Page 85 of Heir of Darkness

“I want to say thank you to everyone who showed up for us tonight,” Luna said. “It means a lot that all of you would be willing to come out and put your differences aside to support us.”

She looked at the crowd where the girls stood with Dante and Allister. Finn and Augustus stood behind them, but they all congregated in the center of the room.

She swallowed harshly. “We are excited to become a union.”

She held her left hand against her belly as if something were inside.

Gasps exploded in the room. Luna looked over at Cesare, whose eyes darkened, and then her father, who looked like he could implode.

“And welcome our baby,” she said.

Then chaos broke out.

THIRTY-TWO

LUNA

If it wastrue that blood was thicker than water, then a baby carrying the blood of the Vitali and Kingsley families would have to pull its weight.

Only problem was that there wasn’t a baby. And Luna had just declared there was.

She dropped the microphone on the stage, letting Valerio pull her away. She didn’t want to see the look on his face, not when she was sure it would hold betrayal. But before they could make a true escape, they were stopped by Cesare. His smile didn’t match his eyes and Luna was sure it never had.

“I think congratulations are in order,” he said, blocking the path. Luna’s heart beat rapidly, but she kept the look on her face neutral. “After all, a baby is a wonderful surprise.”

Valerio didn’t bother smiling or pretending he cared. His arm only tightened around Luna as if he could sense danger, which she appreciated. “Thank you. Maybe we can discuss things later; Luna is feeling a little bit faint.”

“Of course.” Cesare nodded as if he cared. “Can’t let the mother of the future Vitali heir feel unwell. I hope we’ll catch up soon,Mrs. Vitali.”

“Thank you,” Luna muttered, walking past him.

But missing one hurdle didn’t help the fact there was another coming straight for them in the form of Luna’s father. Valerio must have been as dazed as she was because for the first time ever, he was caught off guard by Reece Kingsley’s hands around his throat.

“How fucking dare you defile her before you’re married,” he screamed, attempting to slam Valerio against one of the pastry tables. “I will not claim an illegitimate grandchild.”

“Doesn’t fucking matter what you do,” Valerio growled, pushing him off. “That child is a Vitali.”

Luna’s brows furrowed. God, she had seriously screwed up not telling Valerio the plan before.

She stepped in, trying to ignore the guilt that broke through her. “What’s done is done. Both families are united now, despite anyone wanting anything different.”

“We’ll see about that,” Reece hissed, turning around to walk away. It wasn’t a walk as much as it was a stomp, but at least he was gone.

Luna’s mother approached them now. Luna expected to be screamed at, called any name possible, but instead her mother’s eyes were light, excited almost. Her smile actually looked genuine for the first time in her life.

She grabbed Luna’s hands, squeezing them in a motherly embrace she couldn’t remember ever feeling in her life. At least not since she was a baby. It stunned her to see such a drastic change in her own mother.

Eleanora’s eyes didn’t leave the space of Luna’s abdomen, not even when she reached her hand out to touch, but decided against it.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” she said quickly. “We can talk, maybe get lunch or something. Okay?”

Luna could only nod, stunned. Then Eleanora was walking away to meet her father outside.

Valerio took her hand again. This time they were able to make their way back into the library they had been in before, only they weren’t alone. The room was entirely too small for all the girls, Allister, and Dante.

“So when were you planning on telling us about this?” Gianna asked.

“You didn’t know either? Makes me feel better finding out at my own fucking engagement party,” Valerio said sarcastically, taking off his suit jacket and throwing it on the floor. “These are things we need to plan to announce.”

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