Page 94 of Titan

Edric almost choked on his champagne.

“I’m so glad you approve.”

Verona’s eyes narrowed as if she was trying to work out whether I was joking or not.

“So, what do you do, Theia? Hope you’re not sponging off our family like Zayn’s girlfriend is.”

Theia looked up at me with wide eyes as if to say ‘your cousin is blunt’ before her expression cleared and her spine straightened. She turned to my cousin and plastered a bright smile on her face.

“I’m a performer at Zayn’s club.”

Verona blinked before placing her hand on her hip and giving Theia the once over. Then she looked impressed.

“Oh. Well, all the more power to you.”

I don’t know what I was expecting Verona to say in response, but it hadn’t been that.

“Thank you.”

Verona gave her a tight smile and looked at Edric again. He was staring at her as if he didn’t know what to make of my cousin. It was the first time I’d seen Edric stumped by a woman.

“And you, what do you do? Ed-something?”

“It’s Edric,” he replied without any hint of the usual amusement in his voice. “And I’m Gil’s underboss.”

“You’re his what?”

“Underboss. Second-in-command.”

Verona looked at me with a raised brow.

“What is he talking about?”

Zayn clearly hadn’t told our cousins about the new arrangement, considering they weren’t involved in the mafia. I was sure Martina knew, but she kept her daughters away from the dangers of our life, just as her husband had when he was alive.

“I took Gennaro’s place as head of the mafia,” I said in a quiet voice since I wasn’t going to shout it from the fucking rooftops.

“Zayn is lettingyourun things? Wow, okay. And this is your underboss?” Verona snorted. “I thought you were the sensible one, Gil.”

Edric stepped closer to her.

“Excuse me, what is that supposed to mean?”

She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Well, my cousin here looks like he could kill a man without blinking, but you…” She waved at him. “You look like a fuckboy who couldn’t tie his own shoelaces without help.”

I’d never seen Edric’s mouth drop open so fast. Verona gave him a nasty smile before she turned away to her boss, dismissing all of us. I took a hold of Edric’s arm and pulled him away from my cousin, knowing if I didn’t, he might cause a scene. By the time we reached the double doors leading out onto the deck, he’d shut his mouth and was glaring at Verona from over his shoulder.

“Well, she’s… interesting,” Theia said.

“More like a bitch,” Edric muttered before turning to me. “You could have warned me.”

I shrugged. I was so used to my cousin being mean to people it hadn’t occurred to me to mention it.

“And ruin the surprise?”

“She called me a fuckboy!”

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