* * *
“You’re late,”my mother growled at my father as he stood there looking sheepish. “As usual.”
“Don’t be that way,” he grinned. “My flight was delayed. Sorry I missed the rehearsal.” He turned to Harlow and me. “Son.”
We hugged in that way that was disgustingly awkward every single time. He stepped back, and his eyes instantly went to Harlow.
“You must be Harlow Hayashi. Well, Vitale now.” His grin grew as he stuck out a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Harlow stared down at his hand and then back up at my father. “Sorry, am I supposed to shake the hand of the man my father worked with to screw me over? I’m doing my part. That’s it. I’m not going to play nice.”
I stifled a snort as my father stared at Harlow in shock. No one talked to Cesare Vitale that way, but Harlow wasn’t just anyone. He didn’t give a fuck. Dangerous? Yes. Somehow a relief? Also yes.
“What?” my mother asked. “Benny, what’s he talking about?”
“Nothing,” I said at the same time as my father. “And it’s not Benny,” I added.
My mother rolled her eyes. “I’m the one that named you. I can give you a nickname too.”
Right. I forgot how stubborn she could be.
“Are we going to eat? I’m starving,” I said as I tried to redirect the conversation.
“Of course. We’ll discuss things later.” My father smiled at Denji as he joined us. “Let’s talk, the two of us. Gabriela, come along.”
My mother narrowed her eyes at him. “Cesare…”
“Do you really want to fight?” Cesare asked. “We’re here to celebrate our son getting married. Let’s not start an argument now.”
He held out a hand, and my mother stared at it before she bit her lip. Like the sucker she was, she extended her hand and laced her fingers through his. I saw her giddy expression as she lit up. My stomach turned.
Same old song and dance.
“What the fuck is this?”Benito bellowed.
I groaned as I lifted my head and blinked away the remainder of the peaceful dream I was having. Something to do with Benito fucking me and us having fun killing someone.
“You screaming at the ass crack of dawn at your phone isn’t appealing,” I yawned.
Benito didn’t give me so much as a glance as he hopped out of bed, phone in hand. His firm ass flexed as he walked over to the bathroom. He had such a fine ass I wanted to take a bite. He was still stingy with letting me rim him. I just knew once he let me, I’d open his eyes to a whole new world.
Another groan, followed by something breaking, had me rolling out of bed. Benito rarely showed any emotion, but lately, he’d been letting more and more show. But only around me. I knew it shouldn’t have made me feel special. However, there was nothing I could do about the warmth that blanketed me every single time.
I pushed the door open. Benito leaned over the sink brushing his teeth as if they’d been what caused his shit mood so early in the morning. The sun was still breaking the horizon, bathing the bathroom in orange and pink light.
“Are you going to tell me what crawled up your ass, or are we playing the guessing game today?”
“Not now, Harlow,” Benito spat out.
Did he just try and dismiss me?
Anger twisted my insides. I walked over to the shower and opened the glass door. The best choice was to leave him until he was ready to talk. But I wasn’t the greatest at making good decisions. I grabbed one of the shower heads off the wall and moved as close as it let me. I turned the water on, making sure it was ice cold and blasted it at Benito.
He whirled around and batted the water out of his face. It would be hilarious if I wasn’t angry with him.
“Turn it off,” Benito commanded.
“Say the magic words.”