Page 114 of Vows of Blood

Night is falling fast, and my car is parked on the gravel drive as my heart pounds with excitement because this is it. We’re really doing this. Running away together, starting fresh, leaving his family and his obligations behind.

I slide the pregnancy test into my purse. Two pink lines confirmed ten days earlier, then the ultrasound this morning to be extra sure. I kept it to myself, wanting to surprise Luca, to see his face when he realizes we aren't just running away as two people anymore.

We’re going to be a family.

But as I slam the door shut, ducking my head and battling the wind and drizzling rain to rush toward the porch, it isn't Luca who comes out of the house.

Alfonso descends the steps slowly, two men flanking him, anger personified. Fausto is on his right shoulder, as always, his face twisting with disgust when he sees me.

"Do you really think I'll let my son throw away his future for a piece of trash like you?"

I back toward my car, but he’s faster, grabbing my bag as I turn, sending the contents spilling across the ground; lip balm, car keys, and a packet of tissues.

And a small white stick with two bold lines.

His hand freezes as he stoops to pick it up slowly, staring at the result window, then at me, then back at the test. Understanding dawns across his features, followed by something far more dangerous.

"No. Absolutely not." His glare is icy, his angry words shouted louder with each word. "No fucking way. Over my dead body."

He grabs my arm and starts dragging me toward the lake house.

"No." I stumble, my heels sliding on stone as he pulls me along. "No, no, no, please. LUCA!"

The memory fractures into jagged segments. Fausto's fists. Rope biting into my wrists. Tablets forced down my throat, followed by water, while I screamed and gagged as someone held my nose and forced me to swallow.

Being dumped on the path outside my home. Somehow ending up inside. Waking hours later, cramps tearing through my abdomen as I bled. Calling Luca’s number, over and over, until it didn’t even connect anymore.

And tears. Lots and lots of tears…

I blink, startling, and the ballroom materializes around me once more.

Alfonso is still holding me, a little too closely, still giving me that evil grin as he waits for my answer.

A cold, numb darkness washes over me as I think of the horrific scars on Luca's back, what his own father did to him for the crime of loving me.

I think of my parents. The fire. The shame. The way my father's hands shook when he poured his drinks, the light dying in his eyes a little more each day until there was nothing left. My mother's heart gave out because she couldn't bear to watch him destroy himself.

And the child that I never got to hold, whether from his actions directly, or from the stress, I know it was this man’s fault.

Luca’s watching us from across the room, his expression pinched with anger. He knows I’m uncomfortable, wishing this song would end. Nico has a hand on his arm, holding him back, but I can see he's moments away from crossing the floor to tear me from his father's grip.

I love him. I've always loved him. And he deserves to know the truth, even if he never forgives me for keeping it this long. Turning to look at Alfonso, I glare at him, knowing exactly what he deserves.

Alfonso leans closer. "Do we have an understanding? Or are you too stupid to realize you don’t actually have a choice? I could get rid of you tomorrow if I wished.” He pauses, chuckling to himself at his cruelty. “And maybe I will. If you don’t do as I wish.”

He’s never going to leave me alone. Even after taking everything from my family and me, he pissed on their ashes by returning to our home. For ten years, he’s held this grudge, and he’ll continue to torture me for years to come if I let him.

I slide my hand into the hidden pocket of my dress. My fingers close around the handle of the blade I tucked there this morning, at Rebecca’s insistence, just in case.

He said to me once, over my dead body.

I quite like the idea of that.

"Actually," I say softly, "I don’t think you will."

I pull the blade free and press it to his throat with trembling fingers.

Alfonso freezes, his eyes going wide, his repulsive grip on my waist loosening.