Page 98 of Forever Mine

“The list keeps growing,” I giggle as I slide back into the passenger seat and pull up my panties and shorts.

“It’s going to sound so fucking alpha of me, but I love knowing we’re about to meet your mafia family with me leaking out of you,” Gabriel says with a wicked glint in his eyes. I snort.

“I can only assume they’ve all done the exact same thing with their women. Oh, gross. I just thought of my dad and mom …” I trail off as I shudder dramatically.

“Are your brothers married?”

“I actually don’t know. When I left, my brothers were in their twenties and sowing their wild oats. Giovanni is younger than me. He was only ten when I left. I guess I’m surprised they’re all still alive, but I haven’t really kept up with the news from that part of my life. I figured if they didn’t reach out to me, I didn’t need to know anything about them.”

“So, how old are they now?” Gabriel asks as he pulls the car back out onto the road.

It takes me some time to do the math. I hadn’t thought about my brothers in so long that I can’t even remember their ages correctly from when I left. “I think Alex is around forty-three, Marco is thirty-seven. Dante around thirty-nine, and Giovanni is around twenty-seven. I think.”

“Alex?”

“Oh. Yeah, Alessio. He’s always gone by Alex. Only one who calls him Alessio is our dad.”

“Do you have sisters, too?”

“Yeah, two sisters. Lucia is around forty-one, I think. And Isabella is thirty-one.”

“Jesus. I can’t even imagine how loud your house must have been.”

“You have no idea. With all the soldiers coming and going, plus my grandmother, then all the stupid parties we had to host. It was always loud and chaotic. It’s probably why I loved your cabin as much as I did. It’s the escape I always craved as a kid.”

We pull up to the restaurant and find a parking spot right in front. I’m disappointed. I had hoped we’d have to park a few blocks away, so I had more time to prepare myself mentally. The orgasm a few minutes ago only slightly took the edge off my anxiety.

“Breathe,querida,” Gabriel whispers as he reaches over to rub the back of my neck. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath and let out a long exhale. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. Okay?”

I turn to him and revel in the compassion and tenderness on his face. He’s looking at me like I’m his whole world. “I love you, Gabriel.”

He grins. “Love you too, Monica. Let’s go inside and get this over with.”

I take a moment to breathe, giving Gabriel enough time to trot around the car and open my door for me. Extending his hand, he helps me out of the car. He’s so gallant. So romantic. No wonder I’ve never been even remotely interested in a relationship before now. The dating pool is slim pickings. And now that I know men like Gabriel exist, no way would some asshat who only talks via Snapchat and has a credit score of six hundred ever satisfy me. I won the fucking dating lottery with this man.

With Gabriel’s hand on my lower back, we walk into the restaurant as a unified team. I immediately see my father and brothers in the back of the restaurant. As we approach them, Giovanni stands and sweeps me into a big bear hug.

“I’ve missed you, sis,” he whispers before setting me down. I don’t respond but squeeze his forearms. I’m apprehensive about anything I say being used against me.

“I can’t believe how big you are,” I say incredulously. Gio was only ten when I left. To see him as a full-grown man is mind-boggling.

“I’d say the same thing, but I’m pretty sure you never even hit puberty,” he teases. I’ve always been the smallest in the family. My mama was average height, and I guess my dad was as well. All my brothers are tall, though. I look like a shrimp next to them.

Marco and Dante each give me hesitant hugs. Alex and my father stand still, staring at me. Gabriel gathers me into his arms. My father clears his throat. “Thank you for meeting us, Monica.”

I don’t respond.

I don’t even know what to say. Thanks for letting me leave? Not saving me when I scrounged for every penny when Nana needed chemo? Not stepping in when things went south with Marcus? Making sure my siblings didn’t contact me? The longer I stand here, the more fury bubbles to the surface.

“Breathe, querida,” Gabriel whispers.

“No,” I hiss. His eyes widen in surprise. “No! I’m not going to remain calm. My life has been a complete shit show, and apparently, he’s known about it the whole fucking time. I’m furious. How dare you, Dad! How dare you act like any of this can be settled with a quick explanation. Your motherdied, and you did nothing. I dealt with it all by myself. I was completely alone.”

“That’s not entirely true. Please, sit down. Let’s order, and then we can get into details,” my father tells me as he motions toward the large table. I’m forced to unclench my fists and notice the pain of my nails digging into my palms. After sitting for a moment, my dad looks up at me. “Monica. Please. Just order some food.”

“I will,” I answer. He cocks an eyebrow at me. “This is one of my favorite restaurants, Dad. I know what I want. I don’t need to look at the menu.”

I see a quick sliver of pride cross his eyes before he shutters his expression, and his lips twitch as he tries not to smile. I turn to Gabriel. “Do you trust me to order for you as well? I know what you’ll like from here.”

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