Page 266 of Breaking Rosalind

“Is he angry?”

“Of course not.” I cup her cheeks. “Cesare already sees you as a little sister.”

“Are you sure?” she asks in a small voice.

A knock sounds on the door.

“Why don’t you ask him for yourself?”

ONE HUNDRED SIX

CESARE

I charge down the hall and up the stairs, skidding past shrieking staff. Sofia stands at my bedroom door, looking like she’s speaking to someone inside.

Please let it be Rosalind.

I stumble to a halt, panting like a dog, fighting the urge to shove Sofia inside and barrel into the room. She steps away from the door, staring at me with her brows raised.

“Miranda wanted some of the pastries she had last time,” Sofia says. “I’m trying to work out which ones you gave her. She only remembers that they were crumbly.”

My breath catches, and my legs nearly buckle with relief. They’re still here? The darkest part of me thought Rosalind would take my absence as her chance to escape.

“It was something I took from the pantry,” I mutter.

“Why don’t I take her downstairs and she can choose what she wants for breakfast?” Sofa says with a smile.

“Thank you,” I rasp.

Sofia pulls me into a hug. “I heard what you did last night. Thank you.”

I hug back. “He took things too far when he went after you, but Tommy is still alive. I won’t stop until the last of the assholes who broke up our family are dead.”

“Let me take your sister downstairs for a few hours, to give you two time to talk,” she says, her eyes bright.

My brows rise. Sofia knows everything that happens in this household.

Miranda shuffles out through the door with her shoulders hunched, her tiny frame swimming in my black silk pajamas. I’ve never seen her look so guarded. Not even on the day I abducted her from outside her academy.

“Hey,” she says, her voice soft.

“Morning, love,” I say with a smile.

She lowers her lashes. “Rosa told me.”

I step forward, closing the distance until we’re only a few feet apart. “Told you what?”

“Everything,” she whispers, her head bowing.

My gaze darts toward the door, and it takes a millisecond for me to register what she’s saying. Reaching for her narrow shoulders, I lean in close.

“Everything?”

She nods. “That man from last night was your dad… And mine.”

I swallow hard, my chest tightening. “That’s right, love. We’re siblings.”

She tilts up her head and stares up at me through teary eyes. “You’re not mad?”