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“Good,” Giovanni says, bringing my focus back to him. He’s looking at Amadeo and I figure he’s picking up on the same odd vibes that I am. “Where was he?”
Amadeo’s lips somehow find a way to press into an even firmer line. “In his bedroom.” And there goes that disgust again, as if he has something in his mouth he wishes he could spit out.
Giovanni lips open, but he’s cut off as Maximo bounds into the room with a pep in his step. “What are we talking about?” he asks and despite the amusement in his words, I don’t miss the cool look he shoots his brother.
Giovanni sighs, pinching his nose. “Enzo. I couldn’t get a hold of him all this morning so I sent Amadeo in search of him.”
“Oh yeah?” Maximo asks in interest. His lips twitch like he’s in on a private joke. “Where did you find him?” He turns his gaze on Amadeo and something tells me he already knows the answer to his question.
Amadeo’s lips curl back and his gaze is pinched as he looks at Maximo. I can see the wheels turning in his head and I wish I could read his mind, because apparently he’s working out a pretty interesting situation. His eyes widen the smallest fraction before he shakes his head minutely. “He was in his bedroom.”
“Why wasn’t he answering his phone?” Giovanni asks in frustration.
Maximo lets out what can’t be…is he giggling?
I look at the joy on his face and the way his shoulders shake. Yep, he’s most definitely giggling.
Which makes Amadeo’s expression turn murderous as he looks at him before he clears the look, his gaze moving to Giovanni. “Apparently, he’d been cuffed to his bed since mid day yesterday.” There’s definitely more to it than Amadeo is saying.
And Maximo is on the edge of bursting a stitch as he laughs. He bends at the waist, placing his hands on his knees as he peers up at Amadeo. “It was a sight that you got, wasn’t it?” he asks, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
Amadeo scowls, but doesn’t give an answer.
Giovanni seems to be just as curious as I am, his gaze moving back and forth between the two men. He stuffs a hand in his pocket, a crease forming between his brows. “Anyone want to let me in on the joke?” he asks, his tone short and dry.
Maximo stands up straight, letting out one last chuckle. “Well brother, you told me to make sure Enzo and I were on the same page. Safe to say, we arenot.” Some of his amusement fades before returning. “But I made sure to give him a little gift in an effort to change his mind.”
“He was covered in semen and blood with his dick out,” Amadeo reveals, his eyes wide as he looks at Maximo.
Well fuck.
I’m not as surprised by the revelation as I should be. That sounds exactly how Maximo would leave Enzo. A part of me wishes I would have had a front row view while the other half cringes.
Giovanni’s head snaps in the direction of his brother. “Is he still alive?” he asks.
Maximo rolls his eyes and now I can tell he’s irritated as he offers his brother a flat look. “Why do you keep insisting I have homicidal tendencies toward Enzo?”
“Because you shot by his he-”
“A thing of the past,” Maximo cuts him off. “If you’re going to keep bringing it up, I have better ways to spend my time.” He turns his back on his brother and now Giovanni is the one who looks homicidal. Maximo’s eyes move over me, stopping at the hem of my skirt before moving up to my cleavage. “Don’t you look good enough to eat?”
My skin flushes and I shift, trying to tell myself his words shouldn’t be flattering. “I’m going back to work,” I tell him, my throat feeling dry. When he’snottrying to kill or harm you, there’s something so intense and alluring to Maximo’s gaze that makes you forget who he really is.
I’ve decided to bask in those moments instead of thinking too hard on them.
He frowns and his eyes move to the brace on my leg before he moves closer. His soap invades my nose, woodsy with a hit of mint, as his hands move over my leg. He brushes the brace, making a low humming noise. When his fingers drop along my skin, I realize he’s touching the actual knife wound, keeping his touch gentle.
It makes my knees shake, and not from pain.
I suck in a deep breath and Maximo’s gaze moves to mine, his brows furrowing. “You’re still in pain.” I think he means it as a question, but it definitely comes out as a statement. His lips thin and he whirls around, looking at his brother. “Why is she going back to work if she's in pain?”
Giovanni folds his arms over his chest, giving his brother a look so steely I almost step away. When his nostrils flare, Idotake a step back. “She wants to go back and the doctor cleared her. I know what the hell I’m doing, brother, but if it makes you feel better, she won’t be going back to a full shift.”
Which is unfortunate.
Because I’d had to nearly beg him to allow me to go back, something I’d realized he’d enjoyed too much from the look in his eyes. He’d only agreed after the doctor told him it was fine as long as I didn’t overdo it. So, a shorter shift but a shift all the same. I can finally get out of this tense house.
Maximo says something under his breath.
