Page 95 of Love Without Control

Glancing over, I noticed he was leaning toward his screen, peering at what I was doing. “What the fuck is that?”

“A lilac,” I told him, holding the cupcake up so he could see.

“You bringing work home from the bakery now?”

“Nah, this is for Eden. She likes lilacs.”

My brother gawked at me. “She likes lilacs, so you made her a cupcake with a frosted lilac on top?”

“Yes,” I said defensively. “I make desserts every Friday, and I always decorate something for her.”

He leaned back in his chair and threw his head back in laughter. “You are so pussy whipped.”

“Fuck off,” I grumbled, ready to end this chat.

“Are you even getting laid, or are you two still just pretending to be married?”

Placing the cupcake on a platter with the others, I leaned my butt against the counter and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ve had more sex in the past two months than I’d normally have in a year,” I told him, taking my own opportunity to be smug. “How about you?”

“I had a threesome with these twins last night. Blondes with big tits.” He held his hands in front of him in an estimation of their extreme bustiness. “Colleen and Carissa. Or was it Calista?” My prick of a brother stared at the ceiling as he tried to remember. “Hmmm, whatever. They’re still upstairs, so I’ll ask them when I go back up.”

“Congratulations,” I said dryly. “Sounds very meaningful.”

Fiero leaned forward with both arms on his large mahogany desk, his brown eyes slightly darker than mine when he peered at me on his screen. “That’s the whole point though, right? Quick and easy lays without any meaning? That’s always been our credo.”

“It has,” I said, leaving out thebutI wanted to tack onto the end, but my brother beat me to it.

“But?” he asked, and he was really getting on my damn nerves.

“I’m trying to make this work. Eden got thrown into this through no fault of her own, so I’m doing my best to make it easier on her. To be a good husband.”

My brother’s lips pursed and he nodded. “That’s admirable. So you’re being discreet with your side pieces?”

I wanted to punch the damn screen with his face on it, but I balled my hands into fists at my sides. “No side pieces,” I informed him through gritted teeth.

“No… side… chicks? At all?” he drawled slowly, as if he were attempting to understand each word individually.

“None.” That’s all he needed to know.

He appeared genuinely perplexed. After all, our father always had women on the side. The only good thing I could say about Luca was that he had kept that shit on the down low and hadn’t flaunted it in front of Mama. It wasn’t until after she’d died that he’d started bringing women to his home.

“But…” Fiero shook his head. “I was under the impression you and Eden had separate rooms for the first few months. I remember you making comments aboutmy roomorEden’s room. You weren’t fucking anyone else during that time?”

“No, Fiero,” I sighed and then had to fight a grin as an idea popped into my head. “Well, except for Rosie.”

“I knew it,” he crowed, shifting in his leather chair and leaning closer to his laptop. “What does this Rosie look like?”

I held my hand in front of my face and pretended to talk to my palm. “Rosie, would you like to meet cousin Fiero?” I turned it around to face the screen and waved. “Fiero, this is Rosie Palms.”

His eyes rolled back so far I was afraid he’d dislodge them. “Jesus, you’re fucking stupid.” Then a wicked grin crossed his lips. “Wait, if Rosie is my cousin, then she’s yours too. So every time you jack off, you’re fucking your cousin. That’s sick, dude.”

I couldn’t help but bark out a laugh. “Shut the hell up and tell me what’s going on with Luca.”

Fiero groaned and ran a hand over the top of his dark head. “Not much. The motherfucker keeps everything compartmentalized. There’s not one single person who knows everything he does because he’s so paranoid.”

“Which, I hate to admit, is smart. That way no one can take him down from the inside.”

My brother nodded. “Exactly. The one who probably knows the most is Manny.”

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