My gaze drifts toward the kitchen where Madden’s laughter still echoes. “I heard his heartbeat.”
A tear slips down my cheek. “I felt every kick. Every little movement was like he was talking to me, telling me he was there. He loved me before he ever took his first breath.”
I press a trembling hand to my chest. “And somewhere along the way, even while I was trying not to... I fell hopelessly in love with him too.”
I blink away more tears. “So I canceled the adoption. I decided to raise him in Italy.”
“Away from his father,” Nico says quietly.
I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment before forcing myself to answer.
“Yes.”
He slowly lowers himself onto his knees in front of me. “Why?”
His voice isn’t angry anymore.
It’s broken.
I hold his gaze. “Because he’s your heir. You would’ve wanted him to inherit your throne.”
Tears stream freely now. “I know what this life does to innocent people, Nico. I’ve lived it.”
His hands cradle my face with surprising gentleness. “We have an army at our disposal, Serenity.”
A hollow laugh escapes me. “So did my father.”
My voice cracks. “They tore through his men like they were fucking bowling pins.”
The memory steals the air from my lungs. “They still got to my family.”
Without another word, Nico sits beside me and pulls me into his arms.
I don’t fight him.
His embrace is warm.
Steady.
Safe.
He rests his cheek against my hair.
“We’re different,” he murmurs.
His arms tighten around me. “We’re stronger.”
He tilts my chin until I’m forced to look into his eyes. “Serenity, I need you to believe in us. We’re adifferent couple. We’ll protect our family together.”
I fiddle with the hem of his t-shirt. “My trauma fights to take control every day. You didn’t live through what I did. That’s why I made sure I always took my birth control pills. Then they just failed. When the doctor told me I was pregnant, I was in denial. I told her there was no way.”
Madden strolls into the living room, angry bear gripped tight in one hand.
I scurry out of Nico’s lap. He pulls me close to him again. Madden climbs into Nico’s lap.
Why is Madden taking to Nico so well?
Madden curls his arms around his neck. “I miss you, Angry Bear.”
