Page 127 of Onyx Realm

I nodded, feeling my dinner threaten to make a reappearance.

“She took down seven of them!” Penelope beamed.

She was a cheerleader in high school, and it never left her. Right now, I was grateful for her pep. It kept me from retching on the floor.

“You have a lot of explaining to do, Greek,” Sandro menaced.

“No, I don’t.” Markos laughed, the sound free of mirth and filled with disdain. “I take Serena, and this stops. You keep her? And they’ll attack again. Judging by your piss poor defenses, they’ll do better next time.”

“Did you find out who they are?” I breathed, speaking only for the pirate’s ears.

He gave me a small nod.

Hope filled my chest. That was good! If we knew what we were up against, then we could stop them.

“Like it or not, we’re bound as a family now,” I interrupted my brother’s tirade.

“The divorce papers are drafted—again. This charade is over.” Sandro flicked a glance to Dante.

I caught the motion. “No!” I yelled, making myself as large as possible, covering Markos and making myself the target. “Don’t you dare, minstrel.”

“Tell them,” Penelope insisted, panic breaking her voice.

I tore my gaze from Dante to look at my sister-in-law. The sunny disposition was gone, and terror etched lines in her face.

“Tell them?” I breathed.

“Who do you think Shepherd sent to the pharmacy?” Penny insisted.

It didn’t surprise me that she knew. The little consigliere was clever like that—which was one of the things my brother adored about her.

Taking a deep breath, I lowered my hands to my stomach. “I will forgive you forcing those papers on me, Sandro. But only if you let me walk away.”

“Not happening.”

“Oh, but it is,” I snapped. “I said we were bound as family. I didn’t mean the marriage—which should have been enough to make you respect my decision. Since it isn’t, maybe this will change your mind. You’re going to be an uncle, and if you want a role as godfather, you’d better not shoot my baby’s father.”

“I’m going to be an auntie,” Penelope whooped and gave Sandro’s arm a tug. But there was no missing the beat of fear that trickled through her features. “Alessio, stop this insanity. Let’s make up. I’m not spilling any of my niece or nephew’s family’s blood tonight—or any night.”

“Is this true?” Sandro’s voice was cold.

But it was the gentle touch on my hips, urging me to turn that I listened to. Biting my lip, I spun into the force of nature behind me. I focused on his chest, the part of him that was eye-level.

“I never wanted to sign the papers,” I breathed.

“I know, prinkípissa.” Markos gently cupped my chin, forcing it to tip up. “A baby, Serena?”

I nodded, worrying my lip to the point of pain.

“Look at me,” he murmured.

I squeezed my eyes closed, battling the fear of his rejection. Our marriage wasn’t exactly a thing of beauty. There had been too many forced moves and vengeful countermoves. But out of it, something beautiful happened.

I fell for the monster.

And now, his baby was growing inside me.

Trusting those feelings, I opened my eyes.

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