“So you admit there are two. Interesting.”
“You’re supposed to be the nice brother,” I grumble.
“No, I’m the one who keeps you all from killing each other. I’m not necessarily ‘nice’,” Dario says, gagging at the very idea. “You’ve had a crush on Pablo for years. I noticed because I have fucking eyes. Isn’t this a good thing?”
“You may have noticed, but I’ve put in a lot of work to make Pablo believe we will always just be brothers. Nico and he had an instant connection. I didn’t want to mess with that. I never thought I’d be someone capable of sharing. Now…”
Verona chooses this moment to open her eyes and screams when she sees me. Damn. I’m going to end up with a complex.
It would figure that I’m the one closest to her.
“You’re safe,” I reassure her. “Look beside you. Rosalia is right there. We had a doctor come by and treat your wound. We are the Domino brothers. I can get Nico if you’d like.”
Verona makes a fake spitting sound, and it occurs to me that she’s ridiculously Italian. It’s either that, or she’s picked up a thing or two while she’s been living with the Accetta’s.
“Why am I hooked up to this?” she asks weakly, her eyes narrowing as she sees the IV. “Renzo wanted me to die alone in the church while everyone celebrated Rosalia’s wedding day. How close was he to getting his wish?”
“Very,” Dario says, standing. “The IV is to keep away infection and rehydrate you. Your life is tied to Rosalia’s. Don’t be a fool and drink the water I’m getting you.”
Verona drops her head back with a thump, making me wince.
“Let’s also try not to get any more bruises,” I grumble. “How did you allow yourself to get caught by the Don?”
She slowly raises her middle finger to flick me off, and I can’t help but grin. Arguing is the equivalent of foreplay for me mostof the time. I doubt my stepbrother really understands this as when I’m not avoiding him, I’m teasing him. Sometimes, I allow myself to poke the bear.
“It didn’t…fuck.” Coughing wracks her body, and I wince as I lean forward to help her sit.
Verona flaps her free hand at me to force me away from her, and all I can do is chuckle under my breath. Dario pops me over the back of my head before handing the glass to Verona. He makes sure she can hold it, and then quickly takes it back once she’s had her fill.
I can see how shaky her hand is, and I watch her carefully as she pulls her legs closer to herself.
“The table is not comfortable, but it’s better than a crawl space under the stairs,” she mutters under her breath.
“Excuse me?” I ask, raising my brow. Okay, I’m not going to tease her anymore. This girl has obviously been through some shit. “Care to explain?”
“My grandmother wanted to protect me. It didn’t work, because I’m too hardheaded,” she shrugs. “Where is Rosalia’s husband to be?”
“I’m just the husband now,” Nico says, leaning against the wall. He usually sounds like an elephant when he walks, and today he decides to be a fucking ninja. Wonderful. “I’m Nico. Lovely to meet you, Verona.”
Fear slides through her eyes, and I frown. My brother is a lot of things, but he’s not dangerous unless there’s a reason for it.
“I think we need to have a big girl and boy conversation,” I murmur. “It’s a pity that Rosalia is still asleep, but that might be for the best since you’ve only just opened up your eyes and screamed in my face after we saved your life.”
“You make me sound ungrateful,” Verona sighs. “Thank?—”
“Don’t thank us,” Nico says. “It’s not necessary, and we don’t need it. What I do need to do is to discuss a few things withyou. There have been some interesting developments since the wedding.”
“How very vague of you,” she drawls, twitching the blanket Pablo pulled over her before he left. It doesn’t escape my notice that he didn’t follow Nico into the room.
I wonder if he realizes yet that he’s scent matched to one other Domino brother. My money is on him not knowing.
“The marriage will stand,” my brother continues. Shit, he means business. Sprawling out lazily in my chair, I ignore the scathing look Verona gives me for the disrespect I seem to be showing this conversation. “I need to be married in order to receive my inheritance, keep my connections in business, and because I strongly suspect that Rosalia is my scent match.”
“I beg your finest pardon?” Verona asks. “How would you not immediately know? The second Rosalia and I presented, I knew she was my scent match.”
“Verona. I swear I’m not the enemy,” Nico says gently. “Did I fuck up during this marriage arrangement? Yes. However, I’ve always been the one standing between Renzo murdering Rosa or her killing herself.”
Verona’s blue eyes shutter as she thinks about losing Rosalia, and I have to hold back a wince.
