Born in Blood Collection Volume 1 - Cora Reilly Page 0,39

let my shock show. Hadn’t Luca mentioned that I was on birth control?

“I want to enjoy Aria alone for a long while. And with the Bratva closing in, I wouldn’t want to have children to worry over,” Luca said tightly. There was no word to describe how relieved I was about Luca’s words. I really wasn’t ready for children. I’d already had enough changes thrown my way without the added bonus of a baby.

His father nodded. “Yes, yes, of course. Understandable.”

After that they launched into a conversation about the Bratva, and it became pretty clear I was dismissed. I slipped out of Luca’s grasp and walked toward the women. Gianna met me halfway. “Disgusting,” she muttered with a scowl toward the sheets.

“I know.”

I looked around, but couldn’t see Fabiano or Lily. “Where are—”

“Upstairs in their room with Umberto. Mother didn’t want them to be there for the reveal of the sheets.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. Those women have been sharing their bloody sheet stories for hours. What the fuck is wrong with the New York Famiglia? If I hear one more word about it, I’m going to give them a real bloodbath.”

“Now that I’m here, I doubt they’ll be talking about anything but the bloody sheets over there,” I muttered. It turned out I was right. Almost every woman felt the need to hug me and offer me words of advice that only made me nervous. It’ll get better. Sometimes it takes a bit for a woman to be comfortable. And the best: Believe me, it took me years to enjoy it.

Valentina didn’t say anything as she wrapped her arms around me, just touched her palm to my cheek and smiled, before stepping back to make room for another woman. Mother kept her distance. I wasn’t sure why. She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, disapproval written across her face. I was glad she wasn’t sharing stories of her wedding night with Father. I stepped toward her and she pulled me into a tight hug. Like my father, she wasn’t an overly affectionate person, but I was glad for her closeness. “”I wish I could have protected you from all this,” she whispered before pulling back. There was a flicker of guilt on her face. I nodded. I didn’t blame her. What could she have done? Father wouldn’t have let her talk him out of the agreement.

“Luca can’t stop watching you. You must have left quite an impression on him,” Luca’s stepmother said teasingly.

I turned to her and smiled politely. Luca probably just wanted to make sure I didn’t give away our secret by accident. From the corner of my eye, I saw the door at the back open and Lily slink in, followed by Fabiano. They’d probably used Umberto’s toilet break to get away. Gianna made a face when our brother stopped in front of the sheets.

I excused myself and walked over to them with Gianna at my heels. Mother was wrapped up in overly polite conversation with Luca’s stepmother.

“What are you doing here, you little monster?” Gianna asked, grasping Fabiano’s shoulders.

“Why’s there blood on the sheets?” he half shouted. “Has someone been killed?”

Gianna burst into laughter while Lily looked honestly distressed by the sight of the sheets. I supposed it burst her bubble of fairy-tale princes and lovemaking under the stars. The men at the table behind us also started laughing, and Fabiano’s face scrunched up in anger. Although he was only eight, he had a temper. I hoped he’d calm down soon, or he’d get in trouble once he was initiated. Gianna ruffled his hair.

“Are you going to New York with Luca?” Fabiano asked suddenly.

I bit my lip. “Yeah.”

“But I want you to come home with us.”

I blinked, trying to hide my anguish over hearing him say that. “I know.”

Lily tore her eyes away from the sheets for a moment. “Won’t you go on a honeymoon?”

“Not right now. The Russians and the Taiwanese are giving Luca trouble.”

Fabiano nodded as if he understood, and maybe he did. With every year that passed he’d learn more of the dark world we lived in.

“Stop staring at the sheets,” Gianna said in a low voice, but Lily seemed too caught up in the sight.

Her face scrunched up. “I think I’m going to be sick.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and steered her outside. She shook in my grip.

“Hold it back,” I ordered as we half ran out of the room,