Page 41 of Daddies of the Underworld

As glad as I was to see him, I was still angry. He continued like he couldn’t see or feel it. “I fell in with some bad people, and I needed to get out.”

Luca took a single step forward. “What people?”

Matteo looked at him with a surprised expression. “No one important.”

Matteo touched Dante’s shoulder, and the man fell back, giving Matteo room to move into the room. “Unimportant people rarely make a man cross half a country without calling ahead.”

I opened my mouth, then shut it, because he was right. I hated that he was right, but that didn’t change facts.

Marco laughed, but it came out exhausted. “Look, I’m not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to see my sister.”

“Then you’ll stay for dinner.” Luca made it perfectly clear this was non-negotiable. I swung around to face him, and his smile returned, the sharp one I’d only seen once before. “Nina has been reticent in speaking about you. I would remedy that tragic oversight and let you tell us about yourself.”

Marco blinked. “Dinner?”

“Yes.” Luca stepped forward and clapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Unless you plan to run away before dessert, which I would take personally.”

Marco’s answering grin came easier this time. “I never run before dessert.”

“I need a minute with my brother.” I looked pointedly at the door. “Alone.”

They considered arguing, especially Dante, but they gave in and walked out, closing the door behind them.

“Talk to me, Marco.” I gripped his arms. “Tell me the truth. What’s really going on?”

He stared past me for a few seconds before answering. “I made mistakes, Nina. I was young and stupid, and I did things I regret. I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t fix everything.”

No, it didn’t, but it was enough for now. For now, I had my brother back.

12

LUCA

Marco ate like he hadn’t had a good meal in months.

He ate the way I wished Nina would, but she continued to pick at her food while Marco devoured his, then took food from hers and the table.

My fist clenched beneath the table, and I was not the only one holding back. Dante stewed hotter than a boiling soup.

Rosa brought in another platter of eggs, and Marco smiled at her with a deliberate wink. “Thank you.” He then proceeded to scrape half the eggs onto his plate and devour them. That kind of hunger, the kind that came hidden beneath charm made men dangerous, especially when mixed with desperation.

Nina sat beside Marco, her body language softer than I’d ever seen it. Not relaxed.

I wasn’t sure she ever relaxed, but she kept watching Marco’s plate and nudging food closer.

She even refilled his coffee, though she touched no one else’s, even her own.

Marco let her. If anything, he seemed to expect it.

Curses beat a pounding rhythm in my skull. “So.” I cut into a pear and stabbed a piece. “Bari and Naples. Sounds like you’ve had a very full year.”

Margo grinned around a bite of eggs. “I like to keep things interesting.”

Nina rolled her eyes, but there was relief in the motion. “You like to make things more difficult than necessary.”

“That too.”

Dante wrapped one hand around his coffee cup, the grip so tight it was a wonder it didn’t shatter.