Page 133 of The Viper's Wife

This is what she wanted. What she begged for.

I squeeze my hands into fists and force myself to continue, “You can pick out any place you’d like to live, and I’ll work with Alessia to make sure you get the funds you need. She has the contacts to make sure that you’ll have a job in whichever city you choose. I’ll move out today andlive with Salvatore. You’ll still have a guard, but don’t leave the apartment until you’re ready to move.” My throat is raw. “And if you need any help, I’ll be there for you. Always.”

“What about your dad?” she asks tonelessly, like we’re finalizing the details of a business transaction.

She’s not acting like this to hurt me—this is how she processes pain. It’s a good thing, I tell myself. She’s composed. It’ll keep her safe.

“He won’t be a problem. I’ll fall in line. I’m going to marry Giorgia, and tomorrow, I’ll fly out to promise him whatever he wants to leave you out of this.”

“What is he going to make you do?” she whispers. She takes a step toward me.

My entire body tilts in her direction, but I don’t touch her. She’s not mine anymore. I can’t. “You don’t have to worry about that. You only need to worry about yourself.”

She smiles bitterly, her arms tightening around her belly and fresh tears springing to her eyes.

“Not anymore,” she says, and the edges of my brain go fuzzy as I anticipate her next words. “Nico, I’m pregnant.”

A rush of emotions washes over me—elation, excitement, love and affection for Valeria, and then all of it gives way to a tsunami of horror. I curl violently forward, my hand to my stomach, slamming into the doorframe, scrabbling at the wood to keep from falling. I swallow the gush of saliva that precedes vomit.

“What?” I croak out.

“I wasn’t sure at first, but my period is late, and I’ve been nauseated and tired for the past couple weeks. My breasts are tender. I haven’t taken a test?—”

I look sharply at her.

She shakes her head. “I didn’t want to get caught buying one. I can’t put it at risk.”

“Your birth control pills? Did you miss one?”

She meets my gaze steadily. “Not a single one.”

The cold truth plunges through me. How many other people have been in the apartment? Giovanni, Stefano, Joey, the doctor. Alessia. She’s used our bathroom before. She would’ve made the swap if she thought it was in my best interest.

“I’m sure,” Valeria says.

Fuck.

“Is it mine?” I ask, and as I do, I realize I don’t care what her answer will be. It doesn’t fucking matter if it’s mine or not.She’smine—she’ll always be mine—and any baby of hers would be mine too.

“You’re the only person I’ve slept with for weeks now, and I hadn’t had sex for almost a year before that.”

I swallow sand before asking, “Can I feel your belly?”

She nods, her eyes shining with misery.

The apartment is silent as I take a step toward her. I wrap one arm around her to support her back and place the other on her lower belly.

She rests her fingertips lightly on my forearms.

“Have you felt it yet?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “It’s too early to tell. I won’t feel it move for several more weeks.”

I dig my fingers into her soft, warm belly. That’s my child, inside the woman that I love.

For a brief moment, I let myself be happy. I imagine what it would be like to take her out to celebrate this news. To tell everyone I know that I’m having a baby. To let myself imagine that this could be the first of more. That I would get to see Valeria’s stomach swell with life and be a part of it every step of the way.

I pull my hand away.