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31
MADDIE
It’s beenthree weeks since we returned home from Las Vegas, and it’s blissfully uneventful. It was such a whirlwind trip home, I was too exhausted to let my mind spiral into the worst-case scenarios.
We’re all in a new apartment together. It’s a temporary place while they figure out a new apartment. I’m grateful to have all my men around me all the time.
Ever since Dante and Matteo returned home a few hours after the meeting that sent us running home, they’ve been on edge. They explained what happened and the probable danger, which definitely made the decision to stay with them easier. Even if I miss alone time and my sister and cousin.
It’s been twenty-one days spent with my men. Well, kind of. The only one who stays back with me consistently is Leo. Aries has been scarce, doing . . . whatever it is he does. He once told me he collects secrets and uses them to our advantage, but when I press for details, he conveniently has places to be. Matteo and Dante are busy working on finding the people who are picking off their men while accelerating their plans to overthrow Angelo.
No matter how many times I offer to help, all three of them tell me the best thing I can do for them is to stay safe. While I appreciate the sentiment and their desire to protect me, I kind of thought we were through that. Truthfully, I’m itching to be helpful—to do something.
We’re staying at an apartment Dante found, close enough to my dorm room that I can stop by easily and see Lainey or Mary. But Lainey’s wrapped up in her own men right now, and Mary . . . well, let’s just say my sister didn’t take the whole Las Vegas family news well. I mean, I don’t know how someone can take that kind of news well, but at least I have my men to lean on. I worry about her, and she’s too angry to talk to me about it.
It’s a selfish thought, but sometimes I’m glad that I’m staying in Dante’s new place instead at the dorms with her. We’re far enough away that I don’t have to worry about running into her—or anyone else from school—on any of my early-morning coffee and muffin runs. You know, when I’m happy and freshly satisfied.
Dante’s an early riser too, and he likes to take his time in the mornings, working me over nice and slow before he starts his day.
Dante and I slip out of the apartment before anyone else today. The coffee shop around the corner has fresh blueberry oatmeal muffins and ginger peach iced tea. I know because I’ve stopped a few times a week over the last few weeks to grab a pastry and an iced tea. They have weekly specials, and today is the first day of the new flavors.
“Someone’s perky this morning.” Dante smirks down at me.
I tangle my hand in his and practically skip down the street. It’s quiet this time of day, well as quiet as a city that never sleeps can be. But at least it’s not unbearably hot yet. We’re having the hottest summer in twenty-five years, and if you get caught out here at noon without any shade, it’s torture.
“What’re you up to today? Wanna catch a movie or something? I think Leo’s getting sick of all the action movies.” I chuckle under my breath, remembering the way he vetoed my choice of Marvel movie yesterday. To be fair, we had just watched it last week.
“I’m sorry, Maddie. I have some things to take care of.” He leans over and kisses my temple.
I try not to let my disappointment show. “Oh, of course.”
“Tonight though? Any movie you want as long as there’s explosions.”
I flash him a wide smile. “I knew there was a reason I liked you, Dante Esposito.”
“You sure it isn’t because of that thing I do with my tongue?” He grins, this toothy smile that’s both cocky and charming.
I bark a laugh, caught off guard at his blunt teasing. “You’ve been hanging around Leo too much, haven’t you?”
He rolls his eyes, but the tips of his cheeks pinken. “The kid does liven things up, doesn’t he?”
I sigh, a wistful happiness washing over me. “Yeah. He’s pretty great.” I nudge my shoulder into his. “You all are.”
He grunts, his smile slipping and his jaw tightening. “Most of us, at least.”
I sigh again, my shoulders sagging. “You guys are going to have to work it out. I trust all of you, and that should be enough.”
We round the corner, and the pink sign for Betty’s Coffee and Cakes comes into view. I quicken my steps, eager to get the first batch of fresh muffins. I plan to grab some for the guys too, if they have any left. They often get crazy orders, and sell out before eight o’clock in the morning.
“I know, Maddie. Sometimes we’re blinded by our love for someone, and it shields their real intentions. I’m just looking out for you.”
I squeeze his fingers, my anxiety creeping up my back to wrap around my throat. “I appreciate it, Dante. But Aries isn’t going to hurt me. And we need to band together. We have too many adversaries and quasi-enemies to be fighting each other.”
He pulls us to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk and threads his hand in my hair by my ear. “Hey, no one’s fighting, baby girl. Okay?” He waits for my nod before he continues, “But it’s my honor as your man to protect you, so that’s what I’m gonna do, alright?”
I twist my lips to the side and look at him from underneath my lashes. “My man?”
He arches a brow. “That’s all you got from everything I said?”
