Page 35 of Soulmates

The man smiled back. “I’m Joriel. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Piper.” I debated offering Joriel my hand, but his hands were shoved into the pockets of his jeans, and I got the impression he’d rather not take them out. “Please come in.” I stepped back from the door to allow them space.

Mamma appeared in the archway that led from the entry to the dining room. She was wiping her hands on a white apron that covered the front of her skirt. “It’s so nice to meet you both. I’m Violetta. Nacio isn’t here yet, but please make yourselves comfortable.” She gestured toward the living room on the other side of the entry.

I had no idea where Papa or Quinn were, and until they made an appearance, it was up to me to play hostess.

I was going to kill Nacio when he finally got here.

Joriel followed me to the couch and armchairs arranged in a semicircle around the glass coffee table in front of the television. He sat in one of the chairs, ankle crossed over his knee. “You have a beautiful home.”

“Thank you.” I tried to keep my focus on Joriel, but I couldn’t help sneaking a peek at Samuel as he crossed the living room to the picture window that offered a view of the stone patio in the backyard. I forced my gaze back to Joriel. “Um, how do you know Nacio?”

“We actually just met last weekend,” he answered. “I’m helping Samuel with a training program.”

“What kind of training?”

“None of your business,” Samuel said from the window without so much as looking over his shoulder.

Joriel rolled his eyes and sighed. “Yes, he’s always like this. You get used to it eventually.”

A door banged in the entry, and a second later Nacio was storming into the living room, looking more pissed than I’d seen him in… at least several days.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He thrust inked fingers into his hair, sent a quick glare at Samuel’s back, and looked at me. “What are you doing?”

I narrowed my eyes at the accusation in his tone. “At the moment I’m sitting in the living room of the house I live in. Care to be more specific?”

“There’s something I need to tell you. In private.”

Dread settled like a rock in my stomach.

Nacio held out a hand to help me off the couch.

I stared at his hand like it was a venomous snake I was afraid would bite me. Ignoring the offer, I stood on my own, apologizing to Joriel as I followed my brother through the glass doors to the backyard.

“That was rude,” I said as soon as the door was closed behind us.

Nacio ignored me as he stormed down the steps of the landing outside the doors and past the large window Samuel had been looking out of.

“What is going on?”

“Why is Sam here?” he asked.

I blinked at him. “Excuse me? I’m not the one who invited him for dinner. According to Mamma,yourfriends were coming.”

“I invited Joriel,” Nacio bit out. “JustJoriel.”

“Well, perhaps this is a conversation you should be having with him then. I didn’t invite Samuel over, and even if I did, it’s none of your business. You don’t get to dictate who I talk to. You are not my father, nor am I a child incapable of making my own decisions.”

He ran his hands through his hair again. “I’m just trying to protect you.”

“Well, stop.”

“He doesn’t deserve you, Piper. You come from two different worlds. Worlds that don’t mix.”

My fists clenched at my sides. I wasn’t sure if I was insulted for myself or for Samuel, but I knew I didn’t like Nacio’s tone one bit. “I can decide for myself who is and isn’t worthy of me. Thank you for your concern, but it is both unnecessary and unwelcome.”

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