesn’t know they’re out there?”

T is pensive. I can tell he’s considering the advice his uncle gave him. “We’ll talk… over lunch. Come on, you need to eat.”

“I just ate, Theo,” I argue.

“Breakfast was hours ago. You’re growing a human, Holly. You need food.”

I roll my eyes. I think my body is plenty capable of knowing what it needs. And right now, I’m hungry for answers, not food.

ChapterNineteen

To say I’m fucking stressed the fuck out would be the ultimate understatement. I’m putting on my best fucking poker face for the world, trying to come across like I’ve got everything handled. Like I know exactly what I’m doing, just waiting for the right time to move the next piece on the chess board that is fucking mafia life. Except, I don’t. And I’m not.

I have no fucking clue what that Irish fucker is up to. I thought eradicating the other Dons would be the end of it. I knew I’d get backlash from their families, from the ones stupid enough to try to move against me. What I wasn’t expecting was the fucking Clover turning up on my streets. Word is he’s a fucking ghost—and I don’t miss the irony. People know he’s here but no one seems to have actually seen him or know where the fuck he is.

I have a whole fucking family I’m supposed to be protecting, looking out for. And the only one who really fucking matters to me right now is my wife. Her safety is my first priority. I wonder if she’ll consider going back to Sydney for a few weeks. But I quickly nix that idea at the thought of spending even one night without her.Fuck going through that torture again.I’d rather have my nails ripped out with a rusty pair of pliers.

I watch Holly picking at her food and consider if I should call the doc in to check her over. I thought pregnant chicks were supposed to eat a lot. Have cravings and all that. Why the fuck isn’t she eating? “Are you feeling okay?” I ask.

“I’m fine. How about you?”

“I’d be better if you ate your food instead of just moving it around the plate.”

“And I’d be better if you actually told me what was bothering you so much. I know it’s not my eating habits. Is it the baby? Has it finally sunk in? Do you—have you changed your mind about it?”

“Fuck no, nothing makes me happier than the thought of you knocked up with my kid, Holly. I fucking love the shit out of that baby already.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

I don’t know how to give her the answers she wants. I can’t burden her with everything that’s going on in the streets right now.

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