Page 118 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

“And?” My expression doesn’t change.

“You and Blue should come.” She offers, not dressing it up.

I let the silence hover for a second.

“No.” My answer comes out just as simple.

She doesn’t react.

“Think about it,” she presses, leaning forward slightly, her tone shifting into something more persuasive. “It’s not about you. It’s about her.”

“It’s always about her,” I correct, my voice steady. “Which is exactly why we won’t be there.”

“He made a hasty decision.” Atelia studies me, her fingers tapping once against her knee before stilling. “He wants to know her.”

“He doesn’t.” I counter, the words landing flat. “He made that very clear.”

“He’s had a change of mind.”

“After you talked to him?”

“After we talked to him,” she corrects with a shrug. “Enzo and I.”

“Do I even want to know about that?” I scoff, looking away.

“Look, Robert made a mistake.”

“And he should be the one fixing it, not sending his lap dog…” I flare.

“Ouch.” She places a hand on her chest, feigning injury. “He wanted to, but I told him I should do it instead. Woman’s touch and all.” She exhales. “Besides, you blocked his number, didn’t you?”

“So?” I meet her gaze again. “My decisions don’t need your approval.”

“No,” she agrees easily. “But they do have consequences.”

I hold her gaze.

“And so does his.”

“Fair,” she concedes.

Tension warps around us, biting now.

“So that’s it?” She asks. “You’re just going to… what? Keep her away?”

“I’m taking her to my foster mom,” I reply. “We’ll stay there for a while and I'll know what to do from there.”

Atelia leans back at that.

Really leans back this time, her shoulders easing, something in her expression changing in a way I didn’t expect.

“I get it now.” She smiles.

“Get what?”

“You’re not confused,” she continues, her gaze prying. “You’re just… stubborn in a very specific way.”

“That’s one way to put it.”