Page 53 of Protected By the Mafia

Her dilemma was Tristán’s fault. Tristán had only had the resources for that—had only managed to indirectly put Felicity in this position—because the last motherfucking Coughlan had barreled back into their lives. So, really, she was a victim of the same scum of the earth that the rest of them were. He would explain all of that, and Dante would understand. He hoped.

The door opened again a couple of minutes later and Dante led the way inside, Romeo on his heels. Iris was nowhere in sight.

Cristiano arched a brow as he straightened. “No Iris?” He was surprised. Dante had specifically asked about bringing her.

Dante inclined his head. “She offered to babysit and give Mother a break.”

“It is past Mom’s usual babysitting hours,” Romeo added.

“Pretty sure it’s also past Lucy’s usual bedtime,” Cristiano said. He watched the pair move around the table, toward the seats they typically preferred.

Romeo shrugged. “I told her she could stay up an extra hour, if she was good to Aunt Iris. It’s good bonding time.”

“Iris is looking forward to it,” Dante said.

Mikey stepped in, shutting the door behind him. “Just the four of us?”

Cristiano caught himself before he narrowed his eyes at his youngest cousin.

Dante sighed quietly. “Iris is babysitting. If we’re all here, let’s get started.” He motioned to the table, then took his seat. Cristiano, Romeo, and Mikey followed suit. Mikey set his tablet on the table in front of him, as per usual. Dante’s gaze darted briefly between his brothers before settling on Cristiano. “You’re the one who called this meeting, Cris. What’s so important?”

Romeo leaned back in his seat, smirking. “I’m honestly more curious about your lady friend. Can we talk about that, too? Is it serious?”

Both of Cristiano’s brows shot up his forehead before he could stop them.

A grin teased Dante’s lips for just a second. “Iris said you mentioned a woman.”

Mikey looked over. He didn’t say a word, just stared pointedly. Expectantly.

Cristiano mulled it over for a beat. He’d intended to talk about Coughlan first, but an opening was an opening he supposed. So he let out a careful breath. “There are multiple things I need to tell you,” he said. He stood. “The first is that I’m sorry. You might be angry, and that was never my intention, but I need you to understand that this is my decision. She’s not ‘my lady friend.’ She’s my fiancée, and I’d like to introduce you, if you can at least give me your word you won’t shoot first.”

Mikey dropped his head into his hand as if he were surprised.

Romeo sat forward; eyes wide. “Fianc—”

Dante chuckled, blue eyes dancing with amusement. “Is she here? In the other room?”

“Seriously?” Mikey mumbled.

Cristiano inclined his head.

Dante leaned back, settled his hands in his lap, and raised his voice. “Come join us, Ms. Garcia. We can’t get to know you if my cousin keeps hiding you away.”

seventeen

New Brothers

Felicity about jumped out of her skin when a voice that was most definitely not Cristiano’s called her name, encouraging her to step into the main conference room. She’d heard every word, of course, because there was no real ambient noise to obscure their conversation and the men hadn’t been whispering. Her heartrate accelerated and she swallowed hard. It was time to meet her future in-laws.

She smoothed her hands down her skirt one more time, doing her best to imagine her nerves vanishing like the nonexistent wrinkles in the probably way overpriced dinner dress she’d chosen to wear for the occasion. Her earlier choice of a maxi had been very comfortable for lounging, but was much too casual for meeting men like Dante the freaking Dragon De Salvo. Not that she was entirely sure what a woman was supposed to wear for being introduced to her fiancé’s family, who just so happened to have recently put a bounty on her head.

Cristiano met her just past the single-wide doorway, his hand already extended in waiting. She knew what he wanted. It was the reason he’d waited until the after-dinner hour to meet with his family in the first place. So she placed her left hand over his palm, letting her fingers curl enough the beautiful and freshly polished diamond would surely catch the overhead light. He’d said his family would understand if they saw her with the ring, and he didn’t want to take the risk that they wouldn’t.

Having Cristiano at her side helped Felicity to keep breathing when she found herself standing only feet away from three men she knew only by reputation and, in one case, the occasional magazine cover. It was daunting.

The one she presumed to be the middle brother, Romeo, was the closest. He was leaning forward in his seat, dark blue eyes that weren’t too different from Cristiano’s only slightly wider than his mouth as he gaped openly. He had the bushiest hair of the three, though it was by no means unkempt, and from what Felicity could tell he had a strong build.

Directly across the table from him, and furthest from her, was the youngest brother. The one who already knew about her. He was watching with narrowed eyes that looked to be a brighter blue, had a head of well-trimmed, darker brown hair, and cut a leaner profile than the rest. That did add up to Cristiano’s description of him preferring to spend his time behind a computer.

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