Page 19 of A Valentino Princess

“If he makes it through this, don’t hurt him. It was my fault. I seduced him.”

“I don’t want to know.” Neo runs a hand down his face as he forces out an exaggerated sigh. “I wouldn’t ever do anything that would hurt you, Helena.”

“Thank you.” My arms tighten around his waist as I press my face closer to his chest.

“I’d do anything for you. You know that,” Neo says, kissing the top of my head.

“I know…” That’s something I really do know. I believe my brother would do his very best to move mountains for me if he could.

“He’s awake and asking for a Helena?”

I turn my head to see a doctor looking at our group. “That’s me!” I call out to him.

“You can come back. Just for a few minutes. He’s in recovery but very insistent on seeing you.”

“Okay. Thank you.” My voice is hoarse and my throat is dry.

When I walk into the recovery room, I see Marco laid out on the bed, attached to a bunch of machines with wires going in every direction. His eyes connect with mine. “You didn’t think you were getting out of our date that easily, did you?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I sit beside him on the bed. My fingers entwine with his. “I was so scared.”

“Me too. Don’t ever do anything that stupid again,” he tells me. “What made you run off alone anyway?”

“He threatened to tell Neo about us. He had a photo. I didn’t want anything to happen to you,” I admit. “It was stupid. I shouldn’t have gone alone.”

“It was. But your brother already knew about us. I told him last night,” Marco says.

“You did? Why?”

“Because you are not the kind of girl you sneak around with.” He shrugs.

“Yeah? And what kind of girl am I?” I ask him.

“The kind you show off to the world with pride. So that when people look at her, they know she’s yours,” Marco tells me.

“I’m yours? I don’t believe you asked me to beyours.” I smile at him.

“I didn’t,” he says. “I decided it. I’ll stop at nothing until you get onboard with the program, though.”

“I’m onboard.” I lean forward and gently press my lips to his. But that’s not good enough for Marco. He grabs the back of my head and groans into my mouth as he deepens the kiss. “But only if you get to be mine too,” I tell him.

“Deal.”