Page 5 of Savage Hearts

“Fuck is right. My wife is keeping secrets from me. My sister is sleeping with my head of security, and you’re pregnant with a monster's baby.”

“We’ll get back to the ‘secrets’ things, but don’t you dare call him a monster. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be dead.” Celestina turned to Alex. “And grow a pair. Don’t be like that dick behind the bar. If you like my sister, treat her with some fucking respect.” I spun on my heel and stormed after my twin. She’d closed herself in Massimo’s office and was crying.

“I’m sorry, Carm. I lost my temper and snapped. It wasn’t right, and I can’t take it back, but I didn’t do it to hurt you.”

“I’m sorry, too.” She faced me. “We have to stop lying to those we love. I should have told Massimo weeks ago that Alex and I were dating.”

“When did it start?”

“About a week after you came home. He witnessed a pretty nasty fight between Carlisle and me. He cornered me in the back, concerned Carlisle had hurt me. He had, but not in the way Alex was thinking. Alex admitted to being attracted to me but was concerned about the age difference and Massimo’s reaction. I was still hurting over being treated like trash, but he made me see I deserved more.”

“You want to tell me who treated you like trash?” Massimo’s voice filled the space. He stepped inside, with Alex on his heels.

“No, I don’t. There’s no sense in ruining his life… or yours. Let’s just let it go, and I’ll chalk it up to being young and desperate. But Massimo, I like Alex.” She smiled at him as he moved to stand beside her.

Massimo growled when he wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her closer.

“Seriously? You’re acting like yourfriendisn’t good enough for me.”

“No one is.” Massimo’s eyes narrowed to slits as he stared at their connection. “Though if I had to pick someone, it’d be him. But I don’t want to see or hear about it. I’m hanging on by a thread, wanting to snap his neck because I can’t look at him without thinking about him defiling you.”

“Great. No discussion about our active sex life.”

“Carm, please,” Alex groaned. “I’d like to wake up tomorrow.”

“God, the visual that just popped into my head.” Massimo shook his head. “I think I need to bleach my brain. Now, you.” He pointed at me. “Let’s talk about this other bomb I just got hit with. You’re pregnant.”

I bit my lip and nodded.

“Beckett’s?” Massimo took two steps forward and pulled me into his arms.

I jerked away. “Of course, it’s his. Who the hell else would it be?”

“I’m sorry. I just needed to be sure. Well, this changes things. We need to have a family meeting, Celestina. I think it’s time you understood why we’ve kept things from you.”

My heart thundered against my ribs. A tiny tendril of hope filtered into my heart, and I desperately wanted to grab hold a hold on.

“You know where he is.” It was a statement. I’d known for a while my brother held the key to finding Beckett, but for whatever reason, he’d held that information close to his chest.

“I do.” Massimo gripped my arms and looked into my eyes. “But the reason I haven’t told you isn’t because I was trying to punish you, Cee. It was because he asked me not to.”

two

CELESTINA

My heart twistedat Massimo’s confession. Beckett had asked him not to tell me where he was—just another confirmation that what we’d had was all in my head. I wiped away a stray tear and pushed my shoulders back.

“I see.”

“Hey.” Massimo pulled me against his chest. “It’s not like that. Beckett knows Manuel is looking for him. He doesn’t want to risk your safety any more than it already is.”

“And by staying away, he’s accomplishing what, exactly?” I snorted. “The only thing I see is he’s breaking my heart, Massimo. I’m pregnant by a man who doesn’t want me. I’m twenty-three years old with no job and about to be a single mom. No, staying away to protect me is worse than risking my life to prove what we had was real, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing but this baby does.” I pressed my hand against my flat tummy and took a deep breath. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

I slipped out from under his arm and hustled to the bathroom. Once inside the confines of the women’s restroom, I locked myself inside the stall and gave in to the emotions I’d kept in check all morning.

“Celestina?” Catarina’s voice echoed off the vacant room. “Come out, baby sis. I need to see you’re alright with my own eyes.”

Using toilet paper, I wiped my face off and opened the door. Catarina stood propped against the sink, with her arms folded across her chest. She held her arms open, and I didn’t resist the offer. I fell into her hold and cried.

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