Page 23 of Highball and Chain

“I’m not ready to go back yet. I’m having fun.” Maggie smiled.

He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “We need to meet with the caterers later. I thought you might want to freshen up first?”

“Crap, I forgot.”

Bullets flying or not, I refused to leave Sicily without seeing more of the sites. It’s not like anyone’s shooting at me. “Go ahead without me. I want to visit Donnafugata castle.”

“Ugh, not that old shithole. I don’t care how much they fix it up, it always smells in there. I don’t know why they don’t tear it down.” Nicolina tugged Enzo’s arm. “Let’s go back to the villa and nap.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. The woman seriously worked my nerves. “I’ll catch a taxi back to the villa later.”

“I’ll escort you.” The Ghoster stepped away from his whatever-the-hell she was to him. “Nico, go back to the villa with Gabe.”

“I don’t want to be there without you. Your mother keeps talking to me about weddings and children.” Nicolina grabbed his arm again.

“Ignore her. My mother doesn’t call the shots in my personal life.” Enzo glanced at me and raised his chin.

What the heck? Don’t bring me into this.

“You sure about that?” Marco chuckled.

Enzo glared at his brother while speaking to Nicolina. “Go. I’ll be back before dinner.”

“No, come with me now…” She continued talking, but switched to Italian.

I caught an odd word now and then, but I didn’t need to understand the language to know Nicolina was angry and Enzo well on his way.

Marco pulled me to the side. His easy smile had vanished. “You shouldn’t be out alone. I have some work to do this afternoon. Come back to the villa with us now and I’ll take you to Donnafugata tomorrow.”

As much as I wanted to go exploring, his expression sent a chill down my spine. Maybe he was right. Site-seeing wasn’t worth dying over—even if it was an honest-to-goodness castle. “All right.”

Enzo and Nicolina’s voices grew louder.

Gabe turned to them. “Enough arguing. I’m taking Maggie home. You two can come now, or call a cab.”

“This doesn’t concern you.” Nicolina redirected her anger toward Gabe.

“You’re right.” He looked past her to Enzo. “Figure your shit out. We need to go, now.”

Maggie took Gabe’s hand, and he led her away.

Nicolina’s voice rose in pitch and volume. “Am I your shit now? Are you going to let your brother speak to me like that?”

Enzo dragged his hand down his face.

Marco motioned for me to follow him. “We’ll have fun at the castle of the Woman Who Fled.”

“Is that what it means?” I could understand wanting to flee. The situation between Enzo and Nico had reached a pressure reading that threatened to put the destruction of Pompeii to shame.

“Don’t let all the arguing upset you,” Marco whispered.

“I’m used to loud Italians. Your brother is marrying my best friend, remember?”

“We aren’t all loud.” He kissed my hand and half dragged me to Gabe’s waiting car. “I’ll see you back at the villa.”

Sitting in the backseat, I watched Marco walk away. I had no doubt getting to know him better would be a blast, but wasn’t feeling it. My traitorous heart wanted Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding like a dieter wanted processed sugar.

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