Page 18 of Forbidden Bond

I glare at her. She married into our family a few months ago, and while I used to think that anyone who would willingly do so was crazy, she seems really happy. Happy and in love. Christian’s the coldest of us all. The most out of touch with reality, the most inhumane, and yet somehow, he got a woman to fall in love with him.

They have their problems, of course, but now he has a family, a wife and a son. My brother got lucky, and judging by the way he looks at both of them with love and adoration, I can tell he knows it. He deserves it, though. Christian might be an asshole, but I love that he was able to settle down and build a life for himself.

“No fighting!” Mamma says authoritatively.

She’s 5’3” with short dark hair and eyes exactly like mine. She’s tiny, but I’ve seen her stand up to men much larger than her and put them in their place. It’s why her relationship with my dad worked so well. She has always been strong and I admire her so much for it.

“We’ll have a nice family lunch, after which we’ll play board games to celebrate Topher’s birthday.”

Christian lets out a chuckle at that. His eyes gleam as he rearranges the cuffs of his black shirt.

“I’m not Topher, Mom, but even I know he wouldn’t be caught dead playing board games with us on the night of his birthday.”

All eyes swing to me to hear what I have to say to that, and I shrug.

“He’s right. Sorry, Mom. I have plans with a couple of my friends tonight.”

“He probably means clubbing,” Christian says easily.

I glare at him. “You just love getting all up in my shit, don’t you?”

“Of course, I do.” He smiles. “Have fun tonight, fratello.”

I’m still glaring when Daniella clears her throat to distract us. “Topher, I haven’t seen you entangled with anyone recently. No hook-ups, no girls hanging around you.”

“What are you fishing for, cognata?” I drawl.

She reaches for a scone in the middle of the table, biting into it with an innocent expression. “Just wondering if you maybe have a girlfriend.”

My mother’s eyes widen and a grin takes over her face. “You do? Oh, that’s wonderful, Christopher. Who’s your girlfriend? When will you bring her home?”

Carlo snorts. “He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

“Thank you,” I grumble. “Where would I even find a girlfriend?”

Daniella frowns. “I was just being hopeful. You’ve been pretty low-key for a while.”

“I’ve been busy,” I tell her, shifting uncomfortably. This family dinner is quickly turning into an inquisition. This is why I don’t come over often—everyone’s always all up in my business.

“But there are rumors you’ve been hanging out with—”

“Tesoro,” Christian says lightly, “he says he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Let it go.”

Daniella says something under her breath that only he hears, and he smiles softly, taking her hand in his. Just like that, they’re stuck in their own little world. Carlo, who’s beside me, bumps my shoulder lightly.

“They’re just worried about you, fratello,” he states.

“They worry when I’m causing trouble and they worry when I’m not.”

“Exactly,” my brother says. “Because you’re family.”

After lunch, my mom follows me out to my car.

“Be careful, figilia mia.”

I give her a look. “You know me, Mamma. I’m always careful.”

The look on her face is serious. “Everyone has a right to be worried, Christopher. You’ve changed. You smile a lot less these days.”

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