Bound By Blood: His Unwanted Contract Bride

Bernardo walked toward them. His stride was long, purposeful, eating up the distance between them. He stopped a foot away from Darleen.

He was huge. She had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. The scent of his cologne-sandalwood and something darker-washed over her.

His eyes traveled down her face, cold and assessing. He looked at her like she was a bug on his shoe.

"So," Bernardo said, his voice a low, rough rumble. "You're the woman who thinks I owe her a wedding."

Darleen didn't step back. She met his stare head-on, her chin lifted.

"Your grandfather seemed to think so," she replied.

Bernardo let out a humorless laugh. His gaze shifted from her face to the children standing beside her.

He looked at Julian. The boy stared back, his expression blank. Bernardo's eyes narrowed. He saw the dark hair, the sharp jawline. It was like looking into a mirror from twenty years ago.

A muscle jumped in Bernardo's jaw. He looked away, breaking the connection.

"Inside," Thurston barked from the porch. "We didn't fly across the country to stand in the heat."

Bernardo turned and walked inside. Darleen followed, holding the kids' hands.

The living room was massive. White couches, white rugs, glass tables. A team of people in lab coats stood near the dining table, a metal case open on the surface. Two lawyers in dark suits stood behind them, their faces blank.

Bernardo sat on a white leather chair, crossing one ankle over his knee. He looked completely in control.

"Do it," he ordered, waving a hand at the doctors. "Get it over with."

A doctor in a white coat stepped forward, pulling out a small tray of needles and vials. He smiled at Julian and Aria.

"Hi there," the doctor said. "I just need to take a little bit of blood from your arm."

Aria saw the needle. Her eyes went wide. She let out a shriek and dove behind Darleen's legs, burying her face in the green velvet.

Darleen moved instantly. She stepped in front of the children, her body a shield between them and the doctors.

"You're scaring them," she said, her voice sharp.

Bernardo sighed, rolling his eyes. "It's a needle, not a guillotine. Stop coddling them."

"You don't get to tell me how to raise my children," Darleen shot back. "They are not lab rats. You want blood? You wait until I say it's okay."

Bernardo leaned forward, his eyes flashing with irritation. "I don't have time for your maternal theatrics."

"Then make time," Darleen said.

She turned around and knelt in front of Aria. She cupped her daughter's face, wiping away a tear with her thumb.

"It's just a tiny pinch, baby," Darleen murmured. "Like a mosquito bite. You have to be brave for Mommy, okay?"

Aria sniffled, nodding slowly.

Julian stepped up. He pulled up his sleeve without a word. He stuck his arm out toward the doctor, his face stoic.

"Make it quick," Julian said.

The doctor blinked, surprised by the boy's intensity. He swabbed Julian's arm and inserted the needle. Julian didn't even flinch. He just stared at Bernardo the whole time.

Aria was next. She squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered, but she held still. Darleen kissed the top of her head.

When it was over, Bernardo stood up. He walked over to the table, rolled up his own sleeve, and sat down.

"Take mine," he told the doctor.

The doctor quickly drew a vial of dark red blood from Bernardo's arm. Bernardo didn't watch. His eyes were fixed on Darleen.

She was holding Aria, kissing her cheek. The light from the window caught the side of her face.

Bernardo's breath caught. A flash of memory-soft skin under his mouth, the taste of salt and tears. He blinked, and the image was gone.

Thurston cleared his throat. "The results will take twenty-four hours. Darleen and the children will stay in the guest wing."

"Like hell they will," Bernardo said, standing up. "This is my house. They can wait in a hotel."

"Then I'm leaving," Darleen said, her voice flat. "And you can wait for the results by yourself."

She turned and headed for the door.

"Wait," Bernardo said.

The word was sharp, commanding. Darleen stopped. She didn't turn around. She waited, her back straight, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.