Page 31 of Deception

“Merda!” the brother hisses.

“What would you have done, Adriano? Let her freeze to death?”

Adriano, huh? Good to know.

“Yes! I would have said tough shit. She had no business coming here.”

My excitement at finding out which sibling is in the other room is cut short by the statement. I swallow hard.

“She got lost. It was an accident.”

“Ha! You sound as gullible as Ciro. You believe her?”

“I do. At least about that.”

“You should have consulted me, should have woken me up.”

“I locked her in the guest room. And I’m consulting you now,” Alessandro huffs and I hear him slump into a chair. “Take her back to town.”

“Oh, sure. I’ll just go hop in the truck and drop her off. Never mind the piles of snow.”

“You’re being a fucking drama queen.”

“You’re being ascemo, fool,” Adriano snaps.

“Gah, you’re an old grandmother trapped in a grown man’s body.”

“Fine. You want me to be Nonna? She doesn’t wander around. Give her the rules. Make sure she follows them.”

“I already did.”

“Do it again!” Adriano intones, sounding put upon, more annoyed than mad. “I hate this.”

“You hate everything.”

“No, just you destroying my peace! You’re worse than?—”

“The twins?” Alessandro mocks.

“A thousand times, yes.”

I hear a deep, rumbling chuckle from Alessandro, a shocking sound that curls my toes. Their brotherly banter humanizes them, as if they were any other siblings. It’s an odd contrast to my imagination, the idea that they should only be scheming criminals.

It makes me blush, realizing that I’m openly eavesdropping.

My logic brain argues that I have to do whatever I can to listen in.

Still.

I let my footsteps announce my presence in the foyer, drawing them up short.

Adriano whispers a final warning, “You take too many chances, Aless. No talking in front of her. Deal with this.”

He storms out of the den, barely giving me a second glance as he barrels through the east wing door and slams it behind him.

“Sorry about that.”

I look back to find Alessandro leaning in the doorway, his hands in his pockets. He looks like a cologne ad. Button-up left open haphazardly, linen pants, his hair styled but casual.

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