Page 32 of Shark Bait

“If you can see inside my head, then you know how many candles the cake needs.”

Alessio smiles, all dimples, eyes flashing with mischief. “Nineteen,” he says.

I gape. “You can’t know that.”

“Jesus,” Alessio says, eyebrows shooting up. “Are you kidding me?”

“Sorry.” I giggle because he’s being dramatic. I’m a grown woman, and with what I’ve gone through in the last six months, I’ve aged a decade.

Valerina washes her hands, then grabs several bowls and starts to prepare cake batter. “When I was your age, Alessio arranged a marriage for me to a man well into his fifties.”

My eyes widen. How old is Shark again?

“We don’t have to talk about that,” Alessio says.

“We can talk about it.”

He’s shaking his head. “No, no, we’re fine not talking about it.”

Valerina ignores him. “One of his rivals. He tried making peace by giving up his sister, you see. But then he changed his mind when I told him how Boyd treated me on our date.” She leans in conspiratorially, blue eyes twinklingly, signaling trouble. She points at Shark. “This man showed up for my second date. I got to see him work.” She winks and swipes a thumb over her throat, implying murder. “If you know what I mean.”

I giggle. “I do.”

“She doesn’t,” Shark bites out.

Silence falls, and I realize what happened. She befriended me to get me to say I was a witness to his “work.” My shoulders slump. “I see what you did there,” I say. “This sucks. I’m so naive.”

Valerina rounds the island, looking sheepish. “I’m sorry I baited you. We didn’t have time to prepare for your arrival, and with such sensitive matters, I had to know who you were and what you know. But I promise, I won’t do it again. And to be honest, in our little circle, the more fucked-up shit we share with each other, the closer we become to one another. Welcome to the Angelini vigilante family. We have cake.”

My mood perks up. “I can’t resist cake.”

She spreads her arms. “Hug?”

We hug, and she gets back behind the island.

Alessio shakes his head. “You met her two minutes ago, Valerina. There’s no reason to tell her everything about us.”

“It’s not everything, but only the good bits. Besides, I have a feeling Troy and I are gonna be lifers.”

I nod, even though I doubt it. “Yes, yes, we are.”

“Besides,” Valerina adds, “if she’s a witness and in our home, I take it we decided we’re keeping her, so we should all be more forthcoming with her.”

“That’s enough,” Shark says, more forcefully than I expected.

Valerina huffs but changes the subject. “Lunch will run late, maybe a couple of hours. Miro, would you show her the guest house?” She turns to me. “It’s newly renovated, and I’ll be curious to know what you think.”

“Thank you for the hospitality,” I say.

“Anytime. Miro is our brother from another mother, and if you stick with us, which I think you will, you will be my sister.” She points up. “I consider you a blessing. You even share the same birthday as Guilia, who would’ve turned twenty-five today.” Goose bumps crawl up my arm, and Valerina rubs them. “You are safe with us. I hope you understand that.”

Alessio gets up. “Valerina gets to bake another cake. Leo will nap then eat until he throws up, probably. You’ll celebrate your birthday day. A win all around.”

“What kind of win is in store for you and Shark?” I ask as Shark and I follow Alessio through the mud room and into a courtyard with a pool.

Alessio answers me in a language I don’t understand. Shark responds.

Uh-oh. They don’t want me to know what they’re saying.

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