Page 46 of By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers 4)

She took my plate to serve me first as the only female guest but I quickly shook my head. “Nothing for me. Thank you.”

Everyone stared at me and my pulse sped up, a soft whooshing filling my ears.

“Sorry, I didn’t expect you to come along. I forgot to tell them,” Fabiano said with a grimace.

“Tell us what?” Aria asked, worry flitting across her face.

“I’m vegan so I don’t eat animal products.”

“Her brother and father slaughter people as a favorite pastime, and she doesn’t like to hurt animals,” Valerio exclaimed, starting to laugh as if it was the greatest joke of all time.

“That’s not how we treat guests,” Amo snarled, sending his brother a scowl.

Marcella’s attentive gaze moved lazily between Amo and me, reminding me of a cat about to pounce on her prey.

His mother blinked then cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, Greta. I’m sure our cook can whip up something for you really quick.”

The cook looked a little panicky. Many people found the idea of cooking without animal products daunting and it showed in their creations. Only Kiara had mastered the art of cooking for me. “No cheese? Cream? Eggs? Butter?”

I shook my head, feeling pity for the poor woman. She wasn’t dealing well with being put on the spot like that.

“How about I show you to the kitchen so you can check our cupboards and fridge for something you can eat?” Amo suggested.

“That would be very nice of you,” I said, trying not to sound too eager at the prospect of being alone with Amo.

Amo rose and so did I.

“Not going to happen,” Fabiano said, rising to his feet as well.

“Our son has been brought up to respect women and is capable of controlling himself, unlike the Falcone trio,” Luca said. Aria cleared her throat, her eyes widening in warning.

“Last week’s newspaper showed him respecting women all over the front page,” Fabiano said with a very unsettling smile. I could tell things were quickly going downhill but I wasn’t sure how to stop it. I wasn’t sure what Fabiano was referring to either.

“I didn’t know you kept up with our current affairs.”

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right?”

Marcella huffed and shoved back her chair, rising to her feet. With her high heels, she towered over me. “I’ll go with Greta.”

Fabiano looked between her and Aria then at me. I gave him a firm smile and he slowly sank back down but he wasn’t happy about it.

“Come on,” Marcella said.

Amo sent Fabiano a very nasty look. “I’ll go into the backyard for a bit. I need to cool down.”

I stifled a smile as Marcella led me out of the dining room, down a corridor toward the back and into a big luxury kitchen.

“So what about olives, ciabatta and truffle oil to dip it in?” she asked, then her lips thinned. “I thought you wanted to cool off.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Amo who came in through a backdoor. He motioned at a maid rolling out dough and she wiped her hands on an apron and dashed out into the backyard. I swallowed as my eyes took him in. I hadn’t dared doing so before.

He wore dark blue cargo pants and a simple gray T-shirt that matched his eyes and hugged his muscles in a very appealing way.

“I guess you’re hungry for something else than olives,” Marcella said, and my gaze darted to her, my skin flushing with heat.

Amo went over to her. “Can you give us a moment and make sure nobody bothers us?”

Marcella gave Amo an exasperated look. “Amo, you want me to keep watch while you’re alone with Greta Falcone?”

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