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I’m stung, as though Jack has insulted my honor instead of Leo’s. “He’s not a liar, Jack. And need I remind you why he’s here at all?”
Jack sighs. “How many times do I need to apologize for that?”
“You’ve barely apologized to Leo at all!”
Sandro holds up a hand, and we both fall silent. But he watches my face carefully. “If you are sure it is different,” he says to me slowly, “then perhaps you should prove it to us. Bring your Lion to dinner with Teddy tonight. Jack and Miller are coming over, too.”
Jack snorts. “Miller and I will not be attending.”
“It’s business, Jack,” Sandro says apologetically. “You will be there, even if your lover will not. But I do hope you’ll bring Miller. I know Teddy enjoys spending time with him.” Jack is about to protest, but Sandro talks over him. “Let’s discuss it privately, eh? And Julian…keep your feelings in check for now, whatever they are. We cannot afford any more missteps with the Bernardis.”
I leave the room feeling a strange mix of gratitude and resentment. I hate that they don’t trust me, hate that they see Leo as the enemy instead of…whatever he is to me. But at least they’re giving me a chance to prove myself.
And maybe tonight I can convince them that Leo is more than just a pawn in our war with the Bernardis.
CHAPTER40
LEO
I wakeup feeling a lot better than I did yesterday, even if I’m still a little sore. As I get out of bed, I stretch and try to shake off the remaining stiffness. It’s much later than I usually get up, and I’m starving again. So I head to the shower and then dress again in the clothes I came in—someone’s washed and ironed them, including my fucking jeans, which will never be the same again—and then I pick up my phone.
I’m so tempted to turn it on again. Check my messages. But if anyone in my Family finds out where I am—
Before I can run a mental list of who might figure it out based on my phone location, there’s a knock on my door. I open it to find Julian standing there.
“Hello, Leo,” he says. “Can I come in?”
“It’s your house,” I point out. “Do what you want.” But I step aside to let him in, and he walks over to the bed and sits down on it. I close the door and join him, taking a seat next to him.
“I wanted to apologize,” he starts, looking down at his hands. “For what happened yesterday. I shouldn’t have...I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”
“Huh? You didn’t hurt me or anything. It’s fine.”
It was more than fine, actually. I always blast harder with Julian than any other guy, and yesterday was no exception.
His eyes hold a mixture of guilt and something else I can’t place. “That’s not the point. I shouldn’t have put my hands on you like that. Choked you.”
“I liked it.”
“Still,” he insists. “It wasn’t right.”
I shrug. “Okay. Apology accepted, or whatever.”
“Also…” He swallows. “I wanted to talk to you about dinner tonight.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Dinner tonight?”
Julian’s eyebrows knit together. “I need you—I’d like you—to come with me to a dinner party. With Sandro and Jack…and their guests.”
“Why?”
“Sandro has asked us to be there.”
I tip my head to one side. “Sandro’syourBoss. Not mine.”
He stands abruptly. “You’re right, of course. Forget it.”
I grab him on his way toward the door. “Hold on, Castellani. I want to know what’s going on, that’s all.”
