Page 55 of My Solemn Vow (The Mafia Arrangement #1)

ANTONELLA

NO ONE LIKES CONFRONTATION

“Outside of Leticia I haven’t talked to a single D’Medici since we got married.

” Bed stripped, there’s nothing for me to do with my hands but stand here and stare at him, ready to defend myself.

“You can check my text messages. I’m sure you could tell if there was a new device connecting to something or other in your house. ”

Valor doesn’t move, hardly even blinking.

I grab my phone off the nightstand and throw it onto his side of the bed, shrugging.

“I don’t know what Neil is telling everyone or why he’d be saying something like that, but we’ve been married almost two weeks.

I hadn’t even been comfortable enough to do more than text Leticia, let alone ask to see her. ”

“I know.” Valor’s statement does nothing to help with my own defense.

With a small sigh, I climb into bed and lie down, looking at the ceiling before closing my eyes. “Valor, what do you really want?”

The bed dips next to me, and I roll my head and open my eyes to see that he’s sitting beside me, offering my phone back. I take it from him and unceremoniously toss it onto the nightstand. Fuck it. I don’t need it. Let the damn thing die.

Valor rolls his eyes, stands up, and walks around the bed.

I track his movements and watch as he picks my phone up and plugs it in.

He sets it down with much more patience than I did and then looks down at me.

The flat irritation is gone and there’s a fire back in his eyes. Not the fun fire though. Anger.

“How would you explain the bullets? The timing?” Valor furrows his brow.

He bends toward me and wraps his hand around my throat.

What the fuck? Instinct has me wanting to struggle, but I force myself still, conserving energy. I blink up at him, waiting for him to start choking me, but his hand rests there, and in the span of at least thirty seconds, he starts running his thumb up and down the column of my neck.

“Valor, I’m not working with the D’Medicis. I don’t have a death wish. Period.” I swallow and can feel the weight of his hand against my throat. “I don’t know what’s going on.”

Valor lets me go. “I’m not sure I understand what’s going on either.”

His admission is decidedly not settling. But whatever I’ve said is answer enough. He walks back around the bed, stripping his clothes off. He’s in his boxers by the time he gets to his side.

“Are you planning on killing me in my sleep?” I don’t know if I should have to ask this or not. I’m not even sure if he’ll tell the truth. But I can’t quite contain the question he asked me earlier.

Valor smiles as he climbs onto the mattress next to me and curls up facing me. “No. I don’t plan on killing you in your sleep. We’re both dedicated to one cause.”

“Kerrianne.” I state the obvious.

Valor pushes up and rolls me onto my back, then he kisses me deeply. He wraps his fingers into my hair, and I push back against him to match his intensity, remembering how he made me come earlier, and the flame of desire crackles to life within me.

I want more of Valor’s touch, but just as I’m so sure he’ll give it to me, he retreats. “Let’s get some sleep. I’ve a feeling dinner with my parents tomorrow will be eventful.”

Immediately, my heart rate picks up, and my brain plays through every possible scenario for that dinner.

No, what could possibly go wrong?... That’s a laugh.

I can’t even convince my brain to let it go.

What the fuck do I wear? I’m cold and shivering but can’t force myself to move and pull up the blankets.

“Antonella.” Valor is between me and the ceiling again. I feel the weight of his body next to me, his hand cradling my face. “Hey. Don’t panic. Let the fear go. I didn’t mean that in any sense that they’ll be difficult toward you. They’re eccentric. It wasn’t meant to scare you.”

The cold dissipates, and I warm under his touch. From his hand on my jaw to our chests pressed together, I start to relax.

“That’s it.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I’m trying to not be a dick. I dislike not knowing what’s going on with the business. For the first time, nothing is as it seems. There’s been so much change, but I know it isn’t you. I’ll do better.”

I nod with my forehead pressed against his, moving us both but not finding words.

“You’re trembling,” Valor mutters and reaches for the blankets.

He pulls them up over us and then rolls me toward him until I’m curled in against his chest. “When I brought Holly home to meet my parents, they were in the kitchen cooking dinner. And for the first time ever, they had decided to get and butcher their own pig. It took them hours longer than they had anticipated. Anyway, dinner was supposed to be at seven, and we arrived at six thirty to my mom screaming and my dad chasing her around the kitchen, living room, and even outside with pig testicles, shouting, ‘They’re just like oysters!’ on repeat. ”

How is this supposed to make me feel better? “Oh, okay? ”

“Holly and I had to pick up carryout pizza and help them finish butchering the hog. It’s a good thing she came from a pack in the South and was familiar with hog butchering because my parents were severely underqualified for that activity.

Dad kept saying ‘It’s nothing like butchering a deer and making canned venison,’ and honestly, I thought she would leave me because of them.

” He laughs, and the shuddering of his chest makes me feel the fondness of the story, easing my nerves a little bit.

“Besides you’re already their favorite person. ”

“Oh?” I push back so I can look him in the eye.

“You saved Kerrianne. They already love you.” He reassures me, running his fingers through my hair.

“But that doesn’t save me from suspicion of something that I could never have done.” I can’t even get those words out beyond a whisper.

“It’s not coming from Dad. It’s coming from Neil.

” Valor wrinkles his nose. “My uncle is always looking for an enemy where there isn’t one.

I need to remember that and not be pulled into his theories.

I’m more worried about what my parents will embarrass me with rather than their acceptance of you. ”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, you don’t have to meet my parents?

” I can’t help it. The words come out, and I wince, laughing uncomfortably.

“And, well, you’re already familiar with Gregorio.

Leticia is pretty much the only one you had to impress, and other than practically outing wolves all by yourself at dinner. .. I think it went well.”

“Don’t remind me.” Valor buzzes his lips on a long exhale.

But he circles back to what I glossed over.

“I think I’d have liked to have met your parents.

Your dad might have had tips to raise a self-reliant daughter.

” Valor surprises me with that. He pulls me closer again from where I’d pushed away.

“I don’t know what’s going on. But I trust that you have Kerrianne’s best interests at heart. ”