Page 86 of Her Wicked Men

“This little old lady couldn’t have been any taller than 5’2, and yet she was ripping into me for not eating it correctly, telling me I was putting my ancestors to shame, that they’d be rolling in their graves,” he said, having been telling me about an incident with a free meal when he decided to explore the town his father had been born in. “She let me off the hook when I told her I’d never mess it up again, but damn, old Italian ladies have sass,” he laughed, and I giggled along with him, loving how adamantly he spoke of his trips.

“You guys have a moment?” Kieran asked, having appeared from the staircase.

“What’s up?” Zane closed the dishwasher and looked up in his direction.

“I’ve finished it. I want to get your thoughts,” Kieran said, grinning down at me like I was the only one whose opinion mattered anyway.

“Of course.” I slid out of my seat, Enzo rising with me and slipping his hand into mine as we all headed upstairs.

Kieran led the way with eager strides, and I couldn’t keep from grinning. Whatever he’d been working on, he was excited about. I loved seeing this more free-living version of him, likeI was glimpsing the real him beneath the one warped by this world they lived in. He’d hidden the painting from me for the past few days, not allowing me to see it.

“Took you long enough,” Zane muttered behind us, and Kieran shot him a dark look over his shoulder.

When we stepped into the room, my breath caught, and Enzo’s hand squeezed mine as I stared in awe.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathed as I walked in. Kieran grinned at me as his eyes glittered in delight.

“Enzo’s new pet name sparked the idea. I thought it was fitting,” he said as he walked over to me.

Enzo released my hand as Kieran moved to stand behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder as I took in the detailing.

The large canvas was a portrait of me, well, half of me, my hair flickering across my face, and such raw emotion carefully painted into my eye. I seemed to be almost smirking, a look of defiance on the half of my face showing. As for the other half, it was the gorgeous face of a gray wolf, the deep green eyes matching on both sides, like we were the one being.

The sheer details he’d put into it, from the few freckles on the top of my nose to the strands of hair blowing across my face, it was stunning to say the least.

“Well, you’ve outdone yourself,” Zane rumbled as Enzo stepped forward to get a closer look.

“We need to hang this where everyone can see it,” Enzo stated. “Show off ourpiccolo lupo,and Kieran’s insane artistic talent.”

Kieran kissed my neck softly before swaying us both gently.

“Do you like it?” he whispered, and I just nodded.

“I love it.”

His arms tightened around my waist, and I grinned as I turned to kiss his cheek.

“We’ll hang it in the living area once it dries, showcase it,” Zane stated as he slapped Kieran’s shoulder. “Good work.”

“Better than good,” Enzo scoffed.

My smile faltered as an uneasiness set in, my stomach churning.

I pulled away from Kieran, grimacing as the queasiness rose up.

“Sorry, I’m not—” I shut my mouth as the sickness hit, and I ran from the room, scrambling for the nearest bedroom with an ensuite. They all had one, thankfully.

I tore through Zane’s room, hurling the bathroom door open and collapsing to my knees before the toilet as the delicious gnocchi decided to make a reappearance.

“Fuck, Vee, you okay?” Kieran was hot on my heels, bending down to pull my hair from my face as my dinner filled the toilet bowl.

“Maybe those supermarket ingredients were bad?” Zane muttered behind me.

“Do you feel sick?” Enzo shot back, and I could only assume Zane shook his head. “I don’t think it’s the food. Maybe she’s sick.”

I leaned over the bowl, drawing in ragged breaths as my guts churned, my body now trembling from the upheaval. I’d been feeling off for the past week, but I’d not said a word about it, not wanting to worry them now that things had settled and were going well.

Zane kneeled down beside me, offering me pieces of toilet paper to clean my mouth. I glanced at him, those icy eyes concerned as he searched my face.

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