Page 14 of The Shadow King's Brother

“Screw the food,” I murmur, capturing her lips again, deeper this time, letting my hunger for her take over.

Just as I’m about to pull her even closer, a sharp knock at the door makes us both freeze. We pull apart reluctantly, her lips swollen and her eyes wide.

“Perfect timing,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair as Nica bites back a laugh, straightening herself. “Who the hell is it?”

“Oh shit, I forgot—I called Tuvio,” Nica says, raising a hand to her mouth in surprise.

I groan, rubbing a hand over my face. “Tuvio? Seriously?”

“Sorry!” she says quickly, a guilty smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I needed his help with a few things, but I didn’t expect him to show up this late.”

I straighten up. “Great,” I groan. “This was exactly what we needed—my freakin’ uncle.”

My mind flashes back to the past like a sting in my gut.

His boy violated Nica.

She sighs. “Elio, he’s family. Don’t be like that. He’s been helping us for the last eight months. He loves Maria… and you.” She looks at me. “It’s time you get over what his son did.”

She stops.

My mind flashes back to the basement, to the sweat and fear, Dante’s dirty hands on Nica, and his eyes. My fist clenches the memory, a sharp, visceral pain. I hate the fear. Even if Dante is dead, Tuvio is the spitting image of his no-good filthy son.

Another knock comes, louder this time. “Elio, we need to get it over with,” she says, already walking toward the door. I stay silent and watch her go.

The office doors slide open, and Tuvio fills the doorway with his broad frame. He’s dressed sharply in a perfectly tailored suit, crisp and dark, the gold tie clip catching the light. His face is warm, and his presence fills the room like a heavy coat you never want to take off.

Before I can react, Tuvio pulls Nica into a tight bear hug—the kind only he can give.

“My kids. Famiglia.” His voice is thick with emotion. “You’re both okay?”

I hesitate for a second. There’s something about him today I can’t quite shake. Maybe it’s the past. Maybe it’s something else.

“We’re good, Tuvio,” I say.

He pulls back, his smile softening. “Did you see my sister?” His voice wavers slightly. “I, uh… heard she gave birth today.”

He and my mother still aren’t speaking, and honestly, I don’t care to know who’s at fault. I just know I don’t particularly want him near Celeste—or my mother, for that matter. Not that my mother is a saint. I don’t need to pick sides; I’m just happy they’re kept apart.

“She’s fine. Healthy. And the baby is too.” I force a smile, picturing my mother’s tired face.

Tuvio’s eyes mist over, and his voice cracks. “That’s fucking beautiful,” he mutters, shaking his head. There’s something he’s holding back. “A new life in all this mess.”

My smile fades. “It’s fucking trouble,” I say under my breath, pushing down the rising worry.

“Always so dramatic,” he chuckles, slapping me on the back. “Sometimes good things do happen, my boy.”

“Her name is Celeste,” Nica adds, grounding me with a gentle squeeze on my arm.

That gut feeling tightens again when she says my baby sister’s name. It’s like invisible hooks are pulling us toward the edge with her birth. And yet, she’s so beautiful, so innocent. All I want to do is wrap my arms around her, protect her, never let go.

“Celeste, huh? Fucking beautiful name. Maria came up with that, didn’t she?” Tuvio asks, locking eyes with me.

There’s no evil in those eyes, Elio. You’re being paranoid.

I nod slowly. “She did.”

Nica notices my unease. Without missing a beat, she steps closer to Tuvio, lightly touching his arm.

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