Page 12 of The Temptation
Deep, deep shit.
Fuck!
Lucia immediately drops my hand when she sees him and sprints in his direction. “Dante,” she squeals as she launches herself into his open arms.
“Hey, little sis,” he replies with a smile as he places her back down on her feet, but even as he does, his eyes remain focused on me. “Romeo,” he murmurs when I reach them.
I hate letting him down, even if he’s blowing what he saw way out of proportion. Years ago, he changed my life and gave me something I’d always craved as a kid, a real family. The kind I never thought I’d have.
The Cosa Nostra took me in and treated me like one of their own, no questions asked. Blood didn’t matter; loyalty did. I’ll be eternally grateful to this man for that. His friendship means everything to me.
“Why don’t you take Killer out back?” I ask Lucia, handing her the lead. “I need to talk with your brother-in-law alone.”
“Sure.”
“He’s not going to eat her, is he?” Dante asks as he watches the two of them cross the lawn, heading for the back gate.
“No. She spoils him. He’s wrapped around her little finger already.”
“Hmm,” he hums. “By the looks of what I just witnessed, he’s not the only one captivated by that Rossi charm.”
“Whatever you were thinking, you were wrong.”
“Really?” he quips, arching an accusing eyebrow.
I blow out a long breath, turning my face away. “We were talking about my mum.”
“Is she giving you trouble again?”
When isn’t that woman giving me trouble?
“No.”
“Let me know if that changes.”
I nod, but I’d never go to him for help with her; she’s my problem.
“Lucia reached for my hand after I confessed somethingabout my past,” I say, trying to steer the conversation away from my fucked-up family. “I know I shouldn’t have allowed it, but she’s …”
“She’s what?” he asks, frowning.
“Fragile.”
That prompts a small chuckle from him. “Fragile is not a word I’d ever use to describe Lucia Rossi. And why was she out walking the street with you in the first place? You know it’s not safe for her out here.”
“It’s the first time I’ve taken her, but she said something earlier that spooked me. I wasn’t prepared to let her out of my sight in case she followed through on her threat.”
“What threat?”
“She feels like she’s upsetting everyone’s life by being here and said maybe it would be better for everyone if she just married that fucker Salvatori.”
“The fuck!” he growls.
“Yeah, it rattled me. I can’t believe it’s something she’d even consider … so you can understand my reluctance to leave her unattended. She’s not safe with him.”
“You’re telling me,” he replies, reaching into his pocket and retrieving a folded piece of paper. “We’ve had contact from him already.”
My hand slightly trembles as I reach for the envelope in his hand and unfold the piece of paper enclosed. A cold chill runs down my spine when I read what it says.
