I have to sell this. I drop my hands from my head and saunter over to Liam’s side. I wrap my arms around him, and his scent overwhelms me.

He smells nice.

But I prefer cedar to leather.

“Liam makes a very persuasive argument,” I say in my lowest, huskiest voice.

I can’t look at Sal.

If I look at him, I’m going to fucking lose it, and everything is going to hell.

Underneath my hands, Liam tenses. I can tell that he’s surprised by my actions.

Good.

I gently lower his weapon, then slide my hand into his free one. “I guess that you didn’t send Elio the good news yet, babe,” I smirk.

Liam shakes his head. “No, love. I haven’t shared a thing.”

I can practically feel Sal’s anger. I can’t pay attention to that.

Instead, I focus on Liam.

“You know, with news like this, I think it’s probably better to deliver a message in person, right? More convincing than an email. More authentic. And I think that Elio did us a nice favor. He gave us the perfect two people to send back to him.”

I can’t look at Sal. I can’t.

“What are you thinking, Gia darling?” Liam rumbles.

I smile. I lean in and plant a kiss on his cheek. Stassi sucks in a huge breath, and I know that if I glance at Sal, I’m going to collapse.

“I’m thinking that we send them back, hale and hearty to share the good news.”

“And what good news is that?”

I shut my eyes.

I smile.

“Liam and I are getting married,” I say.

Inside of me, something breaks.

I’m never going to be the same.

Nothing is ever going to be the same.

All because of one stupid sentence.

28

SAL

Liam and I are getting married.

Gia’s words rattle around in my mind. I think everyone around us has gone kind of quiet, and they’re just staring at me.

Or I’m just hearing the echoes of what she said and everything else is quiet.