Page 30 of DeLucas After Dark

“You understand why it’s been troubling me?”

“No, I don’t. Explain it to me like I’m two.”

“For the past few phone calls, Pierangelo mentioned your relationship as a situation no DeLuca should be in.”

“What exactly did he say?”

“How can a man, let alone a DeLuca, be proud of the seed in his woman’s belly when someone else can claim it as his own?”

“So he doesn’t fucking approve. I don’t give a shit.” I more than don’t give a shit, but Pierangelo is a continent away and Sansone doesn’t deserve my ire.

“And you shouldn’t. Tácito is a de facto DeLuca, you’ll get no argument from me. But I haven’t told Pierangelo you’re going to Bari in my stead.”

“The fuck! Why?”

“It’s better to ask forgiveness than approval first. Plus I don’t know if he’s the one with the problem or if it’s Don Enzo.”

“Which means I’ll have to kiss the ring extra special when I arrive. Fuck, Sansone!”

“I know, but maybe have Tácito—”

“Not another word. Look, I promised to be what you needed in Bari, but don’t presume to tell me how when it involves my family.” I stand and stare down at my younger brother.

“Val, you know I don’t mean any harm. Tácito was the brother you needed before we knew about each other. I get that. I also don’t want to see any harm come to him.”

“And there won’t be. I’ll always protect mine, even if I have to go against the don to do so.” I walk out of Sansone’s house with a cloud of rage encircling me.

If anyone stops me now, I’ll be on the ten o’clock news for a crime my approval rating can’t make disappear. When I arrive home, Tácito is the first person I see.

One look at me and he nods toward the kitchen. I follow him inside and he begins selecting foods from the pantry and fridge to make me something to eat. It’s a habit he learned from his mother, Marisol.

I get a bottle of water and sit on the other side of the island to watch him. While I become a silent observer, Cielo leaps into my lap to rub her head under my chin. Although she accepts affection from everyone, she reserves her loyalty for Sloane. I peer down at the affection-hungry feline, thinking Tácito and I are much like Cielo in that way.

The silence is cut by rhythmic slicing and chopping as Tácito prepares something that will taste amazing. His dishes always do. He doesn’t prod me to unburden myself, and usually this tactic wouldn’t work on me. Today it does. Today Tácito is at the center of my protective anger.

“Sansone suggested you stay home while I go to Bari with Sloane.” My outburst causes him to pause while chopping chilis.

“And the reason?”

I repeat my conversation with Sansone and watch as disappointment clouds his gray eyes. “Don’t do that,” I growl, remembering his insecurity from years ago when we first married Sloane. Then he didn’t know where he belonged in our throuple, and I’ll be damned if I let his insecurity come back now.

“Do what?”

“Think for one second we’ll leave you behind. Sloane and I have never been ashamed of our relationship and we won’t start now because some ass hat cousin third removed of mine presumes to know anything about us.”

“It wouldn’t be a big deal for me to stay behind.”

“I call bullshit. It would be a big fucking deal for me. Then there’s Sloane.”

“Don’t try to use her to sway me.”

“Then don’t put me in a position where she’ll be upset because you aren’t with us. Or did you think she would enjoy Italy without you?”

Tácito lays the knife down to face me in earnest. “If you explain—”

“You can’t believe the shit you’re trying to feed me. There’s no explanation that will make you not being with us okay. And don’t think I don’t know what will happen if we left. Without seeing Sloane every day, you’ll work yourself nonstop until there’s nothing left of you. Then imagine Sloane’s reaction.” Without giving him time to respond, I continue, “But she won’t let it get that far. If, and that’s a big ass if, Sloane and I did get to Bari without you, it would be with her chewing my ass out the entire way until I got you on a plane to join us. So you might as well be on the same flight as us from the beginning.”

“But what if my being there jeopardizes Sansone’s position?”

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