Page 39 of Heartless Union

“Well, I want to do something rebellious. Want to go to a club?”

I stare at her for a moment. “Are you joking?”

“No.” Gabriella opens her eyes wide. She’s very good a pretending to be innocent. “It would be fun. And it doesn’t even sound like you’re having fun with Rocco.” She scrunches up her nose. “I don’t know why I just said that. I don’t want to imagine anyone having ‘fun’ with my brother.” She grabs my hand. “We’re friends now. Let’s go have some fun.”

“Gabriella,” Rocco says as he enters the room. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I came to visit Lara, not you.”

It’s obvious by how he stifles his sigh he’s annoyed with his sister. “It’s not safe for you to be traveling by yourself outside. If you want to come over, you need to bring a guard.”

“Guard, shmard. I can go where I want, when I want. You’re not the boss of me, Rocco. And you’re not the boss of Lara, either. In fact, we’re going out.”

Rocco’s eyes flash with anger. “Like hell you are. Both of you are staying here. Lara and I have talked about this. She understands.” He looks over at me. “Don’t you?”

I duck my head. “I do.”

Gabriella snorts. “Well, I’m not so submissive. I’m going out,” she says, standing up. “And you can’t stop me.”

Rocco grabs her arm and tuns her back to the couch. “You’re staying here.”

“You know, it was Lara who told me about Dante and Carlo.” She places her hands on her hips. “You didn’t say a word to me.”

He looks at me like I’m to blame before turning back to Gabriella. “That’s because I didn’t want you to worry. And I was going to tell you soon enough.”

“I’m a part of this family, too, you know. You need to include me in these discussions.”

“I just found out yesterday,” he says.

“But Massimo and Emilio already know, don’t they?”

Rocco doesn’t answer. She nods while giving me a pointed Told you so look. “See, Lara? We’re just the women. Not privy to important information. Because I’m not important enough to be told everything, then I’m not important enough for you to care about. So, I’m heading out to have some fun. Lara, want to come?”

“She’s staying here,” Rocco growls.

I want to obey my husband. I made my promises, not just to him but to my dad. But all I want to do is leave, even though it would be a stupid idea.

Rocco is my husband, and I have to make this marriage work. Not just for myself but for my father’s happiness.

“Sorry,” I say to Gabriella. “I can’t.”

“I get it,” she says. “My brother is a tough person to defy.” With a large eye roll, she sits back down. “Fine. I’ll stay here, too. You need a friend right now.”

Her words bring tears to my eyes. After what happened with Ashley, it feels good to have a friend be there for me rather than ridicule me.

Rocco looks appeased and, with a satisfied nod, leaves the room.

“That’s my brother for you. Walks into a room, makes everything about himself, then leaves when he wants to with no care about how you feel.”

“We can have a sleepover,” I suggest.

“What? Like we’re sixteen again?”

I shrug.

A smile forms on Gabriella’s lips. “Sounds like a plan to me. I’m in need of some girl time.”

“So, you’ve never kissed anyone before my brother?”

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