Monster A Dark Arranged Marriage Romance - Vanessa Waltz Page 0,53
making him fall in love with you.”
Tony?
A laugh broke through my clenched lips. “That’s not in the cards for us.”
“It is. You’ll see.”
I gave her a bleak smile. “I don’t think he likes me.”
“Honey, if he didn’t he wouldn’t work so hard to hide you from me.” She cupped my face, her expression solemn. “And now I know why. I never cared for the girls Anthony brought over, but I like you.”
I gaped at her, my insides frozen.
“He’s told me all about you…about your business. He showed me your jewelry. I’m not easily impressed, Evie. You’re exactly what he needs, even if he can’t admit that yet.”
“Wow, thank you. I’m flattered, but...” I glanced at Tony, who stood behind the door, frowning. “I can’t get him to open up to me.”
“He’s still angry with your family. Right now, that’s stronger than any feelings he has for you, but that will change. He’s always had a big heart. It’s just wounded. My son is not a monster.”
The dying light in my heart flickered to life.
“Love him,” she urged me. “Accept him. And he’ll return it to you tenfold. I promise.”
I wanted to thank her, but my eyes welled as she stroked my hair. A memory of my mother’s warmth assaulted me, and my body trembled.
Don’t fucking cry.
She kissed my cheek. “My son will pass you my number. Call me anytime.”
“I-I will.”
She gave me a fierce hug.
I clung to her shoulders, bewildered by her aggressive kindness. When she pulled away, my vision was glassy. I sank onto a couch and bit my tongue.
The sliding door opened and closed.
Cold wrapped my limbs. I held her words close to my chest, huddling around them like a candle, until Tony’s presence melted it completely.
“Jesus Christ.” Tony rolled his palm over my shoulder and squeezed. “Mom’s going for the Guinness Book World of records.”
Heaviness centered on my chest.
Tony sighed heavily, sinking into the seat beside mine. “She promised she’d be nice.”
“She was, actually.”
“Yeah, right. What the hell did she say?”
“Don’t you wish you knew?”
Tony leaned in, his thick brows creased as he scanned my face. “You probably shouldn’t have egged her on about kids. You can expect her to call and text you for updates.”
“We should talk about it, Tony.” My hands fidgeted in my lap. “You haven’t—we haven’t tried for a baby.”
Tony said nothing for a while. “Is that what you want, a baby with a man you barely know?”
No, but once I realized my fiancé was hotter than ninety percent of the male population, I’d fantasized about him. I pictured him throwing me over his shoulder and tossing me on the bed. I thought he’d glimpsed me somewhere, and had to have me.
It explained all the weird shit in the prenup, and there was something obscenely hot about a man determined to seed me with his DNA. I assumed he wanted a family with me. Reality had been a major disappointment.
I stole a glance at Tony, who massaged his temples. “We have to decide what we’re doing.”
“You’re Mrs. Costa until the day you die.”
A flood of relief surged through my veins. “Well…then we really should try for a baby. You don’t have time, and I definitely want kids.”
“Well, I don’t.”
My insides froze. “Why not?”
“Because,” he exhaled hoarsely. “I’m a drug addict who’s never had his feet on solid ground. I have no interest in continuing my legacy. I can’t take care of anyone.”
“You’re taking care of me.”
“That’s not the fucking same, and you know it.” He released a frustrated sigh. “I’m not a good father figure.”
“That’s not true. You’re complicated. Snarky. Tense, at times, but mostly, you’re just a man. A flawed man. So what? We’re all carrying some kind of baggage.”
“Compared to the guys in the MC, I’m sure I’ll be father of the year.”
“You don’t have to mock them to make your point,” I hissed, annoyed with him. “And you were willing to go further at Sanctum. You shoved your cum inside me, remember? You realize I’m not on birth control, right?”
“And that makes you think I’m a sane, rational man? That I could shoulder responsibility? I can’t even deny my instincts with you.” Tony shook his head, wearing a grim smile. “We’re never having kids, Evie.”
“But the prenup—”
“I don’t care what a piece of paper says. I would rather lose half my net worth than be a parent. So if you had your heart set on having them with me, I’m sorry. It’s not happening.”