Page 122 of Ruthless Guardian

“Well, I’m happy for them and for what it’s worth, I think he’s a good guy.” He shrugs and sits back on the couch, folding one long leg over the other. “Probably better than most of us.”

Now, it’s my turn to laugh. A cackle bursts free, and I toss my head back, laughing so hard my cheeks burn. When the fit finally passes, I finish off my champagne, cooling my parched throat.

“I just hope he’s good enough for her,” Matty adds.

“I’m sure Uncle Luca will see to that.”

“Without a doubt.” He clinks his glass to mine, and we sip in perfect unison, pinkies held high like we did when we were kids playing tea party. “So are you seeing anyone in Milano?”

“I’m seeing plenty, Matty. I see nothing but gorgeous Italian men everywhere I look.”

He chuckles. “Oh, Sere, you’re going to be responsible for the downfall of the most industrious city in Italy.”

“But the collapse will be ever so worth it.”

My phone vibrates my clutch which is pressed to my leg, distracting me from thoughts of hot Italian men to… hot New Yorkers. I pull out my cell to find a dozen guys who swiped right on my photo. Looks like Bella won’t be the only one gettinglaid tonight. I must have been smiling because Matty snaps his fingers an inch from my nose, grinning.

“Another night of Tinder?”

“Don’t judge, jet lag makes me horny.”

“Does anything not make you horny, cuz?”

Ignoring him, I flag down a passing waiter in a tux, reaching for two more champagne flutes. I hold onto one and offer the other to my cousin. He’s been oddly quiet tonight. Maybe I’m not the only one a tiny bit uncertain about our future now that our baby cousin has a boyfriend. It’s been the five of us, our cousin crew for as long as I can remember. None of us have ever had a serious relationship, and with us all in our mid-twenties, that says something about how screwed up we all are, in one way or another.

The craziest part is how happy our parents are. Sure, some of them may have had screwed up starts, but there is no question in my mind that my dad would do anything for my mom and that goes both ways. The same is true for all the Valentinos and Rossi couples. I mull over the random thought as I continue to sip on the fizzy bubbles.

“What about you? Are you seeing anyone?”

He shakes his head. “How can I with my two favorite wingwomen out of town?”

“What about Ale and Alessia?”

Matty shrugs before finishing off his champagne. “You know what it’s like going out with the two of them, they’re constantly at each other’s throats?—”

“Like a typical old married couple.”

“Yeah, exactly. It’s even worse when it’s just the three of us. I’ve even tried getting Jackson to come out now that he’s turned twenty-one, but he hates all the crowds.”

“Wow, resorting to your anti-social little brother? Sounds like you’re screwed.” I bump my glass to his with a smirk.

“Here they come…” Matty whispers, jerking my attention to our quickly approaching cousins.

The twins are bickering about something as usual, Alessia twirling long strands of her bleach-blonde hair around her manicured finger. She sinks down beside me with a grumble. “Shouldn’t Bella be paying more attention to us than him? We’re the ones she hasn’t seen for months…”

“Dio, Alessia, not everything in this world revolves around you,” her brother snaps before folding down onto the couch beside us. He cradles his whiskey and coke in his palm, taking a measured sip which draws my attention to his upper lip.

“Is that a scar?” I scoot forward on the cushion and reach for his mouth, but he bats my hand away.

“He claims the ladies love it,” Matty singsongs.

“Shut the fuck up.” Alessandro scowls into the tumbler.

“How’d you get it?”

“It was from that night at The Velvet Vault all those months ago…” His words fall away, and I don’t blame him. Uncle Marco had been livid and threatened to take the club away from him if he couldn’t handle it himself. The Vault is Ale’s pride and joy and seeing it destroyed like that turned my already moody cousin into a full-on recluse for a few months, according to Alessia.

“So when’s the grand re-opening?” I opt to lighten the mood.

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