“As long as you are next to me.”
Shit, this man was making me fall hard. “Okay, I’ll take a quick shower and will be right back.”
Thirty-Seven
Mateo
Iwatched her disappear into her bathroom, and I already missed her. I didn’t expect her to ask me to stay at her place but I was thrilled.
Fuck, I am supposed to meet with Declan.
There was no chance in hell I was leaving Brianna now. She needed me and meeting with Declan would have to wait.
I took the monitor Brianna brought out of her daughter's room and went downstairs to find Antonio with the two women.
“Emma is sleeping and Brianna is taking a quick shower,” I told them.
“Is she better?” Marissa asked, chewing on her lip.
“Yes,” I pointed to the monitor in my hands. “Antonio, we’ll have to move today’s meeting.”
He nodded, understanding exactly what I meant.
“I’ll stay the night,” I told them and saw surprise on all three of their faces. “Marissa, Daphne, is there an extra room for Antonio?”
Daphne flushed. “Umm, yes. Sure.”
I watched her, wondering why she was blushing. She knew I was sleeping with Brianna. Those three read some serious smut so she couldn’t be shocked by that.
Dismissing her out of my mind, I continued. “If Emma is better tomorrow, Brianna agreed to move her to my place. I’d like you two to come along too.”
“Sure,” Marissa replied, as she glanced at her friend.
“Sure, I guess,” Daphne murmured, although she didn’t seem thrilled.
“You don’t have to, Daphne,” I tried to sound less demanding. I wouldn’t force her.
“No, no. That’s okay. I’ll come too,” she quickly replied, meeting my gaze. “I want to help Brianna with Emma.”
“Thank you.” I was grateful to both of them. I knew I was sharp with both of them when I got here. Brianna calmed down the beast within me that was raging, gnawing at me with fear of losing her and now she had soothed it. She had so much control over me and she didn’t even realize it.
“I’ll get one of the guys to bring us clothes and ensure the parameters around the house are secure,” Antonio spoke, and left the room.
I nodded gratefully at him.
“Marissa, can you order dinner for everyone on my account please?” I didn’t want Brianna to worry about feeding us all after the day she had.
“Sure thing.”
I went back upstairs and waited as Brianna finished her shower. Every so often, I’d glance at the monitor to check on Emma but she was sound asleep. Her mother was right, she would sleep all night.
Thirty-Eight
Marissa
Adeep sigh left me as soon as the front door shut behind Antonio. I could hear my cousin upstairs in Brianna’s room. My cousin wasn’t only pussy whipped, he was in love with Brianna. It was written all over him; the way he worried about her, wanted to make her comfortable, not to mention he had never invited a woman into his home. And now he was inviting her best friends, just to keep her happy. I had never seen him so rattled in my life as he was when he came in. Shit, I truly hoped she was in love with him too; otherwise, everything would go up in flames and go to hell.
When Agosti men loved, they loved, possessed, and obsessed over their women. I’d seen it with my father. It was all good till the love was not returned. My mother ran around on my father; he tortured and killed men for daring to look her way, never mind sleeping with her. It was one of the main reasons I couldn’t stand my mother. She wasn’t aware that I knew. All her children knew. Mateo tried to protect us all but rumors were too hard to squash.