Bound by Duty (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles, #2)

by Cora Reilly

“So you didn’t mind the company of prostitutes, but you can’t take your own wife’s virginity?”

“You are mine, Valentina.”

“Because you are my wife and because you are a woman, you are safe. You know that very well.”

“If you had a secret you needed to hide, I would keep it for you. I would try to brave torture, pain and death to hide it for you.”

“I want you to suck my cock, Valentina.”

“There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil. For to thee is this world given,”

“Every moment of the day I think of the things I want to do with you, catch myself remembering your taste, your smell. Sometimes I think I’ll go insane if I don’t bury myself in you.”

My hand came up to his stomach and I stroked him lightly. Was it the dark that made him more approachable? That made him forget who he was, who he was bound to be?

“Suck my cock, Val.” It was the first time he’d called me by my nickname.

“But for some reason, I can’t stay mad at you.”

“I’m pregnant.”

The next day my gynecologist confirmed my pregnancy and that I was seven weeks along.

“You’re so busy honoring her memory and protecting the image of her you have in your mind that you don’t realize how badly you’re treating me. You lost your first wife through no fault of your own, but you will be losing me because you can’t let go of her.”

“I’ll move into the guest bedroom. There isn’t enough room in our bedroom for me and the memories of your past. If you ever decide you want to give this marriage a chance, then you can come to me and apologize for what you said. Until then, I’m done with us.”

“I want you to move back into our bedroom, Val.”

“You know what’s strange?” I whispered thickly. “At one point, I thought I could never love someone as I loved Antonio, no matter how unrequited that love was. And today I’m condemning him to his death for another man who will never love me back.”

“I won’t risk your life.”

“You did what you had to do to protect me.” His fingers stroked my chin. “I won’t ever forget it. Never.”

“I should have made love to you before,” he said in a low voice.

“I did it for you,” he said simply.

Dante took me by surprise when he reached for my hand, brought it up to his face and pressed a kiss against my knuckles.

I was busy staying on my feet, so I didn’t try to stop her. The door to Dante’s office was ripped open and Dante charged out, gun in hand.

“Valentina?” Dante said as he rushed toward me, already putting his gun back in his holster. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t give a fuck about the seat, or the car, or anything right now. You are all that matters.”

“I don’t know.” There was something close to despair on his face. “I’m a fucking bastard, Val. If you lose this child…”

Dante settled on the edge of the mattress and brushed a few strands of hair from my face.