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I only made her sick. I have to go. We aren’t all born with academic brains.

Me:

I’ll do your homework for you.

She doesn’t read my last message.Guess she really is focusing on class.

Chapter Thirteen

Three weeks later

For three weeks, I’ve been meeting Connor in the study room in the library. We’ve been careful not to be seen together. But when wearetogether, it’s… intense. I don’t know how he makes my body feel the way it does, or why it onlyworks for him. But I’m not going to deny myself the pleasure he can give me.

I have, however, been missing a lot of classes. A fact I’m sure my parents are going to notice. At least my grades won’t slip. Thanks to Dante, who is currently sitting in my room effortlessly completing my homework for me. And watching him do it without much thought is creeping me out.

I should be used to how easily academic stuff comes to him, and I don’t begrudge him for it. Especially since he’s been doing my assignments for me for as long as I can remember. No one knows, other than Orlando and Mabilia. If our parents found out, they’d be pissed. They do not condone cheating. But we’ve been doing it this way for so long now it’d be hard to just start doing it myself and end up failing.

Because I would fail. I mean, I might pass, if I put hours upon hours into studying and memorizing shit. But there would be a noticeable difference in my grades—that’s for sure.

“Have you told them you don’t plan to go to college yet?” Dante asks me.

I look at him. “I’m still breathing, so that’d be a no.”

“They’re not going to kill you. Trust me, the family has had more reason than school to kill you, Aurora.” He laughs.

“It’s not that easy. My mom thinks I’m going to be some successful businesswoman or something. And Dad keeps telling me I can do anything I want, be anything I want.” I sigh. “I can’t, though.”

“You can. You’re a Valentino. The world is your oyster,” Dante says.

“I’m a girl. It’s different for me,” I groan. Because, let’s be honest, it is different for the girls in our family.

If one of the boys goes off on a killing spree or something, they’re just a Valentino. If I was to kill someone or do something a little violent, I’m insane. Or crazy. There must be somethingwrong with me, because I shouldn’t want to do those things. I should be content being a very well-kept princess.

That’s never been me, though. I’m far too much of a free spirit. I’m also protective. I could never stand by and let anything happen to someone in my family. In my defense, if the oldies didn’t want me to fight, they shouldn’t have equipped me with the skills to do so. Besides, the sexist bullshit of girls needing a man to protect you will never fly with me. I learned from a group of very strong women. The Valentino men might think they’re running the show, but they’d be nothing without the women. And they all know it.

“At least I’m not dating my cousin.” I laugh.

It’s the newest way to insult Dante, because my Zio Theo and Zia Maddie adopted his girlfriend Josie, saving her from an awful foster home situation. Which Dante is grateful for, but also a little resentful over. He asked Josie to marry him. He wanted them to get their own place and live happily ever after. Thankfully, the girl must have some brains because she said no.

Both my and Dante’s phones ping at the same time. I pick up mine and read the message.

Orlando:

Valentino hangar, now. Alessandro is going to Idaho. We’re crashing.

“Idaho? What the fuck is in Idaho?” I ask, looking up at Dante, knowing he just got the same message I did.

“No idea. Let’s get Josie and go.” He closes his laptop and packs it into his bag. I don’t think he goes anywhere without that thing.

I follow him out the door. Because it’s not like I have a lot of other plans this weekend. Well, I was supposed to meet upwith Connor, but family comes first, right? I’d also have terrible FOMO if they all went without me.

“Really?” My cousin Alessandro points at me. “That’s a liability, not a help.” His words are directed to my brother Enzo as we all situate ourselves on the Valentino jet.

“I didn’t call her.” Enzo holds up his hands.

“No, I found out from Orlando. But you should have told me yourself,” I huff, walking to the back and sitting opposite Alessandro and his new girlfriend. “Hi, I’m Aurora, your new cousin.”

“Hi.” Cassidy looks at Alessandro, probably wondering what circus she’s found herself trapped inside.