Page 187 of Lovely Venom

“Let him,” Cristian replies, completely unbothered. “I don’t care.”

Angelo studies his brother for a long moment before he seems to register that Cristian is dead serious.

“Where did you send Romeo in the middle of the night?” Angelo asks.

“I sent him to retrieve something for me,” Cristian answers vaguely.

I glance up at him, distantly recalling him speaking to Romeo on the phone after I gave him Theodore’s name.

He seems to be aware I’m piecing it together as he lifts me off the counter and onto my feet.

“Come with me,” he says. “We’ll handle one problem at a time.”

I follow him to the bedroom while Angelo and Mariella stay behind in the kitchen. Once we’re alone, Cristian tugs on a T-shirt and turns to face me.

“You don’t have to go out there if you don’t want to.”

I’m a little surprised he’s even giving me the option, but as I think about it, I realize that I want to. With any luck, this will be the last time I see Damian or my father, and I need to know what’s going to happen from here.

“I’ll come.”

He nods and glances at my black dress. It’s fitted in the bodice and loose around the hips, so the soft curve of my belly is visible if someone’s paying close attention.

“Should I change?” I ask nervously.

“No.” He shakes his head. “But I’ll need to tell Angelo.”

“Okay.”

The four of us converge outside our bedroom and walk down the corridor together. Just before we reach the end, Cristian drops the bombshell.

“By the way, congratulations.” He opens the door, and we all filter through. “You’re going to be an uncle.”

Angelo’s gaze whips toward us, and Mariella lets out a huff of amusement. Whatever Angelo’s thoughts are, he doesn’t say them aloud, and we continue in silence.

Outside the courtyard, we find Rafe and Michele already waiting for us with two SUVs. We all pile inside the vehicles, and they take us down the long driveway to the front gate.

My stomach is already in knots, but when I catch a glimpse of Damian, I feel like I want to throw up.

“You don’t have to do this,” Cristian murmurs in my ear.

“I know, but I want to.”

He nods and helps me from the car, threading his hand through mine as we approach the gates. As we get closer, the guards in the tower open them for us. We step outside, coming face-to-face with my father, Damian, Ares, and his brothers.

“So it’s true?” Damian snarls as soon as he sees me. “You’ve been here the whole time?”

I used to cower in his presence, but I want him to know I’m not that woman anymore.

“Yes,” I answer calmly. “I could have gone an entire lifetime without ever seeing your face again, but here we are.”

His gaze drifts from my hand clasped in Cristian’s to the one resting against my belly. I hadn’t even realized I was doing it, but it’s a natural instinct to protect my baby in the company of monsters.

“You traitorous fucking bitch.” Damian steps forward, and the guards above take aim at him with their weapons.

“Say one more word to her, and your brains will be splattered all over this pavement,” Cristian threatens.

“You’re coming home with us, Katarina,” my father decrees, as if there could be no other alternative to how this plays out.