Page 72 of Shaw

I nod at his words, a sickening realization taking place in the pit of my stomach. She thinks she’s setting me free? She couldn’t be further from the truth.

Owen lifts his chin in my direction. “You need answers, man. Something isn’t right. She must know about the baby and thinks she’s doing you a favor.” Sickness rolls through me at the thought of her thinking that. I’ll never be free without her and bump.

And for the first time since meeting Luca, I’m determined to get him on board with how I feel too. I need him to know that I love his sister and our baby.

She’s my wife to love and care for, and bump will be mine. Blood or no blood.

“In blood we’re bound. In trust we live,” I mumble the words with a new sense of purpose, believing every one of them.

THIRTY-ONE

SHAW

Owen pulls up outside of Luca’s mansion. It’s weird how quickly you can become accustomed to the security surrounding you. When you see it on a daily basis, it almost doesn’t exist anymore. No wonder Emi is so nonchalant about it. My heart tugs just at the mere thought of her.

I refuse to let her go. I don’t care that the baby might not be mine. I want them, both of them.

I swallow past the lump in my throat as I survey the thick, heavy wooden doors leading to Luca’s home. No doubt he’s in there waiting for me after security alerted him to my presence.

My leg bounces. This is going to be a shit show, I can feel it.

“Are you sure you’re sober enough for this?” Owen’s disapproving gaze snaps toward mine as he passes me another bottle of water.

I glare back at him. “Of course. I want my fucking wife back, and he’s going to give her to me.” I open the bottle and chug the water, hoping to get a level head as soon as possible.

Owen sighs and scrubs a hand over his cropped hair. “Just don’t go getting us killed.”

I scoff. “I’ll try not to. But I’m not leaving there without them.”

Owen’s stoic face softens. “I’ve got you, brother. Let’s go.”

We open the car doors in unison. Before my foot touches the first step, the doors to the property open by one of Luca’s security team, allowing us to step inside.

“I want to speak to Luca!” I snap.

“Mr. Varros’s time is valuable. He won’t have long to spare you.” I share a glance with Owen and roll my eyes while he stifles a smile.

Our shoes click on the marble floor as we follow him toward another doorway. Giggles can be heard on the other side of the door, and when the security guy knocks, the door is pulled open by a blonde buttoning up her blouse.

My eyes once again flick over toward Owen’s, and we share our thoughts silently.Mr. Varros’s time is valuable.

The blonde pushes past us, but I don’t give her a second glance. Instead, I walk around the security guy and straight into Luca’s office. He’s zipping up his pants, and my nose turns up at the sex fermenting the air.

“I want my fucking wife back,” I demand with anger radiating from me.

“Jesus,” Owen grumbles behind me, exhaling loudly. I spare him a quick glance, and he’s pinching the bridge of his nose and staring up at the ceiling.What did he think I was going to do? Ask him politely? Screw that, they’re mine.

Luca’s spine straightens and he turns to face me, his eyes so cold and deadly, making me second-guess my approach.Maybe I should have been more polite after all?I push out my chest with determination, not wanting him to see any apprehension I’m suddenly feeling.

His eyes search my face in an icy standoff, the silence so cold the blood in my veins pumps slower, on the verge of freezing and forcing my body to still at his bitter reaction to me.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” His words are dark and calculated, and his eyes never leave my face, as though he’s looking for a sign of deception.

I fidget from foot to foot as a sudden burst of heat surges into my chest at his response. My eyes narrow back on him in equal confusion.

But he doesn’t give me the chance to question his reaction. “I’ll ask you again, stronzo. What the fuck are you talking about?” His voice is low and controlled.

My pulse races in trepidation.What the fuck is going on?“Emi.” My words come out low and confused, even to my own ears, but I can’t seem to grasp what’s happening.How can he not know what’s happening?

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