Page 42 of New Orleans Collection

I clench my jaw to bite back my gooey emotions and roll my eyes at my friend. “It seems the hormones are already getting to you and making you soft.”

She barks out a laugh and shakes her head, the worry over me being chased away by the joy of her life now gone. As it should be. I hug her again and then let her go when Marco walks up behind her and wraps her up in his arms. I push the fragment of jealousy away and smile at my friend and the love she’s found. I wiggle my eyebrows at her which has her sticking her tongue out at me.

“We’ll have to go shopping soon. You’ll need to get a whole nursery together and there’s not much I like more than shopping,” I tease my best friend.

“Fuck, baby clothes are the cutest,” she gushes, and I nod enthusiastically.

She’s not wrong. I can admit, if only to myself, that I’ve looked at baby clothes and stuff before. They’re so small, it’s hard to believe they would fit on anyone, even a baby. I haven’t had the chance to spend a lot of time around babies or kids, but I’ve always wanted them. I’ve always wanted a family.

“Soon,” I promise her. “Just tell me when and you know I’ll be there.”

She surprises me with another quick hug even with Marco’s arms still wrapped around her. “I love you,” she whispers, and those fucking tears are threatening to make themselves known again.

When pulling away from her, her eyes are glassy, and I frown at her which has her bright laugh filling the space around us. I wink at her before I start to move away, knowing it won’t be the last time we’ll be celebrating the next addition to the Guidice family. Or is it the Falsini family? I guess it doesn’t really matter.

I slip away, just needing a little bit of space, needing a breath. I’m so fucking happy for my best friend, but there’s an ache in my chest I can’t ignore. I won’t be able to stay for much longer, but I won’t be the storm cloud over my friend’s night either. It feels like there’s something crawling underneath my skin—unresolved dreams and restless aspirations to have something more in my life.

I’m so in my head that I barely stop myself from screaming when someone grabs my shoulder and spins me around. I was so damn close to being out back where the cool night air could soothe some of the jagged pieces of me, but I’m looking up into the eyes of the Guidice brothers instead. None of them are wearing the same expression, which isn’t surprising considering they’re very different men.

Rocco looks pissed, which is nothing new. I swear he’s a powder keg about to erupt at any minute. Giovanni looks amused, curious and hungry. It’s a look I’ve seen on his face, but it’s never been directed at me before. I’m not sure I like it at all. Leonardo looks concerned. It’s like a knife to my heart because I have no doubt it stems from some feeling of obligation toward me which is the last thing I want.

“What was Viola talking about at dinner?” I arch an eyebrow at Rocco’s snarled words, and I swear jealousy flashes across his features even though it makes no damn sense. “Why would she mention you and Club Sin in the same sentence?”

I keep my face carefully blank. I was really hoping no one would notice her joking about not needing me to renew her Club Sin membership as a gift. Apparently, luck is not on my side. Giovanni was the only one who reacted, but then again, I was hoping a hole would open underneath me and swallow me whole and didn’t notice if anyone else heard.

“It’s really none of your business,” I hiss, hoping they don’t notice me blushing while my cheeks feel warmer. Now is not the time to blush like a fucking schoolgirl.

I own my own sexuality and have for a long time. I’m not going to be ashamed of it and I sure as hell don’t owe anything to the men in front of me, who are now wearing matching scowls like they rehearsed that shit. I look them over and feel my heart cracking.

Now they see me? Or do they think I’m ridiculous? Not that it matters.

“Why would you go to a place like that?” Leonardo looks pissed and his voice holds barely contained rage. Rage directed at me. But I see no jealousy.

He’s always been the one able to hold his emotions behind a mask almost as effectively as Dante. Because of that it’s never been easy to get a read on him.

I arch an eyebrow and square my shoulders while raising my chin. I repeat his words slowly, “A place like that?” Gio’s scowl cracks and I swear the corner of his mouth twitches like this is all fun for him. Well, good for him; it’s not fun for me. “What exactly does that mean?”

Rocco snarls, “A sex club.”

Gio’s voice layers over his brother’s when they speak at the same time, “A place to have fun.”

Leo, wisely, keeps his mouth shut. I’m not sure if it’s because he can read the retribution in my eyes or because he’s surprised that I’m pushing back against him, them. I don’t normally. It wasn’t worth it before, and it’s not like they really saw me for me and not the girl I was when Viola and I became friends, so what would the point be? Yes, I say that knowing full well that Rocco is younger than me, but he’s always seemed wise beyond his years.

I shake my head and take a deep breath before blowing it out slowly. “I will not be interrogated by the likes of you,” I give Gio a pointed look because he’s the playboy out of the three brothers and always has been. “What I do with my time is my business and my business alone. What I do with my body,” Rocco growls from the back of his throat and I have to lock my knees so I don’t melt into a puddle at his feet, “is my business. I am a grown fucking woman.”

All three men’s eyes slide down the length of my body in such a way that has goosebumps covering my skin and my pussy getting wet. I’ve always been attracted to them since I understood what it was to even feel attraction. I’ve always wanted them. They never looked at me the way they’re looking at me right now.

It scares me just as much as it excites me.

“What, exactly,” Leo’s voice is low and filled with seduction, “are you doing with your body, Fleur?”

“None of your business,” I swallow hard when my voice comes out breathy when I really wanted it to be firm.

Damn them for looking hot as possession flashes in their eyes like I’m not the same person they ignored for years.

“You aren’t going back there,” there’s a threat in Rocco’s words and I know I need to get the hell away from them before I do something stupid.

Like rip my clothes off and drop to my knees with my pussy on display for them.

---