Bound by Love novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Test Me

Twenty men stared at me, and the only sound in the room was my own heartbeat.

Fabiano was still smiling.

"Congratulations," he said. "I'm told it's your doctor's news. I'm told it's five weeks old."

My father shut his eyes.

Adriano's hand left mine.

It did not drop it, it simply let go, and the loss of it was a physical cold.

"Who told you?" Adriano asked.

"A little bird," Fabiano said.

"But what a strange thing, for a man who can't. Is it a miracle, Adriano?"

"Or is your wife more generous than you thought?"

Someone at the table swore under his breath.

I stood up.

My chair scraped, and every head turned.

"The child is my husband's," I said.

My voice shook once, and then it didn't.

"I have slept with one man in my whole life, and I married him in front of both of your families."

"If any man in this room wants to call me a liar, say it to my face."

Nobody did.

Fabiano shrugged.

"Words," he said. "You'll forgive us if we want proof."

"Get out of my house," Adriano said.

His voice was calm, and it was the most frightening thing I had heard in two days.

"Get out, and take your forty men off my road."

"Adriano..." my father began.

"Benedetto, I have respected you. I'll give you till noon to leave Cleveland."

He turned his head slowly toward Fabiano.

"If I see him after that, I will not ask anyone's permission."

My father stood, small and gray, and offered me one long look.

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