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“Does that mean you will stop messing with my business?”
“That means I will make an effort to play nice for her.”
“What about White and Bishop?” my father asked.
“I’ll do whatever I see fit with them.”
“I can take Francesca awa—”
“No, you can’t,” Wolfe interfered, cutting him sharply. “The only person who is in a position to take Francesca away from me is Francesca herself. It’s her choice who she wants to be with—not mine. Definitely not yours. You’ve killed my brother, then my parents. My wife is where I draw the line. You cannot take her. I will unleash hell if you do.”
I closed my eyes, feeling my body swaying from side to side. I hadn’t eaten all day, and the scent of the cigar made me want to throw up.
“Go to her,” my father said brokenly.
My husband got up on his feet.
Then, for the second time in my life, I swooned.
Chapter
Nineteen
FRANCESCA
I woke up cocooned in my husband’s arms.
He sat on the king-sized bed, my head resting on him in the exact same position we were curled in when we were in the barn, when he showed me Artemis.
His spicy cologne and distinctive male scent engulfed me in comfort, and I pretended to be asleep a little longer, prolonging the uncomfortable conversation that waited at the end of my slumber.
He dragged the tip of his fingers over my back through my shirt, pressing a kiss to my hairline.
I visited the memory of him kneeling in front of my father, telling him that I was the most important thing to him. Warm honey coated my heart.
“I know you’re awake,” I heard my husband murmur to my temple.
I groaned, shifting in his arms. The thought that these arms were wrapped around Karolina Ivanova a week ago made me want to throw up all over again.
I propped myself on my forearms, shooting him a tired look.
“You’re pregnant.” He looked down at my stomach as if he was expecting to see a bump.
Seeing his face again was the greatest gift I’d ever been given. It was absurd to think I dreaded said face the morning after the masquerade.
Shortly after, he became my favorite thing about myself. I became his reminder that there was something more than vengeance and justice in this world.
We were co-dependent, and we had to co-exist. One without the other was a dormant being.
To be alive and not really living was a terrible curse.
“It’s yours.” I put my hand on his for emphasis.
“I know.” He ran the tip of his nose along mine, gathering me in his arms as though I was something great and precious and hugging me close.
“Does that make you unhappy?” I sniffed.
“Becoming a father? I always thought it would. I was sure life ended when parenthood began. But that was before I found someone worthy to start a family with. I’m still not entirely sure about my abilities when it comes to parenthood. Luckily, I know my wife will be the best mother this planet has to offer.”
