Page 30 of Brutal Legacy

A rustling in the bushes sent me sitting up straight. Tommaso crashed through the undergrowth and fell to his butt beside me.

“What’s going on? Where have you been?” I scanned the bushes behind me for a sign of who he had been getting busy with.

He raised a swaying finger to his mouth and drew an imaginary zipper along his lips.

“That’s for me to know, and you to never find out.”

He grinned at me, and his smile was so infectious, I found myself smiling back. It was rare to see my best friend so happy and uninhibited.

“Well, that’s exciting.” I elbowed him in the side. “I’m glad one of us is having fun.”

Tommaso clapped his hands together and cackled. “Oh, honey, I’m not going to be the only one having fun! You’re welcome. I’m going to leave with my secret paramour.”

“Hey! You’re my ride,” I reminded him quickly.

He patted me on the shoulder. “Not anymore. You’re welcome.”

With that, he stood and staggered back toward the bushes.

“Toma? Come on,” I called, pushing myself to my feet.Damn it.I glanced around to see if there was anyone else left at the party who might be heading back to town. I didn’t fancy walking alone. Walking the long, winding road to town alone in the dark didn’t sound enticing.

Damn Tommaso. I swore at him furiously in my head when I leaned down to grab my bag, and the world swayed. Whoa. I’d drunk more than I’d thought.

No, you’re just a lightweight.

Yeah, that was right. With my dad around, there weren’t many opportunities for drinking at home.

I draped the strap of my bag over my shoulder, slinging it across my body. I could do this. I wasn’t some damsel in distress.

I walked gingerly out of the dark hollow, tripping and swearing. The ground was littered with bottles and fallen branches. We’d need to come back tomorrow to clean up.

I climbed out of the thin copse of woods that lined the riverbank and made it to the road, only to stumble immediately. Out of all the places to put my foot, I’d managed to aim right for a sizable pothole. My knees buckled, and I was going down, until a strong hand wrapped around my shoulders and jerked me firmly upward.

All the air forcibly left me as I was hauled against a warm, hard body. A familiar smell wove its way into my lungs. Straw and spice, leather and musk.

I looked up into Elio Santori’s eyes and felt like my heart might break through the fragile cage of my ribs, and right out of my chest.

“What are you doing here?” I blurted and stared at him.

“Coming to get you home, what else? Since your boyfriend couldn’t be bothered not to drink and drive. He messaged one of the other stable hands, who then told me. The fucker wasn’t even going to check you got home.” A dark frown passed over Elio’s face.

His scowl was formidable, but I was too drunk and relieved to see him to be scared.

“My boyfriend?” I repeated. “What boyfriend?”

“Conti — Tommaso, the one who is always holed up in your room with you, who else?” Elio muttered, a muscle clenching in his square jaw.

“You think Toma is my boyfriend?” I asked and then burst into laughter. He thought I had a boyfriend? All this time, while I’d been pining after him, nursing a killer crush… he’d thought I had a boyfriend?

“How much have you had to drink?” Elio demanded.

I swayed in his hold, unable to stop laughing.

“Enough,” I finally gasped out, swallowing my laughter down. “I’ve had just enough…”

“Just enough for what?” he asked.

I put my hands on his chest, and he stilled completely. A sudden absence of movement that felt nearly unnatural. I slid my hands upward. He only had a T-shirt on, even though the nights were getting cooler lately. I placed a hand over his heart, all my mirth chased away. I felt reckless and free.

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