Page 26 of Claiming Jessica

Her fists ball at her sides, but she doesn’t leave, so I guess that’s good. “Out with it.”

I run my hand through my hair, feeling at a disadvantage without a shirt on. “After our first night together, I knew I needed to be with you. If your ex wasn’t going to let you go, then I was going to have to intervene. So, Domani and I paid Michael a visit that ended in…” I should have told her this sooner, but I’m not sure even now how she’ll take it. She wanted Michael out of her life, but did she want him dead? I don’t solve problems halfway, but I know the Moretti way is extreme to most people in proper society.

Domani finishes for me when the words stick in my throat. “We killed your ex. He lived like a little bitch, so he died like a little bitch.”

Fucking Domani. Tactless as always.

Jessica gasps, but she doesn’t run out of the house, so I guess I’m grateful for that. Though, Antonio and Dom are standing in front of the exit, so perhaps she just hasn’t found an opportunity for escape yet. “You should have told me,” she scolds, her expression hard.

I lower my head in submission, my hands winding behind my back as if readying to face an executioner. “Granted. Things got a little out of order when you were abducted. I should have told you the second I got back.”

“Michael’s really dead?” she asks, tilting her head up at Domani. She moves forward when he nods, taking small, barefoot steps to clear the gap between herself and my twin. She leans up on her toes and kisses his cheek. Then she wraps her arms around his middle.

Dom’s eyes widen. He freezes as if he is being electrocuted. No one hugs him except for us. He doesn’t allow women in his body’s space. I can see him reaching for deep breathing to keep himself from pushing her away.

When Jessica doesn’t let go, one of his burly arms curls around her torso. He casts me a worried glance to make sure he is doing this right.

I nod, just as surprised as he is that Dom is capable of hugging a woman, even if it’s only with one arm.

Granted, his other one was grazed with a bullet this very morning, but even so, it’s a big leap that he’s taking, wrapping an arm around my pussycat.

“Thank you,” she whispers to him. “Michael was never going to let me go. I’m sorry you had to do that, but thank you.”

Dom closes his eyes and rests his lips to the top of her brunette curls. His stiffened posture relaxes, and finally, he holds onto her with both arms. “Brunello loves you, so you’re protected. We’ll look out for you from now on.”

She squeezes his middle. “Thank you, Domani.”

“Of course, little sister.”

Antonio and I stiffen at the cards lain bare on the table. Dom considers her mine, which makes her my brothers’ sister by default.

Jessica doesn’t pull away. Instead, she tilts her head up at my twin quizzically. “You want me to be your sister?”

“I don’t have a sister anymore,” he replies simply.

Jessica nods slowly. “Anymore?”

“She died a long time ago.”

Jessica chooses her words carefully. “I’m sorry to hear that. It would make you feel better if I was your new sister?”

Domani nods, swallowing hard. He begs her with fear in his eyes not to deny him this strange request. “I couldn’t protect Camilla, but I’m stronger now than I was when I was twelve. I can protect you now.”

She leans up on her toes and pecks his cheek. “You’re a good boy, Domani. Thank you for protecting me.”

And just like that, my twin regains a fraction of his shattered self. My woman is pure magic, putting us broken Moretti men back together with her kindness, accepting our worn parts as if we aren’t beyond repair.

Antonio’s eyes are wet, but he swipes away the moisture before he speaks. “I brought you a present, Jessica. A gift for our new sister.” He holds up an envelope and hands it to her.

Now I’m extra nervous.

Jessica makes her way from Domani to Antonio, taking out the papers and frowning at them when they make little sense to her, as they did to me when I had her piece of shit husband sign them seconds before he died.

Antonio smirks, looking all smug at his brilliant gift. “This is a life insurance policy that your husband took out before he died. Funny thing, but he took it out a whole week before he died, and even paid the first month’s premium on it.” He beams at her, even though it is clear Jessica doesn’t understand where Antonio is going with this. “Michael listed you as his beneficiary, Jessica.”

Her eyes skim the document as a gasp comes over her. “Are you joking? Michael would never have done that! He took everything from me when I left him.”

Antonio shrugs at the mystery. “Weird. I guess some handsome hacker must have taken his signed document and broke into the life insurance company’s server to backdate the policy a week. Brunello here witnessed him signing the thing, but his memory’s a little fuzzy. He probably thinks he forced Michael’s signature two nights ago, but it was a week ago this thing was filed, which keeps you out of suspicion when the police find the body. That should happen when the body starts to stink in his home. So, in a month, give or take, you’ll have enough money that you won’t need Bruno to survive; you’ll be able tochooseto stay with us, rather thanhaveto stay with us.”

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