Page 35 of His Deadly Devotion
“And do what? I can’t do college, Connor.”
“You can do whatever you want to do, Aurora,” I tell her.
“Someone want to fill me in on what the fuck you two are talking about?” Lorenzo asks.
Fuck. I forgot the asshole was here. I look to Aurora. I’m not spilling her secrets. “I didn’t tell her I was applying for Harvard.”
“Yeah, I got that part. Aurora, what do you mean you can’t do college or the schoolwork Pops sent.” Lorenzo looks directly at his sister.
“I…” Aurora opens and closes her mouth. “I don’t want to go to college. I don’t like school.”
“Nobody likes school, Aurora. It’s not supposed to be fun,” Lorenzo says.
“That’s not true. Dante likes school. Connor likes school,” she counters.
I liked school a lot better when I was visiting that little room at the back of the library.
“They’re nerds. They don’t count. Why can’t you do the work?” Lorenzo asks again.
“I can’t do it, okay? I’m not smart. I’m not good at anything. I’m not like everyone else in the family.”
“Your grades are fine. You can do the work,” he says.
“Dante’s been doing my schoolwork since the fifth grade,” Aurora whispers.
“What?” Lorenzo barks out, even though it’s clear he heard her.
I step in front of Aurora. Her eyes are glued to the floor. It’s not a look I’ve ever seen on her. She’s ashamed, and I fucking hate it.
Taking her face in the palms of my hands, I lift her head until her eyes meet mine. “You are not fucking stupid, Aurora. You are smart and good at so many fucking things. Stop thinking that just because you don’t like math or history or some other useless subject you’re less-than. Because you are better than anyone else I know.”
I can see tears welling up in her eyes. Aurora doesn’t cry. This isn’t right. “I… You have a biased opinion of me because you like my vagina,” she says.
Her brother curses behind us. “Fucking hell. Aurora, don’t ever mention your…that…around me again. And he’s right. You are good at plenty of shit. Who told you that you were stupid?”
“No one. I just know I am.” She sighs.
“Well, you’re wrong. And you need to tell Pops about your little arrangement with Dante,” Lorenzo says.
“I can’t. He’ll be more disappointed in me than when he found out I was dating an Irish boy,” she replies.
“Doubtful. Nothing is more disappointing than you dating an Irish boy.” Lorenzo smirks. If he didn’t just make her smile, I’d tell him to fuck off. But sheissmiling.
“Right? Who would have thought?” She shakes her head. “He’s a good one, though, so I am keeping him.”
“You both know I’m right here?” I grunt.
“I always know where you are, Connor,” Aurora says with a seriousness that should be creepy.
“I have no doubt,” I tell her.
“Aurora fucking Valentino, how dare you come to town and not call me,” a male voice yells out, and I spin around, keeping myself partially in front of her. She responds by stepping around me and running at the guy who just waltzed in like he owns the fucking place.
“Ares, what are you doing here.” Aurora throws her arms around him.
“Why?” I grunt as I stare up at the ceiling.
“She does that a lot,” Lorenzo answers me. “She’s a hugger, surprisingly enough. She once told me if people expect her to hug them, then they won’t see it coming if she has to stab them.”