Page 15 of Forbidden Arrangement

“I can see that you are very, very handsome, and you all look like your dad, just the younger version.”

“Yeah, well, I’m still young,” my dad said as he stepped forward and grabbed her upper arm.“Shall we go into the living room?”he said.

“Sure, Lorenzo.”She looked up at him.“But you shouldn’t eat any cookies.You have to watch your weight.”She pressed his stomach and giggled.“I mean, I can see where you guys got your looks, but you are a little bit older now, Lorenzo.You don’t have the same body you used to.”My dad chuckled slightly, and I looked over at Stefano.He shook his head.We knew that even though my dad was laughing, he was not finding it funny.We walked into the living room and had a seat.Dad handed us each a beer.

“So, boys, any news?”

“No news, Pops.”Santino shook his head.

“Nothing here,” Sergio answered.

“Well, I’ve got a couple of fights coming up that could prove to be very fruitful,” Stefano said, grinning.

“Good,” my dad said, nodding.He looked over at me.“What about you, boy?Dating anyone?”

“No.”A quick image of Valentina crossed my mind, but I wasn’t dating her.She was a case.“But, guys, there’s something I need to mention.”

“Oh?”Stefano raised an eyebrow.I think he could tell by my tone that it was important.

“So, you know my new case, the one with Hamilton Ford’s daughter?”

“Yeah.”Sergio made a face.“Imagine having to date someone to make money.Like what sort of loser is she?”

“She’s not a loser,” I said, pressing my lips together.“In fact, she’s quite stunning.”

“Uh-huh.”Santino chugged on his beer.“Sure.”

“Well, we have a little bit of a problem.”

“We?”Stefano said, looking at me.“What does that mean?”

“Don’t tell me.”Sergio cut him off.“She’s not into you, and now you need one of us?”

“No,” I interrupted him.“I don’t need any of you guys to go after Valentina.I’ve got that sorted.However, she has a best friend and—”

“Oh, boy.”Sergio rolled his eyes.“What does the best friend need?”

“The best friend doesn’t need anything, but Valentina would feel more comfortable hanging out if her best friend was able to hang out with some guys too, so I said I had some brothers and—”

“So you’re basically pimping us out,” Stefano said with a laugh.

“I’d pay a hundred dollars,” Annie added, giggling.She looked over at Lorenzo.“I mean, I wouldn’t really, Lorenzo.You know that.You’re my number one and only.”It was my turn to roll my eyes as I chugged my beer.Was this for real?Where had my dad found this bimbo?

“So you need me to come as well?”my dad asked.

“No, it’s okay.”I shook my head.“But tomorrow night, we’re going to have a little get-together at my house.Okay, guys?And you’re all going to be there.”

“Are you telling me I have to hook up with this sister or—”

“It’s not her sister.It’s her best friend.”I glared at Sergio.

“I was just saying not every woman wants to be with me, and I’m not just going to—”

“You don’t have to be with anyone, Sergio.”I took a deep breath.Sometimes, my brothers were so annoying and frustrating that I didn’t know how they were related to me.“I swear I’m not taking another case like this.I can’t believe I dropped out of the police academy to do this bullshit,” I mumbled.

“You dropped out of the police academy for the family.”My father sat upright and glared at me.“I don’t know what you were thinking.My father would be rolling over in his grave if he knew a Valenti was trying to be a cop.”

“Dad, not all cops are bad.”

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