Page 82 of Vicious Little Princess

“Last time you needed to prove you had what it took, you put me down in that storage room.”

“Oh, right. Yes, fond memories.” I winked at him. “Kidding.”

“The hell you are.”

I laughed, and it had him joining me.

It felt good.

Really fucking good.

I watchedDante scrutinizing the room that was currently being used like Julian’s own personal suite. The Underboss of the Leone Family turned this way and that, his leather jacket pulling taut across his broad, muscular form, the same with his dark jeans tucked into a pair of steel-toe boots. He was a hell of a big guy, almost close to Milo’s size, actually. That intimidation factor had served him well as my guard. He frowned and brushed his shaggy salt-and-pepper hair off the back of his neck as he continued looking around, just like he had been since he’d stepped into the mansion.

Matteo had been the opposite, just rolling with everything and focused on whatever it was they were here for. As usual, nothing seemed to impact him. He was as unemotional as ever. The only sign that he had any personality at all were the bold blazers that he always wore with his dress pants. This time it was a deep maroon with gold buttons. It kind of clashed with his long, gray hair falling down past his shoulders. He was almost two decades older than Dante’s forty-five years and, with him, age really did mean wisdom. He’d seen a lot and been a part of a great deal during his tenure as Consigliere for my father over the last thirty years. And he’d been able to adapt to it all.

Until recent events had come to pass.

He’d been barred from attending my wedding because he’d shown his displeasure toward some of the business partners that my father and Marco had decided to get into bed with through their new alliance. He’d always been on my father’s side before, utterly loyal.

But the bough was breaking where that was concerned.

Dante’s eyes kept darting back and forth to me as well, taking in the healing scrapes on my arms from the crash, the marks on me from mine and Nico’s wild fucking on the stairs.

He was trying to figure things out, to understand what sort of environment this really was.

Forme.

Just like he used to do when he was my guard.

“Why do you care?” I burst out with before I could reel it in.

Julian eyed me in surprise.

Yeah, usually I was much better at keeping my feelings locked down and focusing on the task at hand when this sort of business was involved. But I guess there were some unresolved issues with Dante that I hadn’t dealt with, or allowed myself to process, because too much had been going on.

Like the fact that he’d been there in the Leone Estate when my father had assaulted me and he hadn’t stepped in until Nico and the boys had manipulated the situation to force it.

Or the fact that the only time he’d contacted me in any way since I’d left the Family had been to warn me off going after a piece of land that my father had also had his eye on. That had been too little too late, considering I’d already bought it and it was now the land thatLustersat on.

“What do you mean?” Dante asked.

“You’re scanning the place like you’re actually concerned for me.”

“I am.”

I sneered. “Sure.”

“I didn’t attend your forced wedding out of protest,” he pointed out.

“Your heroics clearly know no bounds,” I responded, sarcasm dripping.

“I also tried to get to Bianca before the unit of soldiers that Santino sent after her. Unfortunately, having to be so careful so that I wasn’t spotted slowed me down too much. She managed to get away during the chaos of the motorcycle club attack and somehow stay hidden even in these weeks after it, so thank Christ for that.”

“She’s more resourceful than Santino gave her credit for,” I told him.

“No.You’remore resourceful,” Matteo cut in.

“Excuse me?”

---