Page 22 of Maddest Temptation

“So, you’re the brother I’ve heard so much about,” she said as a way of greeting.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and nodded. “Do I meet your expectations?”

She smiled, white teeth shining. This woman was so out of my brother’s league, it was going to be fun watching him grovel.

“I thought your entrance would have been more dramatic. Guns blazing, bullets ricocheting.” Vitelli’s hand on her waist clenched. Marie must have noticed she said something wrong because her smile faltered.

So, she knew about the family business.

“Sorry to disappoint,” I said lightly, even adding a tight smile. “Next time, I’ll think of something more entertaining. We can dim the lights and add some smoke, or is that too much?”

Both of them relaxed and Marie even managed to laugh a bit, I could be entertaining and sociable when I wanted, the thing was I almost never wanted to.

I wondered how much my brother had shared about the lives we lived. If she knew who these people in her house were and what they did for a living?

“Merde,” Marie cursed. “Would you excuse me for a second?” she asked and left before Vitelli had a chance to answer.

I watched as my brother followed her with his eyes, as she headed toward a group of girls that were trying to pop open a massive bottle of champagne that probably cost more than they earned in a year.

I wondered to myself who had invited that crowd. As I watched the flock of loud women, one of them caught my attention. Her blonde hair was loose and her dress so tight, I could see the outline of her underwear. I knew instantly that it wasn’t Francesca, but my stomach tightened either way. When she looked at me and smiled, I finally breathed.

It wasn’t her.

Taking my eyes off the blonde chick, I looked around the room. “So, Marie knows about us.”

“Her father is Remy Bousset,” Vitelli explained, catching me by surprise.

Remy was the Outfit’s supplier and one of the oldest in the business. Whatever I needed, the man could find. “When were you going to tell me?”

“When you actually gave a fuck.”

I cocked one brow at my brother’s attitude.

“Either way, she took her mother’s maiden name after some falling out with her father. Apparently, he threatened to disown his own son.”

Again, my curiosity pricked. “Why?”

Vitelli looked at his girlfriend—whatever she was—as though she could hear his words. “Because her brother prefers the company of men if you know what I mean.”

I nodded in understanding, even if I didn’t agree with Remy’s actions. The world we lived in was a harsh place and not everyone could survive.

“I haven’t told her anything else. She knows about me because she saw my gun, the actual weapon,” He smirked. “I would never betray?—”

I stopped him right there. “I know you won’t, I trust you, Vitelli.”

“Thank you.”

I placed a hand on my brother’s shoulders and warned him. “But—don’t ever make me doubt that trust. If she ever puts you or our safety in danger, I won’t think twice,”

Vitelli tensed under my heavy hand, and looked away and I followed his gaze, which landed on Marie. “She won’t,” he said with certainty and adoration.

I hoped he was right because if something ever happened, my brother would never be the one to take the brunt of the fall—she would. If I had to, I would kill her to protect Vitelli, no hesitation.

When Marie returned, she was pulled into Vitelli’s arms and chuckled when he whispered something in her ear. “Cassio,” she called swatting his brother away. “Vitelli tells me you’re single,”

I narrowed my eyes as I glared at my brother. I was and pretended to stay that way until the pressure of marriage and siring an heir grew too heavy for me to carry. “I have a friend I want you to meet, she should have been here by now, but she’s always running late.”

“I’m not?—”

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