Page 94 of The Veil

“Tanya--,” I gasped, unable to finish my sentence, grabbing her wrists.

She giggled, sniffling.

“Oh my God!” I screamed. “You're having a baby!”

She nodded, rubbing her stomach in a circle, “I am but it's still kind of new.”

“We have to celebrate!”

Grabbing her hand, I pulled her into the house and back down into the living room. Valentino and William were standing next to each other with Joseph furiously speaking to them in Italian. We came to a halt and I leaned on a pillar. Tanya hooked her arm in mine, leaning her head on my shoulder.

“What do you think they're saying?” she whispered.

“I don't know,” I shrugged, “but I know that look well.”

“What do you mean?” she hissed.

“Something big is happening.”

Just then, Valentino glanced over at us. He held his arm out to me while he was still listening to whatever Joseph was saying. I immediately wrapped my arm around his waist, and he pulled me close into his body. Tanya followed, planting herself on the other side of William. After a moment, I felt Valentino tense up when Joseph asked a certain question that William replied to.

Valentino nodded, looking down at my face, “Bella.”

I glanced up at him but did not speak.

“We are going to dinner tonight,” he smiled.

I nervously smiled back but nodded, being agreeable. Tanya and I exchanged uneasy glances as we both wondered what was going on. It was clear we both put a lot of trust in these men, who were clearly dangerous.

I had grown to accept that I was in love with someone who did bad things to terrible people. Though I would never handle anything the way he did, I was thankful for his courage. Whatever was going on, I knew was probably just him trying to keep me safe. That seemed to be his only focus. How could I not love someone like that?

For the rest of the day, I thought hard about everything Joseph told me. It would be a very risky move, but it would be one that would have the outcome I wanted; the outcome that we all wanted. I knew that I would have to make all this right before much longer or we would never be safe. I wanted us to be able to live in peace, and I would do whatever it took to see to it that we were.

I was on the patio speaking to William when I glanced at my watch, realizing it was 6:15 p.m. I excused myself to go check on Isabelle, who was already getting dressed for dinner. I opened the door, leaned against the door frame, and watched her in silence for a moment as she took my breath away.

She was zipping her floor length black dress as she gazed at me. I strode over to her, turning her body toward the mirror while I finished assisting her. She tilted her head to the side as I ran my fingertips around her neckline. We watched one another’s reflections in the mirror as I placed my lips next to her ear.

“You look so stunning, my love.”

Spinning to face me, she threw her arms around my shoulders, locking her fingers behind my neck as she stretched up for a kiss. I pressed my lips to hers then sighed. She smirked, leaning back, peering up into my eyes with need.

“You shouldn't do that to me right now.”

I ran my fingers down the front of her clothed body, circling her mound through her dress, teasing her. She moaned, laying her head against my chest. I pressed my fingers harder against her causing her to inhale a sharp breath.

“I’m tempted to just stay in,” I growled, “and fuck you all night long.”

Taking a step away from me, she glanced over her shoulder, teasing me as she played with her bottom lip.

“Fucking tease,” I mumbled as I adjusted the erection she had just given me.

“Yet, you love me,” she countered as she put on her earrings.

Rolling my eyes, I grinned at the effect this woman had on me. I was not used to having a girlfriend. Something in me changed when I was watching her. I felt a connection with her before she knew there was one.

I thought back to every moment I ducked behind something because she glanced my way, then her living with me as I pretended to be two people. I was lucky she had even given me a chance after that. I realize that I might have presented myself as serial killer material with that whole facade. Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by hands slipping around my waist from behind.

“Sir,” she playfully whined, “are you ready to go?”

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