Page 37 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

“I’m taking your car, Ria.”

He didn’t have time to go look for his own keys in the shed. All three of his brothers followed, piling into the car with him. He glanced at them as he gunned the engine.

“We’re coming, too,” Angel said. “Whatever it is, we’re here.”

Dante nodded, oddly choked up at his brothers’ unconditional support. They might fight and argue and bicker, but when it came down to it, the Casellati family stuck together.

Always.

And because Belle was his special person, she was family by extension.

Angel’s hand gripped his shoulder. Dante glanced at him in the rear-view mirror as they flew up the driveway.

A largeCLOSEDsign hung from the fancy side gates leading into Sapphire Sky’s drive.

Dante swore again and hit the steering wheel. They hadn’t closed the winery in more years than he could remember, even during the last long drought.

“Someone messed with Jack’s contest entry vats. They’re ruined. There’s wine everywhere. Belle’s…” He shrugged and shook his head. “She’s really shook up.”

Cussing and headshakes accompanied his short explanation. They all knew how much wine was involved. They all knew it could break them.

Dante swung to a stop in a spray of gravel. They piled out and hurried to the small group of people who’d turned to face them.

Belle’s face crumpled and she rushed the last couple of feet to Dante. He threw his arms around her, knowing that was what she needed most right now.

He stroked her back and laid his cheek to the top of her head. She shook so badly he worried she’d fall apart on him.

He noticed his brothers pointing and talking with Jack, Callum, and Mac, nodding, with grim expressions tightening their faces.

“What do we do now?” Belle whispered.

He hugged her tighter.

“We help, is what we do,” Leo said.

Raph nodded. “I can come help out here with whatever you need each day. I’m not doing much at home right now. I’ve only been back a couple of weeks and Dad hasn’t dumped any particular jobs on me yet.”

Dante frowned. “I—”

Leo looked at him and shook his head. “You’re busy bottling, and with the wine. You’re needed over there. Raph’s right, he’s available.” He looked at Belle’s dad. “I can come help, as well. Whatever you need, we can sort it out.”

Callum bit his lip and looked away from them, but not fast enough that Dante didn’t see the telltale gleam of tears in his eyes. Something Dante had never seen from him before.

A grim Jack just nodded and looked at the concrete floor. “Thanks, guys. That means a lot.”

Belle pushed back and tried to smile. She sighed and stopped trying. “You guys are awesome. Has anyone ever told you that?”

Leo and Raph smiled sadly. Dante chucked her gently under the chin. He looked at her carefully.

No tears. She still looked rattled enough to fall to pieces, but she wasn’t crying.

“Look on the bright side, Belle. You get to spend time with Raph,” Leo said, sending Dante a side look.

Jack coughed a laugh. Belle raised an eyebrow, and Raph looked far too pleased with the idea.

“She’s thrilled, I’m sure,” Dante muttered, anything but thrilled himself. Raph would likely be a right pain in the ass regarding Belle once the stress of the day had eased. Particularly since he himself had to leave in two days to attend a course in Sydney. He wouldn’t be there to tell Raph to back off for five whole days.

Belle’s face creased in what looked like the beginnings of a smile. At the least, she’d lost the frightened waif look that had worried him so much.

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