Page 95 of Vicious Heir

I hesitate, shifting side to side. “I’m not going to admit anything, okay? The first time I say it should be to him.”

“That’s what I thought.” She beams at me. “You two are so into each other it’s sickening. But I’m happy for you.”

“So what should I do? Stay here and keep this whole thing up?” I gesture all around me. “Go back to his room and listen to him trying to send me away again? Or just go to the beach?”

“Could be worse. He could be sending you to Nebraska.”

“Don’t hate on the Cornhuskers.”

“Do what feels right. Sorry, I don’t have better advice here. You have a baby to worry about now, though.”

I groan and fall onto my back again. Kennedy’s right; I should be prioritizing the baby over everything. Doesn’t that mean doing the hard thing and leaving my husband?

We talk for a little while longer before she leaves. I hug her hard at the door. “Thanks for still being my friend.”

“You’re still worried about that? Babe, I’m not going anywhere. You’re my bestie for life.”

“You’re mine too.”

I squeeze her tight then let her go. I wave as she drives off.

Back inside, I head upstairs. My head’s a mess, thinking about what’s best for the baby. I hate the idea of letting myself get sent away, but maybe he’s right. Now that I’m thinking with a night of sleep and a clear head, I can almost see his point.

I find him in his office. He doesn’t notice me right away, and I get to observe him for a second. He’s tense, as if the world is hanging off his shoulders, and I can almost smell the anxiety from here.

His father fell sick with a terrible disease, forgot all about him, and died recently. Then he went to war and was betrayed by a close friend. Then he nearly lost me moments before learning that I’m pregnant with his baby. This marriage has been hard on him, but Adriano’s strong. He can handle it. I know he can handle it all.

His eyes meet mine, and the tension disappears.

It’s night and day. When he didn’t know I was here, the clouds were covering the sun. And now that he’s looking at me, the smile on his face is like a perfect afternoon.

That decides it for me.

“I’m not leaving.”

His smile falters. “Is that what you came to say?”

“You need me.” I walk into his office and march over to his desk. I stand in front of him, my hands on my hips. “Don’t pretend like you don’t.”

He leans back, looking amused. “And why do you think I need you so badly?”

“Because you’re drowning.” I move closer. “Stop it, don’t look at me like that. You looked like hell a second ago, but when you realized I was in the doorway, suddenly all that stress faded away. You need me here.”

His expression softens, and he reaches out a hand. I let him tug me closer. He sits up straight, hugging me, pressing his ear flat to my belly. His hands grip my ass.

“You’re right,” he says.

I stiffen in surprise. “I am?”

“You’re my everything. I could barely sleep last night, and you were only on the other side of the house. But this isn’t about me.”

“I know we have to think about the baby over everything else now. But you’re my priority too, and I’m not going to leave you at your darkest. You lost your father. You lost Frank. You’re not going to lose me too.” I force him to look up into my eyes. “I swear, Adriano. I’m not going anywhere.”

There’s a flicker of emotion on his face. I’m fighting back tears. The second the words come out, I know they’re the truth. I needed to tell him that because I’ve been worried about that same thing from the very start. He’s afraid of losing me to violence, and I’ve been afraid of losing him because he doesn’t actually care about me.

But we’re both wrong. He can keep me safe. And I know he loves me as much as I love him.

“You really would like the beach house,” he says, his smile coming back.

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