Page 87 of Vicious Games

“She means us beating them up,” Lucky is quick to explain. “As you can tell, Anna here is a pacifist. Even with pieces of shit that don’t deserve it.”

I nod, but for the first time since hanging out with Lucky, I feel like he’s just lied to me somehow. Still, what else could she have meant?

“Maybe we should talk about thislater,” Enzo says, his wary gaze flicking toward me.

I don’t miss the guarded look in his eyes or the way Lucky immediately places a protective hand on my knee, as if the silent gesture carries some hidden meaning I’m not privy to.

“There’s nothing left to talk about,” Annamaria states matter of fact, rising to her feet, Stella immediately standing with her. “This issue is over and done with.”

“Not if we tell Mom and Dad,” Stella says, a wicked little smile curling her lips.

“If either of you says anything to our parents,” Annamaria warns, her voice deadly calm, “then let me remind you all that I know plenty about you too. Tell them my secret, and I’ll tell them yours.”

“Are you blackmailing us, little sis?” Lucky asks, looking absolutely delighted.

“I don’t want to, but I will if I have to,” she says, chin high and proud.

“Aww,” Enzo presses a hand to his heart. “I don’t think we’ve ever been prouder of you,bella,” he teases, kissing her cheek.

Annamaria gives him a reluctant little smile, but it falters when her eyes land on Stella and Marcello. Neither one looks even close to being done with the issue.

“Stop looking at me like that. I told you that I’m fine,” she insists. “All they did was rough me up a little and ruin my blazer. That’s it. I can handle those two bullies myself. Even if I have to pull a Frankie.” She winks at me, causing my face to go up in flames.

Great. Kicking someone’s junk and sucker-punching them now has my name trademarked.

“Thank you again for helping me at school,” Annamaria says sincerely. “I’ll never forget it.”

“Anyone would have done the same,” I mumble, uncomfortable with the praise.

“Not everyone,” Marcello chimes in, arms crossed over his broad chest. “That school was packed with kids when I arrived there. Someone must have heard my sister in distress and did nothing about it. You’re the only one who actually took action to help her.” His blue eyes pin me in place. “We owe you.Iowe you. I won’t forget what you did for my sister. Ever.”

An hour ago, those words would have terrified me. But not now. Marcello doesn’t look like a demon ready to exact his vengeance. He just looks like a big brother, desperate to protect his siblings from the evils of the world.

Huh. Talk about irony. Lucky once accused me of being Jekyll and Hyde, but I wonder if he knows he’s the one sharing a roof with such a mercurial person.

When Marcello’s heavy stare doesn’t budge off me, I start fidgeting in my seat, which Lucky notices instantly. I almost let out a sigh of relief when he grabs my hand and pulls me up from the couch.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Anna,” he says. “I promise I won’t say anything to the parentals, but we’re not done talking about this.” He shoots her a look that brooks no argument. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some tutoring to do. Call us when dinner’s ready.”

“You’re staying for dinner?” Annamaria asks me, her voice lighter.

I open my mouth, but Lucky answers first, “Of course she is. She must’ve worked up an appetite kicking those guys’ asses, right, babe?”

Babe?Since when did we start using such terms of endearment?

Before I can even react, Lucky’s already tugging me out of the living room by the hand. I let him since the tension in the living room was starting to get too stifling for me anyway.

“I don’t know if I can stay for dinner,” I say absentmindedly, trailing behind him up a flight of stairs, while taking in my new surroundings.

When Marcello first pulled up to what looked like a hideaway cabin hidden in the middle of the woods, I thought for sure he’d taken Annamaria and me to his secret bachelor pad. It made sense that someone like Marcello craved peace and solitude, away from judgmental eyes and a world he obviously didn’t trust. However, I quickly realized that this place didn’t belong solely to Marcello but to his entire family.

The Romano cabin wasn’t flashy like the mansion I’d visited for Sunday lunch that one time. There was no cold marble, no gold-trimmed anything, no feeling like you might break something just by breathing on it. This house felt alive like it had grown straight out of the forest, stitched together with stone, timber, and years of family memories. Even though it was massive, with sharp rooftops and a winding staircase leading up to the third floor, there was a warmth to it, like the walls had soaked up decades of laughter and secrets. Just standing here, I can tell this house was built for love, not for show.

Lucky squeezes my hand, snapping me out of my awe-struck stupor. He then flashes me a crooked smile over his shoulder. “This way,” he says, tugging me down a long hallway lined with family portraits.

“So this is your real home, huh?” I ask, though the answer is obvious now.

“It sure is,” he says, nodding with a coy smile.

---