bread.
“I don’t think you need me at all,” I remarked dryly when I gently crawled into bed one night, pressing a kiss to his brow.
His eyes were closed, but he smiled. “They might feed me and be willing to give me sponge baths, but none of them give me what I really need.”
“A warm, naked body on top of yours?”
He chuckled. “They might, if I asked.”
“You’re so full of yourself, Hadrian Rhys. It’s a good thing I’m not the jealous type.”
Hadrian started to recuperate under the solicitous care of the Compagnia Bianca del Falco, but even when he was resting, I refused to dine with my family. I accepted their hospitality in the form of food and enough time for Hadrian to heal so we could travel back to his island, but no more than that.
My family was dead to me. All except Gisella, who often popped her head into the room I shared with Hadrian, asking if I wanted to go for walks or horse rides while he was napping. I said yes to the walks but refused to ride. Now that I knew the baby was healthy and safe, I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.
Each night, Hadrian stole a touch across my naked body, resting his hand on my belly.
I’d just woken from an afternoon nap when there was a slight knock on the door. I hastily got up and pulled on a robe and looked at Hadrian who was still fast asleep.
I opened the door to see Luca at the threshold. I stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind me, so as not to disturb Hadrian.
“Papà requests your presence at dinner tonight,” he said.
“I’m busy,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Sterling, please,” he said, his voice and expression vulnerable. He ran a hand through his dark hair.
“Please, what?” I snapped. “I’ve been here for days and no apology has passed your lips. Not yours, not your brother’s, not your father’s. You married me off to a sociopath—and for what?”
“Why didn’t you confide in me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”
I raised my brows. “Aside from the fact that Raphael threatened my life if I told you? I still had hope that Hadrian was coming for me, so I wasn’t going to do anything to endanger my own safety or the life of my child.”
“Sterling, I—”
“Which brings me to another point,” I interrupted. “You wanted me to believe that Hadrian wasn’t coming for me.”
“At first I thought he would, but after days of silence I didn’t think he was coming,” he stated. “I’ve never—I’ve never witnessed that kind of love and devotion before.”
“My mother sacrificed her life to protect me. Hadrian fought to the death for me. You, Tor, all of you did nothing to protect me. You know what I think, Luca Moretti? I think Moretti men are fucking cowards. Get out of my sight. You make me sick.”
Without waiting for his response, I opened the door and went back into the bedroom. I slammed it shut, my breath coming in rapid pants.
“If I hadn’t already been awake, that crashing door would’ve done it,” Hadrian said. He was propped up in bed, and though his expression was amused, his eyes coasted over me, as if looking for physical injuries.
“I’m sorry,” I said, immediately contrite. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.”
“Did you hear my fight with Luca?”
“I think the entire house heard your fight with Luca.”
I rubbed my third eye. “Angelo wants me to have dinner with the family. He used Luca as his messenger.”
Hadrian paused for a moment and then said, “Luca came to see me.”
“What? When?”
“A few days ago. You were out with Gisella.” His eyes met mine. “We discussed…things.”
“Things? What kind of things?”
“Don’t judge your cousin based on your uncle’s actions. He could no more go against his father’s demands and edicts than you could.”
“Are you saying—are you saying I should forgive him?”
“I’m saying Luca isn’t—he’s not as archaic as Angelo. He’s willing to flex with the times.”
“He’s still a Moretti.”
“Aye.”
“He still wants to further his own family’s power.”
“Aye.”
“Stop saying aye,” I barked.
“Your temper and high blood pressure aren’t good for the bairn, yarta.” He patted the spot on the bed next to him.
I reluctantly went to him, dragging my feet.
“You want what’s best for Gisella, don’t you?”
I looked at him in confusion. “Of course I do.”
“What would you be willing to do so that she might be able to marry for love? Hmm? Angelo—he’s too myopic in