Page 35

Chapter 35

Nova

Jerome is teaching me how to make pancakes, and I'm a hopeless, flour-covered disaster. We're laughing when Gabe walks in with Gemma.

She spent a good portion of yesterday here. At first, it was awkward, and it was a harsh reminder of the hurt I felt after finding out she deceived me. But Gemma isn't one to beat around the bush, and after a while, she wore me down. By the end, I laughed at the stories she told of growing up with Gabe and Massimo, the other Santoro brothers, and a guy named Raf.

"Welcome, Gemma." Jerome smiles easily. "Can I get you an espresso?"

She eyes us critically. "I can make it. With the amount of flour coating you, the espresso will probably end up as cake batter."

"An espresso sounds lovely, Jerome," I say.

"You've already had one, Miss Nova."

"I had a very weak coffee."

"We're taking things slow to ensure your digestive system isn't overtaxed."

My cheeks heat. Everyone in this room knows what happened, and how I was so severely compromised to begin with, but I'm not comfortable talking about my eating issues—only with Massimo.

Because he's my crutch.

Gemma smiles warmly at me. "I bet tomorrow you'll get a full shot."

"We'll see about a full-strength coffee first before we move to an espresso. Hmm?" Jerome turns to me. "Sound good? "

His aged face is so kind, it's easy to forget he's the majordomo of a crime boss. But I've never felt so cared for as I have in the past few days.

Once Gemma's espresso is finished brewing, she comes over to inspect the batter in our bowl. She holds her mug behind Jerome's back and hikes her brow at me. I sneak a sip and damn near choke on the hot caffeine.

"I've never made pancakes, Jerome. Teach me, too?" Gemma asks quickly to cover up my sputtering.

Gabe shakes his head at Gemma and her antics, but his eyes never stray far from her as she moves around the kitchen.

Jerome gets Gemma a bowl and starts walking her through making pancakes. I decide to let my batter rise, or rest, or maybe I should give up on it, and sit on a stool at the island, listening to Gemma give Jerome a hard time as he tries to teach her.

Gabe sits beside me and nudges my elbow. "You forgot to take this today. Massimo wanted me to ensure you did."

I see what he's holding in his palm: my package of birth control. I hadn't exactly forgotten to take it; it just wasn't where I thought I had left it.

My first thought is that Gabe entered my bedroom and invaded my privacy. That's chased away by reminding myself that it's not my bedroom, and I'm still a captive here, so what do I expect?

All that is chased away by the reminder that Massimo plans to fuck me, bare, and fill me with his cum, but he has no intention of getting me pregnant.

And why would he want a child with a snake's spawn?

The hurt that lances through me is phenomenal.

Pushing it aside, I grab the package from Gabe. I pop one of the contraceptive pills into my mouth and swallow. Turning to him, I open my mouth and show him under my tongue.

"It's gone. Happy?" I stand, fighting back tears.

I'm an idiot.

Why is the fact that Massimo can't stomach having a child with me so upsetting?

The last thing I want is to have an illegitimate child—I've seen how hard that is for the mother and the child in the mafia world. And I don't want to be chained to this world or Massimo, and a child would do that.

Plus, Massimo's family would never accept me, not after what my father had done.

"Nova?" Gemma stops mixing her batter, looking at me with concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I snap.

I need to watch my tone and watch myself around these people. They're not my friends or allies; they're Massimo's people.

Gabe stands, and I step back. He likely sees the fear that's leapt up inside me and stops from coming closer.

"You can report to your boss that he'll get what he wants, Gabe."

Then I turn on my heel and rush out of the kitchen. Gemma calls to me, but I keep going.

"What the hell did you say to her, Gabe?" she demands.

I don't go back to defend Gabe, to explain that he was only doing what his boss wanted and that it wasn’t his fault. Instead, like the gullible idiot I am, I'm trying my damnedest not to cry—feeling like I deserve better, like I shouldn't be hurt like this.

But what else do I expect?

I am, after all, the Mancini Princess.

Silvestro Mancini's daughter.

His spawn, just like my brothers. The world knows who the Mancinis are.

So why should I expect a family, one my father tried to hurt and destroy, to treat me any differently?