His Stolen Bride - MINK Page 0,28

that seed, not only in my head, and it has me craving more. I want a baby from love. Not because he wants an heir. I never thought I would say those words.

I knew I would probably have to have a baby out of duty to my family name, but Santino has me thinking that it’s possible for me to have it all. That the life we would create would be one made out of love.

“And now? Santino has you wanting one!”

I let out a small laugh at her excitement. There has been a lot more of that too, these days.

“I would love a child.” I drop my hand away from my stomach. Even if all of my points are correct, I should be happy. We can have a marriage of convenience. He’s good to me. It’s far better than anything else I envisioned for myself. I never thought I would say those words.

Leo comes striding into the library. I’m thankful because it will nip the girl talk.

“How are you?” I ask, sitting down in the chair opposite of my sister.

“Good.” He leans down and gives her a kiss. We’re the only ones in here.

“She needs to see a doctor soon. Just taking her vitamins isn’t enough.”

“I know,” Leo agrees.

“Maybe Santino can get a doctor to come here.”

“Santino?” Leo swallows hard. He told him. I know Santino already knows, but he never told me about this. Why? Is he keeping secrets? He distracts me with his mouth and decorating so I don’t pay attention to anything else.

“He knows. The other day when he asked to speak to me.” I’d completely forgotten about that. That’s because Santino came out and started kissing me.

“Tell me everything,” I demand. “Word for word.” My stomach drops when he tells me what he said about Gianna. “He said what?” I hiss. I’m on my feet before I realize what I’m doing. Anger has taken control over me. How many times has Gianna said I never let my emotions get the best of me?

“Bella, let me finish,” Leo calls from behind me, but I don’t stop. I head straight for Santino’s office on a mission to... What? I don’t even know what I’m going to do when I get there. Slap him? Scream the walls down?

Did he know my sister was pregnant from the very start and that’s why he picked me? He told Leo he sees the way Leo is with my sister. How long had Santino been noticing it? Was everything that happened a ploy to get me to go along with him?

When I get to his office, two men stand in front of the door. “He’s busy right now, Mrs. Baldoni.” I look over at Vincent. I come and go from Santino’s office all the time. What’s different now?

“Why? What’s he doing?” I put my hands on my hips.

He runs a hand through his hair. He’s nervous.

“We don’t know what he’s doing in there,” Rico hisses at Vincent. “It might just be a meeting.”

“Is there a woman in there or my father?” The thought of Santino having a woman in his office makes my stomach feel sick.

Neither one of them say anything.

“Is my father in there?”

“No,” Vincent says.

Rico gives him a death glare. I know they’re all under orders to respect me. I don’t think they know if responding will get them in trouble or not.

So a woman it is. I’d asked Santino after we had lunch together if he had any more meetings today. He’d said no. He was just going to do some rounds of the house and make sure everything was on track.

“Move,” I snap at them.

“Bella, don’t,” Leo says, having caught up with me. My sister is next to him holding on to Lucky.

It’s all too much. So many uncertainties bounce around in my head. I have to find out. I need to know the truth. That way I will know where Santino and I really stand. Or else I’ll have to use the escape plan.

I’ve been watching the flow of Santino’s guards since the construction crews arrived. There are so many people going in and so many going out that it shouldn’t be difficult for Gianna and Leo to escape.

“Don’t make me tell you again.”

Both Rico and Vincent jump out of the way before I push through the double doors of his office like I own the place. I’m not going to be a good wife anymore.

19

Santino

“It’s not something I’m really in the know about, you see?” I