AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I brought my eyes back to Lucca and to my brothers, who waited alert while the men behind shifted dangerously on their toes.
“You lost any right to her from the moment she becamemine.” Low and dark, Lucca sneered. “I won’t allow you or anyone to harm her in any way without consequences,” he threatened. “Don’t raise your hand at her again, Vitelli.”
My father shook in anger, a vein popping across his forehead. When he tried to snatch his arm away, Lucca let go but he never cleared my father’s path to me.
Leo stayed still, quietly with his head angled toward Enzo. He wasn’t too concerned about the scene that played out in front of him. He didn’t add anything. Not his usual smart comment, wicked smile of enjoyment, or even a gesture of regard.
It was unlike him.
It was frightening.
Nothing was right, and my skin shook with crawling shivers.
My father breathed heavily, and his gaze slid over to me. He rolled his shoulders back, and without a word, he turned. Enzo and Leo both stepped out of the way as he walked toward the SUV they’d traveled in. The three men who came with my family followed my father. He spoke a few words to them and entered the car.
That was it.
This reunion lastedminutes.
Two of the men joined my father inside the SUV while the other walked back to Enzo. Enzo gave him a quick nod, and the man I didn’t recognize went to the back trunk. Two large duffel bags were dropped at the bottom of the stairs before he jumped inside the passenger side.
Red lights rolled across the paved entrance, and my father was gone as quickly as he’d arrived.
“My father never intended to stay overnight. My apologies for his…sudden departure.” Enzo’s careful tone expressed. “Meanwhile, we—” His hand waved from Leo then back to him. “Don’t want to decline the offer out of respect for the agreement we made. That’s if your home is still open.”
What was happening?
My eyes shot to Lucca who watched Enzo too closely. He saw the same thing I did. There was a wedge between the Vitelli men. Broken ties and clashing views.
“Katia?” Lucca asked.
Lucca was askingmeto decide. His face was blank, and I couldn’t read his expression.
“Could I have a minute alone with them?”
His eyes hardened as his jaw twitched. He glanced at my brothers for a moment, then turned his attention behind them to his scattered men who walked through the premises.
Lucca didn’t want to leave me alone with my brothers, but I wasn’t afraid or worried about Enzo or Leo. They’d never caused me physical pain. Because in an odd way that I hardly comprehended, they cared for me in their own twisted way.
“Please,” I added.
Lucca took a deep breath and tilted his head.
“I’ll be in the dining room.” His fingers woefully slipped away from me, and he cast a glance over at the men he was leaving me behind to. “Enzo, Leo.”
They both nodded, and Lucca stepped away from me and into the home.
I closed the distance between my brothers and me, allowing the door to shut. A loud click echoed behind us, and I faced Leo first.
“What’s the matter with you?” My mask was long gone as I regarded him without a filter.
“Good to see you too.”
“Cut the bullshit,” I sneered.
Leonardo took a deep breath and smirked.
There he was.
