Page 79 of Hidden Empire

Also, Daddy, is it okay if Matteo gives me a little gummy? I’m okay, really, but my knuckle is bruised, and it hurts a bit.

I have to suck in my cheeks to hide a laugh. Giving him a look of approval is all he needs to send that through as well. Daddy was a little bit of an overkill, but it does tend to soften him up. The first time I ever called him that, I was crying through a nightmare, and he was the one to wake me up.

It was obvious that it meant a lot for him to be able to comfort me, and he held me through the disorientation until I was able to fall back asleep. Since then, I’ve used it a few times, usually when telling him I love him. I never got to call him that growing up, so it feels like my right to make up for lost time.

It’s not even thirty seconds later before my emailer buzzes again.

Dad

As long as he’s with you the whole time and you feel okay taking one, it’s alright with me. I’ve got a busy night tonight, so I have to go, but we’ll talk soon, okay? Stay safe, sweetheart. We all love you.

“Score,” Matteo cheers. Sending back a quick ‘I love you too’ message for me before tossing the device aside.

He moves to his small wooden side table, rummaging through the top drawer.

“Matteo,” Armani scolds, huffing at him.

“Dad says edibles are a go. You’ve been overruled.”

“One,” Armani relents. “You can give her one, and you can’t have any while you’re taking care of her.”

“Am I some kind of amateur to you?” Matteo asks, clearly offended. “I’m not going to get high with her. I’m giving her medicine.”

“Medicine that will make her high,” Armani points out.

“That’s the whole medicine part,” Matteo argues, snorting. “You can’t cure a bruise, but you can make it so you can’t feel it anymore.”

“If it really worries you, I don’t have to have one,” I tell Armani, genuinely meaning it. I know what being anxious is like, and if my having an edible while we’re here really freaks him out, I won’t.

“Nooo,” Matteo groans. “Don’t feed his need to control everything.”

“It’s fine,” Armani grunts, surprising the shit out of Matteo. He looks straight up gobsmacked at our brother.

“Jade, quick, open your mouth and take this before he changes his mind,” he urges, putting a blue gelatin bear to my lips. “I’ll check that he hasn’t been replaced with an alien impersonation after.”

“How—”

The taste of blue raspberry invades my mouth before I can get my question out. I roll my eyes at both of my brothers before chewing and swallowing the little treat.

“I was going to ask, how do you check if someone is an alien exactly?”

“Easily.” Matteo shrugs, approaching Armani. “Come here, and let me try and rip off your face.”

“Touch my face, and I’ll punch you in yours.”

“Well, that’s fucking rude.”

“And trying to rip off my face wouldn’t be?”

“I’m trying to save your life!”

“Can you both shut the fuck up?” Nico complains, slamming his pillow over his head.

“Have you been trying to sleep this whole time?” I ask, wincing. “I’m sorry, I thought you were reading.”

Nico’s bed is in the furthest corner of the room because he needs more alone time than Matteo or Remo. He likes his space, and I try to give it to him as much as I can.

“Not your fault,” he mumbles. “You’re not one of the loud ones.”

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