Page 37 of United Reign (Valentino Empire 3)

“That’s a great idea. We’ll donate the stuff in the penthouse too.”

“You don’t want to keep the penthouse?” I ask.

“Nope, we’ll find another one. One that’s not tainted with bad memories.” Bad memories like two people being murdered there and posed to look like us. Yeah, I certainly wouldn’t be in a hurry to go back there anytime soon. “Come on, let’s get you two some food.”

I can’t help but smile and roll my eyes at him. I’m not justmeanymore.

ChapterTwenty-One

Walking into the kitchen, I did not expect to be greeted by the scene that’s in front of me. “What the fuck?” I reach behind me to grab for my Glock, but Holly seems to have developed superhuman reflexes and beats me to it.

“I’m not letting you shoot him,” she hisses at me. I smirk. She doesn’t know that not only do I have more guns on me right now, but I don’t need a weapon to kill the bastard. I’ve never wanted to fucking wring his neck with my bare hands so badly before.

“Ah, T, it’s not what it looks like,” Neo stammers.

“Really, because what it looks like is that you just had your slimy little tongue down my sister’s fucking throat.”

“Well, fuck, I guess it is what it looks like.” He smirks, his hands lifted in surrender.

“Seriously, you just couldn’t fucking help yourself?” I yell. “And you.” I point at Angelica. “You can do way better than the likes of him.”

“Thanks, I love you too, coz.”

“Okay, settle down, Theo. I’ve managed my whole life without a sibling. I don’t need you doing the whole big brother act now. He’s hot. I was bored, so I kissed him. If it makes you feel any better, it was my doing, not his.” Angelica places herself in front of Neo, which I find odd.

“Yeah, and I bet he put up a real fucking fight.” Shit, I need to do something. I need to calm down somehow.

“Ah, T, I want a cheeseburger. Can we go get burgers?” Holly asks.

I look directly at her stomach, cursing myself for forgetting she was hungry. But she’s out of her fucking mind if she thinks I’m going to be feeding our kid that crap. “No. You’re not eating fucking fast-food burgers. If you want a burger, I’ll make you one.” Opening the freezer, I start pulling down ingredients. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Holly sit on the counter stool.

“Do you want me to help? I can get some salads?” she half-heartedly offers.

“Nope, you just sit, dolcezza. I’ve got this.”

“Any chance I can get one of those burgers?” Neo asks, sitting next to my wife. I glare at him without answering. “I’ll take that as a no. Holly, it was a pleasure to see you as always. Angelica, well, thanks for sharing saliva. I’m sure I’ll see you around. You know where to find me, T.” He walks out, and I hear the front door of the house slam shut a few minutes later.

Holly jumps to her feet and is headed to the doorway when I intercept. I don’t know why the idea of her walking out makes me fucking panic so damn much. “Where are you going?”

“To the bathroom, just down the hall. I’ll be right back.” Pushing up on her tiptoes, she kisses my lips lightly. I watch as she sashays down the hall and into the bathroom.

I turn around and am greeted by Angelica’s stone-cold stare. “Really, Theo? I don’t need you butting into my life like that.”

“No, you probably don’t. But as long as you’re my sister, you’ll just have to get used to it.”

She tilts her head to the side. “I know thirty different ways to kill you and make it look like an accident.”

“I know fifty.” I shrug.

“Argh, are you always this infuriating?”

“Probably.”

“I think I actually like him, you know. Am I not good enough for your friend? Is it because I have a kid? Because I come with baggage? What is it?”

“No, it’s because he’s not good enough for you. For Isabella,” I tell her.

“Why? What makes him so bad? And if he really is that awful, why is he here so freely? Walking throughyourhouse, hanging aroundyourwife, your family?”

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