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That shocks me. I try to think back to which one that might be.
“That’s why I ended up buying her whole collection. I loved them all so much, and I knew they held value to Katrina,” my husband confesses with a sly grin at me.
My brother stiffens as he realizes that the so-called art dealer who bought my art was actually my now-husband. Demetri squeezes my hand, and I look up at him. His lips are still curved in that sexy smile, and when he notices me looking at him, he kisses the tip of my nose.
He has my heart swooning. I push away the thought that if I continue to let him in, the floor will disappear from under me. I want positivity in my life. If I believe this is my happily ever after, it has to be.
“Seems like your love was fated and only a matter of time until the two of you got together,” Luca comments.
I’m trying to get a read on my brother. I can’t tell if he’s being sincere or not.
“I remember a time when you broke into my house, Luca Rossi, and tried to scare the shit out of me. But then you kept coming around, ensuring I stayed safe. Sometimes, love just needs a little push. If it wasn’t for your push, we would have never come to be,” Aly scolds him. It’s funny to watch. No one but she is able to talk to him like that. Ever.
“Women have a way of making us men change course.” Demetri chuckles. “Often, we’re too stubborn to do it ourselves.” His expression softens as his attention goes from my brother to me.
“I understand you changed nannies once Katrina moved in. What was the old one’s name? Eva, right?”
Demetri stiffens, and even just hearing her name, jealousy tries to worm its way into me. I push it out because Demetri is withmeand wasneverwith her.
Luca continues while refusing to read the room. “From my understanding, she was like a mother to your little girl.”
The men are staring at each other, the air in the small space thickening.
“How is the new build coming along for your yoga shop?” Demetri finally asks Aly but keeps his eyes locked with Luca’s.
Everyone is now glaring at each other, and my heart plummets. I wanted a nice night. Demetri made me believe I could be more to my family, but both men are determined to ruin that chance.
“Demetri, stop,” I hiss, hoping only he can hear me. I wish I was brave enough to slap my brother, showing him his outburst was uncalled for.
My brother and his wife stand to leave, and no one says goodbye. Only seconds pass before the room is silent as the two of us sit in it by ourselves. “Why did you make me believe I could get my family back, then sabotage that chance? You know my brother was baiting you,” I ask, fighting off the tears and the hurt that won’t disappear.
He flinches. “You’re taking his side over mine?” His eyes grow wide as he stares down at me, and that cold distance slithers its way between us, making it feel like we are farther away from each other.
His phone vibrates with a notification, his face turning from angry to sad to indifferent, before turning the screen to me. “Your gallery just burned down,” he says matter-of-factly while displaying the video of my gallery in flames from a news station.
My hands fly to my mouth. He’s emotionless to the news, cold in his delivery. My chest hurts from the drum of my heart. “How long have you known?” Have we been sitting here all night while he knew this was happening? We could have tried to save it instead of fighting with my brother.
“My head hurts.” His fingers rub circles on either side of his forehead.
“Did you do it?” I don’t know what causes me to ask that, but my pulse spikes as he just keeps massaging his temples.
“Why would you ask me that? I would never hurt you like that on purpose.”
“How?” I swear I can hear my heart shattering.
My phone interrupts me, and my brother’s name flashes across the screen. I pick up, placing it on speaker phone while my eyes stay on my husband.
“Hello?”
“Katrina, just saw the news. I’m sorry for the way I acted tonight. I only want you to be happy. I know I seem overbearing, mean, and rude, but that’s only because I’m trying to protect you. I will make an effort to not interfere with your marriage anymore. I love you. We all love you,” my brother apologizes.
“I know Luca. I love you too. I forgive you.”
Demetri’s face turns to stone as I talk, his high cheekbones highlighted on his face as he grinds his molars.
I end the call. How did this night end up so horribly wrong? “I don’t know why you look angry, when this is what you wanted. You wanted us to get along and all that family shit. But it has me wondering, how my gallery ended up going up in flames and you have no idea. That gallery is in your territory. It should have never happened unless you allowed for it to be torched.”
“There’s no reason for it to burn down.” His nose flares as he shows more of his emotions. “This is a colossal fuck up. But once again, you doubt me. Where does that put yourfamily, Katrina?”
