Page 146 of Brutal Revenge
I’m not foolish for telling Matteo how I feel.
This morning was the most honest I’ve been in a long time.
Not wanting to be caught spying like Matteo and I were spied on only minutes ago, I clear my throat. Dante’s eyes shoot to mine, narrowed and brimming with anger.
Lucia’s greeting is much more welcoming. “Azra, hi.” I realize not all her smile is in greeting when she asks, “Are you okay? You’re looking a little disheveled.” She joins me by the doorway and pulls a lemon leaf out of my hair. “And growing sprouts.”
“I… ah… we… ah…”
She bumps me with her hip, then gestures for me to follow her inside Dante’s office. It’s the size of a living room and has all the gadgets and gimmicks the money man of a mafia family would need.
“Do you want to talk to Dante or me?”
I grimace before replying, “Dante. If that’s okay with you?”
Lucia smiles warmly. “Of course it is.” She turns to Camille, then drops her jaw. “Want to sneak something naughty to eat before lunch?”
Before Camille can voice her approval, Lucia’s hand shoots up to her mouth, and she bolts for the bathroom.
A second later, heaving echoes out of the attached room.
Dante rushes in to check she’s okay, and I follow on instinct.
Lucia kneels near the toilet, pale and trembling. Dante crouches beside her, rubbing her back and whispering soothing words. His face shows worry, but he dotes on Lucia the way Matteo dotes on me. It’s both instinctive and protective.
Lucia rinses her mouth before forcing a smile. “Sorry. I’ve had a terrible stomach bug the past couple of days.” She rakes her fingers through Camille’s hair, who is looking at her with as much fret as Dante is. “I’ll brush my teeth, and then we will go raid the pantry.”
She kisses Dante’s cheek, ruffles Camille’s hair one last time, then leaves.
With my suspicion too high to discount, I turn to Dante. “Does that happen often?”
He frowns. “Up until a couple of days ago, no. But now she wakes up vomiting instead of with my head between her—” He stops in just enough time to remember we have the company of little ears. Camille does a good job pretending she isn’t listening, but her ears take in far more than she makes out. “Fingers crossed it goes away soon.”
“Are you sure it’s a stomach bug?” I watch him walk around his desk and sit before his computer. “Could it besomethingelse?”
He chuckles when I inconspicuously nudge my head to Camille. “No. We’ve always used protection…”
His words trail off before he lunges for his laptop. Flipping it open, he checks his calendar.
Seconds later, his throat constricts as he swallows, and his pupils dilate.
“Camille.” His voice is soft, as if he’s afraid if he speaks too fast it will pop the excitement building around him. “Want to help me surprise Mama with a gift?”
Camille lights up instantly before she nods.
Dante grabs their coats, still pale but smiling like he won the jackpot.
“Azra, I’m sorry,” he says as he ushers Camille toward the door. “We can talk after I run into town.”
“That’s actually what I need help with,” I say quickly, freezing him halfway out of his office. “I need something in town. Can I come with you?”
He hesitates, his nose screwing up. “Do you think Matteo will beokay with that? He’s… very possessive over you.” I can’t tell if his smile is genuine or forced. “He told all of us to back off. Even the ones who already have partners.”
I giggle before I can stop myself. It’s not the right time, but I love his jealousy.
“I can handle Matteo.”
Dante shakes his head, amused. “You’re braver than I am,” he says as he gestures for me to follow him to an SUV.
