Page 34 of His Deadly Devotion

“You are way more like Dante than I thought,” I say, and Connor scrunches up his face.

“I’m way better looking than that asshole.”

“And smarter, but don’t ever tell him I said that. He happens to be my favorite cousin.” My stomach picks that moment to rumble, as if it’s been starved of food for an entire week.

“You need to eat,” Connor states the obvious. “You did throw up everything your body was holding, so I’m not surprised.”

“I threw up?” I don’t remember doing that.

“A lot,” Connor says.

“And you saw?”

“Babe, I held your hair back for you.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder. “And, in case you forgot, I already told you there was nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” Connor’s lips press to the side of my forehead, and my body melts into his.

15

I’m sitting with Aurora in the dining room eating a sandwich when her brother walks in and places his phone on the table. “Pops wants to speak to you.” I assume Lorenzo is talking to Aurora, but then he adds, “Both of you.”

“Hi, Papa, missing your favorite child already?” Aurora asks, looking into the phone.

“Immensely,” her father tells her. “I had an interesting conversation with Dominic…”

“He overreacted. It’s not my fault Zara came to her sister’s house to get drunk,” Aurora says. “Also, I was responsible. I made sure she didn’t drink the whole bottle by herself.”

I cough on a laugh. Surely this crap doesn’t actually fly with her father?

“Aurora, you’re supposed to be in hiding. Need I remind you that it’s your actions and choices that got you into this mess. I cannot get you out of it if you don’t stay quiet.”

“I know, Papa. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” She bats her eyelashes—seriously bats her eyelashes—at him.

“Make sure it doesn’t,” he says, seeming to buy her bullshit apology. “Now that that’s settled, I’ve made arrangements with your school. I’ve sent Lorenzo all your coursework. Connor’s too. Get it done. Send it back. I need to submit it at the end of each week so you two don’t fall behind and you both can graduate.”

“I can’t,” Aurora blurts out, looking panicked.

“You got more important things to do, Aurora?” her father asks. “Actually, don’t bother answering that. I don’t want to know. Put Connor on.”

Aurora looks to me with wide eyes and then turns the screen towards me. “Mr. Valentino,” I say the moment his eyes narrow in on my face.

“A little birdie told me you got early acceptance into Harvard. Congratulations, but you need to actually graduate to keep that acceptance. And you need to keep your grades up.”

“Thanks.” I have no idea what to fucking say to that. I can feel Aurora’s eyes burning into me. I haven’t told her about Harvard. I wasn’t going to either.

“I expect you both to get your coursework completed. I will not have my daughter held back because she has shitty taste in boys,” he says.

Yep,thatI can deal with. The direct insult. It’s easier than having him congratulate me. Something my own father never would have done.

“I’ll make sure we get everything submitted, sir,” I tell Mr. Valentino.

“Good.” He cuts the call and the screen goes black.

“Why would you tell him we’d do that work? I can’t do it, Connor. You know I can’t do it. What the hell am I going to do? Shit.” Aurora stands and starts pacing the length of the dining room.

“Babe, calm down. It’s fine. I’ll do it for you,” I tell her.

“Oh, you’ll just do it for me. Gee, thanks for coming to the rescue for your stupid girlfriend,” she snarls. “And Harvard? When were you going to tell me you got into Harvard? The day you left New York to go back to Boston?”

“I wasn’t going to accept it if you didn’t want to come with me.”