Page 85 of Dark Truths

Enzo, on the other hand, is sitting on the other side of Raphael and Lily with the largest smirk and most amused look on his face. Like he’s here just to enjoy the show.

Minus the children, Uncle Leo is the only one missing. After his son’s death was avenged by Raphael’s hand, he departed for Italy, unable to stay in the city that took his son from him. I don’t blame him. I just hope he finds peace in the countryside among the rolling hills of our ancestral home.?

Michael’s eyes zero in on Dimitri and I’s joined hands. His gaze darkens, and he actually lifts his lip and growls. Rose notices and immediately runs her hand up and down his thigh in a soothing manner.

“Michael,” she coos. “We talked about this.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to enjoy seeing them holding fucking hands,” he grumbles back.

“Then look elsewhere,” I suggest, not caring a single bit about how much of an ass my brother’s being right off the bat. If this is how he’s going to act over us holding hands, I can only imagine the shit that’s going to hit the fan when they find out about the babies and our little trip to the courthouse.

“Enough you two,” Dad orders loudly, and his words are like ice water being thrown on two cats in the middle of a fight. He stands behind Mom, who took a seat beside Raphael and Lily on the couch. Dad reaches down, placing a single hand on her shoulder and Mom reaches up to hold it when he does.

I tug Dimitri to the only free space left in the living room, which is another oversize chair, and sit. He keeps hold of my hand, pulling it to his lap and covering it with his other, as ifafraid I’m going to let go. A ridiculous notion. I need his touch as much as he needs mine right now.

“Now,” Dad starts, giving us both a one over. “Start from the beginning.”

“I was out one night celebrating with some friends, and we went to thePlayground—”

“You went fucking where?” Micheal barks.

Before Dad can tell his oldest to shut up, Rose does it for him. “Michael, stop interrupting and let them explain.”

My brother mumbles under his breath but listens, albeit still tense and silently fuming.

“Some guy was being obnoxious, and Dimitri stepped in when the guy wouldn’t stop. After that, we struck up a friendship of sorts that grew into something more. We knew how upset everyone would be about us being together, so we tried to fight it, but ultimately couldn’t in the end.”

“What about when I saw you getting your dick sucked by some girl atSinners?” Michael asks with a raised brow and a gleam in his eye like he’s won or something.

Little does he know…

“Oh, you mean me?” I ask, returning my brother’s sarcasm with my own.

“She was blonde.”

“I was wearing a wig,” I snap back. “I was feeling a little daring that night. Going toSinnerswas a risk, but well worth it.”

The look on Michael’s face can only be described as someone who just smelled something foul.

“There were a few months where we were not together,” Dimitri says once Michael stays quiet. I meet his eyes and see the question circling in those blue depths.We both agreed, this was my part of the story to tell.

“It was after I suffered a miscarriage in July,” I announce to the room, even as I keep my eyes on Dimitri. His gaze softens from the lingering pain we share.

The room explodes in a chorus of shouts as the first big news of the day is received. Beside me, Dimitri tenses like he’s fighting the urge to jump up and argue our defense against their barrage of questions.

“Did you know about this?” I hear Dad ask Mom and the room quiets at his deep voice. She responds with a sorrowful expression and a solemn nod. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I asked her not to,” I answer for her. “I didn’t even know I was pregnant until it was too late, and I decided not to tell anyone because there was no reason to.”

Dad meets my eyes and for a quick, fleeting second, I see a deep, raw pain in his expression, like he's grieving for his little girl, but then it's gone, replaced by a mask of indifference when he looks to Dimitri. “So, when did this start back up again?”

“After you saved Gabriella and I?” Enzo guesses.

“Yes.”

“Thanks for that, by the way,” Enzo says, shifting in his seat like saying thank you makes him uncomfortable. “If I haven’t said it before.”

Dimitri nods. “Of course.”

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