Page 33 of Say I Do

The reporters chuckled when I did, all trained monkeys that performed on command. Harlow waved at them, a sweet smile on his face. I ignored the questions that were asked about his dress. I had no damn clue what to make of that, either. We ducked inside, and I sighed as soon as we were out of the open.

“Wow,” Harlow mused. “The way you lie so easily is almost scary.”

“Yeah? You have a problem with that?”

He chuckled. “Not at all. It’s just funny to watch you turn into a greasy politician. Those types have always disgusted me.”

“Then it’s a good thing I don’t give a fuck what you think about me, huh? Vitale party,” I said as the hostess waltzed over.

“Right this way,” she said as she gathered two menus and waved an arm.

We followed behind her in silence, but I felt the way Harlow’s arm tightened around mine. I glanced at him, but his face was a blank mask. It always reverted to that state when he wasn’t screwing with me.

What goes on in that mind of his?

I stopped worrying about Harlow when we reached the table. Enzo sat beside Tex, his face impassive as Tex chatted with Ash, who sat across from him. The two of them laughed easily as Giancarlo draped his arm over Ash’s shoulders. It was odd seeing my brothers with the men who loved them. So much had changed. My chest tightened.

“Yo, Benito!” Gin called. His face stretched into an even bigger grin. “Can we eat already or what?”

Ash elbowed him. “Behave. Please,” he added, already looking stressed.

I led Harlow over to the table and pulled out his chair for him. From all over the room, I felt eyes on us. The kind that bore into the skin and made your hair stand on end. I glanced around, but everyone’s attention was where it should be. Not on us. I took a seat.

“Harlow, these are my brothers, Enzo and Giancarlo.”

“Hello,” Enzo said.

“‘Sup?” Giancarlo asked.

I swallowed a groan. “And these are their partners, Tex and Ash.”

“Nice to meet you.” Tex smiled before Enzo cleared his throat. He rolled his eyes. “Ignore my boyfriend. He’s crazy.”

Ash just waved. Giancarlo tugged him closer, and I wanted to smack both of them. They were less men than rapid, possessive hellhounds at this point. I flagged the waiter and ordered for both of us. Wine for Harlow, red, since that seemed to shut him up. Scotch for me since I would be damned if I stayed stone-cold sober tonight.

“So when is the wedding?” Tex asked, breaking the ice.

“Soon,” Harlow answered. “Gabriela is planning it.”

Enzo raised a brow as Giancarlo’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. They both turned to stare at me.

“You’re letting your mother take care of this?” Enzo asked

“Wow, that is insane,” Gin whistled. “Especially since she’s a fucking bi—”

“Don’t,” I warned him. “We’ve had this fight before.”

“Yeah, and it ends with me painting your office in my blood while you pummel me,” Gin said. “But I don’t give a fuck. That woman is a demon from the bowels of hell. Not to mention toxic as fuck.”

I raised a brow. “Look at yourself in the mirror and then try to say that again with a straight face.”

“Wait.” Harlow held up a hand. “You two don’t have the same mother?”

“None of us do.” Gin shrugged. “Our father is a man-whore. We all have different mothers, but Gabriela really hated mine,” he growled. “Still does.”

I frowned. Giancarlo had never liked my mother, not that I could blame him. He’d seen the way she treated me over the years, watched the hate my mother tossed at his for being married to our father. Enzo’s mother never received the same treatment because he didn’t marry her. That was the only difference. I understood why it pissed him off but now wasn’t the time.

“Enough,” I said as I leveled him with a stare. “We’re not going to talk about it tonight.”

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