Chapter 26

Aurora POV

I haven’t stopped thinking about him or the way his hands moved over my body like he had every right to claim me.

There’s a part of me—too soft and stupid—that wants to believe maybe what happened in the park meant something.

But every time that part of me starts to hope, I slap it down and remind myself one very important thing: Dominic Guerrero is not a savior. He’s the one I need to survive.

I can’t afford to get lost in the way he kissed me, or how incredible he made my body feel. I have to stay focused, sharp and deadly, if I’m going to protect Gianna and her father from going down with Leonardo.

Our plan is already set in motion.

Gianna sits across from me, cross-legged on the floor of my room, twirling a pen between her fingers while a dozen notebooks filled with pages of notes lay discarded around us like fallen soldiers.

“We’re running out of time,” she says. “If you’re going to do this, you’ve got to do it before the wedding.”

I nod. “I will. Maybe at the rehearsal dinner? That’s coming up soon.”

She glances at me. “Won’t there be a million people there?”

“It’s the last time I’ll see him before I walk down the aisle and get chained to his father. We can use the chaos to our advantage. Get Leonardo distracted long enough for me and Dominc to slip away unnoticed.”

Gianna nods slowly, then leans forward. “So, how do we get you two alone?”

That really is the million dollar question, isn’t it?

We think for a moment in silence before she breaks into a grin. “You know what—I’ll cause a scene.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What kind of scene?”

She smirks. “Trust me. You’ll know when it’s time.”

I can’t help the soft laugh that escapes me. “You’re insane and I love you for that.”

“Hey, if this helps keep me and my dad’s heads attached to our bodies, I’ll do anything. Even embarrass myself in front of a bunch of mafia heads.”

Fair enough.

We finalize it together: the moment Gianna lights the match, I’ll slip away, head to the bathroom and text Dominic to follow me. He’ll be too curious to ignore a summons from me during a public event. He’ll think it’s something urgent.

It’ll be the one chance I get to lay my cards on the table. It’s not a perfect plan by any means but it’s the best shot I’ve got before my life stops belonging to me entirely and I’ll have no power to help keep Gianna and Stefano safe.

Just like her, I’ll do anything to protect them.

Anything.

The next few days crawl by, every hour ticking at an excruciating pace, making my anxiety worse than it’s ever been before.

I keep expecting Dominic to message me, to call me back to that electric place where our bodies stopped pretending our chemistry was all in my head.

The silence is deafening. He’s gone cold again—distant. Though, maybe that’s what I need to help keep my own head on straight. It’ll make all of this easier, anyway when I finally get him alone and present him with the facts.

I doubt the lines have blurred for him. Not like they have for me. It must be nice to be able to lock your feelings behind a steel door, keep yourself from deviating from the mission.

The night of the rehearsal dinner arrives faster than I’m ready for. While I’d spent almost a week wishing for time to pass by quickly, now that the day has finally arrived, I’m barely keeping it together.

I’m stuffed into a designer dress I didn’t pick by Beatrice and made to sit next to a man I can barely stand, forced to pretend I’m honored to be marrying into a blood-soaked dynasty.

Leonardo is handsy the entire night, his palm heavy on my thigh beneath the table like he’s reminding me I already belong to him.

Every smile I offer is hollow, every laugh forced.

I haven’t touched my food at all and even if someone forced me to take a few mouthfuls of it, I’m sure I’d throw it up instantly.

Not being able to help myself, every few minutes my eyes flicker towards Dominic. He hasn’t looked at me once since we all sat down for dinner. He’s sitting farther down the table, speaking quietly to one of Leonardo’s men that I don’t recognize while I sit here and pretend this night won’t turn into a funeral march for my freedom.

Part of me wants him to look at me while the other part is glad he doesn’t. If he did, I might end up losing my nerve. Something I can’t afford to do no matter the cost.

Leonardo leans in close to me, his hand tightening around my leg.

“I can’t wait to get you pregnant, Aurora,” he murmurs in my ear. “By this time next year, you’ll be round with my heir. Just imagine how beautiful you’ll look. I’ll make sure our wedding night sticks.”

The fork in my hand clatters to the table. I stand up so fast my chair screeches backward. Eyes snap to me in an instant, including Gianna’s panicked ones.

Shit.

“I—I need to freshen up,” I manage, gripping the edge of the table to steady myself. “I… um. Lady problems.”

I don’t wait for permission to leave, I just turn and walk fast, heels clicking against the marble as I make a beeline for the nearest guest bathroom tucked in the east wing of the banquet hall.

Outside in the hallway, I pull in a much needed breath. Inside it had been stifling but now that I’m out here, my head is a little clearer. I find a bathroom close by. The second I shut the door behind me, I head over to the sink and grip the sides of it while trying to steady myself.

My stomach churns with nausea. I can still feel Leonardo’s hand on me, hear his words.

Pregnant. With his heir.

God. What a horrible image to conjure.

The worst part about all of this was Leonardo already had a damn heir. What sense did it make for him to have another baby at his age? What would be the point? It wasn’t like he would be young enough to help raise it with me, let alone be around long enough to see the baby grow into an adult.

The man was pushing sixty. I doubt he’d live into his eighties with the way he smokes and drinks.

My hand shakes as I dig my phone out of my clutch and scroll through my contacts.

Bathroom. East hallway. Five minutes. Delete this. I text Dominic.

I hit send.

The seconds that follow feel like hours.

I really, really hope he comes.