Page 79 of Mafiosa
‘Ikissedhim!’ I shouted. ‘Iwanted it!’
He levelled me with a dark look. ‘I know him better than you, Sophie. Don’t be an idiot. Get out of my way,’ he hissed. ‘I want him to admit it.’
He shoved me aside and stalked towards Luca. Dom and Gino moved in beside Nic, a cautionary hand on each of his shoulders, holding him back.
Luca stood stock-still, unblinking, as he raised his finger at his brother. ‘Touch her like that again, and I’ll end you.’
‘Admit it,’ Nic spat, ignoring the threat. ‘Admit that you kissed her to get back at me. Admit that you wanted to teach me a lesson! You selfish son of a bitch!’
Luca bared his teeth at Nic. ‘Shut your mouth, Nicolò.’
‘No!’ Nic screamed.
‘Fine!’ Luca shouted, coming right up to Nic’s face, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. ‘You want the truth?’
‘Yes!’ Nic yelled, refusing to budge. ‘Give me the fucking truth!’
‘Here it is!’ Luca said. ‘I didn’t kiss Sophie to get back at you, I kissed her because I’m in love with her!’
Nic reeled backwards, as though the blow had been physical.
Gino and Dom gasped in unison.
My jaw unhinged.
Valentino buried his face in his hands and groaned.
And Felice threw his head back and laughed.
CHAPTER THIRTYPLEA
Ikissed her because I’m in love with her.
I kissed her because I’m in love with her.
I kissed her because I’m in love with her.
I was trying very hard to keep the smile from my lips, to keep my eyes downcast. My heart felt like it had swollen to twice its size, and all I could do was stand there and try not to get lost in the commotion.
Luca loved me. Luca was in love with me.
Nic was gaping at him, like he was trying to assemble a puzzle on his brother’s forehead. Dom and Gino had fallen still – even Dom had shut his mouth. They were waiting for Luca to break, for the joke to be revealed.
After a few more loaded breaths, Nic spluttered into life again. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I don’t believe you.’
‘It’s true,’ Luca said.
‘Since when?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘How?’ said Nic.
Luca’s smile was rueful, the guilt of the revelation tinged in his words. ‘You of all people should be able to answer that, brother.’
Nic screwed his face up. ‘But you used to find her so annoying.’
‘I still find her annoying.’
