Page 155 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

She didn’t want to hurt her baby.

Emma’s vision swam the longer Affonso choked her. Shestruggled silently to figure out a way to save herself and her child.

Would the truth do it?

Would he let her live for the truth?

“Tell me who the father is so I can kill him,” Affonsosaid.

Emma swallowed convulsively

She knew he wouldn’t if he knew.

He adored Calisto.

He loved him.

Affonso would never hurt Calisto. He just got himback—the Calisto that didn’t know of Affonso’s awful deeds, and the secrets hehid. The Calisto that loved him like the father Affonso had always wanted to befor him.

“The baby is a boy,” Emma forced out.

Affonso’s hand briefly loosened just enough to let herget a gulp of stinging air. “Say that again?”

“A boy. The child is a boy. The results from my testcame back today. That’s where I was. Genetics show it’s a boy.”

“A bastard,” Affonso snarled. “Someone’s boy born to awhore.”

“Calisto’s boy,” she breathed.

It was the last bit of air Emma had.

Affonso turned into a stone, and his hand pressedharder into her throat. “What did you just say?”

“The child—it’s Calisto’s baby, Affonso. His boy.”

Suddenly, Emma found herself on the floor with Affonsostanding over her. She clutched at her throat, taking in deep breath after deepbreath. Each one hurt a little more than the last.

“Liar,” Affonso whispered.

Emma blinked up at him, tears welling in her eyes andfalling. “I’m not, Affonso. Calisto is the father. You can have the results ofthe amnio tested against the results of our child. The relation is there. He’sCalisto’s boy.”

Affonso roared at her, swiping his hand at her faceagain. Emma barely dodged the slap.

“Please don’t hurt me—don’t hurt this baby,” shecried.

Anything …

She would say anything to save her child.

He stopped.

Froze.

Pain filled Affonso’s features as he looked her over,and took a couple of steps backward.

“His baby,” Affonso murmured.

“His boy,” Emma corrected gently.