Page 56 of My Solemn Vow

Even if I hadn’t called the truce, Gregorio would have continued to try and use me as a pawn in this game.

“I never want you alone with someone from your old life. You’ll always have me or one of our guards with you when you see them.” Valor cups my chin and tilts my head up toward himbefore placing a soft kiss on my lips. “I don’t trust them not to hurt you, and I don’t trust you to not take revenge.”

Never once had I considered the opportunity to be violent toward the D’Medici family. With the truce in place, it would be dumb to put my life on the line like that. It doesn’t matter, though, because Valor kisses me again, and this time, he dips his tongue into my mouth. Butterflies take flight in my stomach, and I can’t believe how loving he’s being once again.

It doesn’t last because he withdraws.

“Kerrianne will be here soon.” He sighs like this pains him as well. “There’s a blow dryer in her bathroom until we get your things here. You can buy whatever you need that you didn’t have before. I know you’re not big on material things, but anything you need is yours.”

Valor doesn’t wait for me to object or remind him that if my stuff gets here, I’ll have everything I need. He turns at the door with one last look at me naked before walking off, I’m guessing downstairs, to wait for Kerrianne.

27

VALOR

I KIDNAPPED ANTONELLA?

“Dad!” Kerrianne squeals, running through the foyer.

When she’s a few feet away, she launches herself at me.

I scoop her up into my arms, spinning her around before one last squeeze and nuzzling my nose in her hair for a comforting breath. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you more.” Kerrianne tightens her grip around my neck.

After a few seconds, I rub her back and set her on her feet. Kerrianne wraps her arms as far around me as they’ll go and squeezes like a little constrictor snake.

“I doubt it.” I stroke her hair, comforting her.

Kerrianne steps back away from me, finally letting go, and her eyes go wide.

The footsteps on the stairs tell me Antonella is dressed and making her way down here.

I turn as she descends toward us. I love seeing her in my clothes. They’re too big for her, but she’s rolled and folded them until they fit her well enough. I want her in my clothes always, as unpractical as that is.

“Ms. Mancini?” Kerrianne tugs on my hand, suspicion pitching her voice higher.

The tension I’d forced myself to forget about is... slowly returning. I wait for chaos to set in. I’m unaware of what it’ll look like, but I don’t anticipate any of this going well.

Kerrianne narrows her eyes at me and then cups her hands up over her mouth, whispering, “Dad, you didn’t kidnap my new teacher, did you?”

I’m immediately drawing a blank.First of all, how does she know I kidnap people? Second of all, how did she jump to the conclusion that I kidnapped Antonella?

Antonella gives a small wave. “Hello, Kerrianne. I’m not kidnapped. I promise.”

Then they both look at me like I’m the problem and need to explain myself. “Well, there will be a few new things,” I start, looking to my mother, who’s coming into the house carrying grocery bags, for guidance. Mom pointedly ignores me and my problems. I redirect Kerrianne to give myself time to figure out what to say. “Let’s go see if we have any food left in this house.”

“We do!” Kerrianne shouts, running back to the kitchen. “I’m making sandwiches!”

“Take your shoes off,” I call before turning my attention to Antonella.

Antonella offers her arms out to Mom. “Please, let me help you.”

“Oh.” My mother offers a bag out to her. “Thank you.”

Antonella turns and heads through the house, following Kerrianne.

My mother looks at me, raised eyebrows and an approving smile on her way past me.