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Was he seriously pissed because I made small talk with his brother while he ignored everyone in the car, including me?
Fuck this.
I leaned forward until I met Alessandro’s eyes again. “How did he survive this long without any social skills?
Alessandro shrugged, but his eyes wrinkled and shone with amusement. “Mom really tried, but he was a clumsy kid, probably fell on his head one too many times. Then he abandoned the family and spent the last decade as a hermit somewhere.”
“Zitto!”
Alessandro chuckled.
Cristo turned back around, a grin on his face. “Gabri only pretends to be dangerous. In reality, he’s the biggest snuggler of the three of us. Ask Mamma.”
“Silenzio, o ti butto fuori dalla macchina,” Gabe said.
His Italian sounded sexy.
“What did he say?”
Cristo’s eyes crinkled. “He’s threatening to throw us out of the car if we don’t shut up.”
“That’s not very nice.” I leaned into Gabe, my lips touching his ear. “You really should be nicer to your brothers. They clearly love you.”
He turned his head to me, his eyes reflecting his utter disbelief. Then he leaned in for a bruising kiss that left me breathless and panting.
“Either you shut up or I’ll gag you. Your choice.”
His eyes glittered with mischief.
And I just knew he would prefer the latter.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
The flight had been short and luckily, as uneventful as the drive to our family home on the outskirts of Verona.
When the heavy gate opened and I caught my first look at Villa Caliginis, my chest constricted. Another first. The first time home with my papa gone.
I looked sideways at Sophie.
She’d been quiet, lost in thought. Was she thinking about her sisters? Or was she thinking about her immediate departure?
Her leaving me?
I shook my head. She was never mine, to begin with. She’d made that abundantly clear from the start.
When we arrived at the villa, she didn’t even look around. Even though I fully expected a comment. Some kind of sassy mentioning of how the golden spoon I was born with had destroyed my ability to empathize.
Or maybe she didn’t comment because she was used to beautiful houses, extravagant driveways, and the crystal-clear turquoise of infinity pools.
But this was home. A home I’d missed more than I ever thought I would.
I helped her out of the car, and once I’d entered the beautiful foyer, with its marble floor and imperial staircase, I inhaled deeply.
Home.
“Let’s hit the club before Enzo knows we’re here,” I said to my brothers. Then I turned to Sophie next to me. “You can stay here. Rest a little.”
She looked at me and waited.
