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Anya darts off as soon as everyone split up, who is now nowhere to be seen. Probably off studying the blueprints she’s been obsessing over for weeks in Bash’s office—another weird thing he lets her get away with. He never lets anyone except my father, myself, and Enzo in his office without him being present.
My father and Cesare head off like they’re old high school buddies or some shit. Cosima shows the men to their cabins, while Valentina shows Dominic to his room and gives him a tour of the mansion. Cesare and Dominic stay in our home as a sign of respect as cape and heir. The glare Anya shot at me when Bash confirmed there were more rooms was priceless. I make my way to the security room, needing to wrap up some things before I can play host with my family.
After an hour, I head to the foyer and find Anya heading back to Bash’s office, I assume. I sneak up on her from behind and grab her waist, which, apparently, isn’t the right move. She screams, elbowing me in the face. Water flies everywhere.
“What the hell, babe!” I pinch my nose with one hand and rub my head that’s now drenched in water.
“What’s wrong with you?” she replies, trying to suppress her laugh. “You gave me a heart attack.”
Just then, Dominic and Tony appear at the top of the staircase, staring at us intently.
“This conversation isn’t over, double oh seven,” I say to her quickly before I return my attention to Dominic and Tony. “We’re going to talk about this relationship your elbow’s established with my face.”
She smiles.
Valentina tells him dinner is at seven as she speeds off, knowing that it’s best to make herself scarce. Dominic takes his time making his way down the stairs. His eyes never leave mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Anya looking around, as if she’s searching for an escape route. He walks right up to me, eye-to-eye now. I’m just barely taller. It’s coming, and I let him. It’s his sister.
“You fucking bastard!” Dominic gets me good on my left cheek, right where Anya left her mark when we first got here.
These fucking two.
I recover quickly and punch him in the stomach, then the jaw when he hunches over. Bash races in from the kitchen. Before it can escalate, we’re pulled apart. We glare at each other, nostrils flaring like wild animals at a watering hole.
“You guys are fucking children!” Anya yells, but he shoots her a look that keeps her in place.
The fucker can’t treat her like that.
“Everyone clear out!” Bash yells.
The random soldiers hanging around the house leave, and Tony stays with Dominic. Bash stays with me and Anya and stands off to the side, watching all of us tentatively.
Dominic’s staring directly at Anya, who’s staring right back.
She recovers quickly, seeing as she’s now pissed off, too, staring daggers into him with her arms crossed.
Anya
I’m in a stand-off with my brother. We’ve never been in this position before. We rarely ever fight, and it’s never about anything serious. Once the room clears out, Dom doesn’t hold back.
“You fucking him?” he asks through clenched teeth, using his head to gesture in Nico’s direction.
The look of disgust on his face, like it’s the 1800s and I’m some common whore. Nico steps forward, but I shoot him a pleading look to not do anything.
“That’s none of your fucking business, Dom,” I tell my brother.
Who the hell is he to judge me?
“How could you be so STUPID!” He takes a step toward me, but at the same time, Nico stalks up and pushes him back, finger pointing in his face.
“Don’t you fucking talk to her like that!” Nico’s face is red with fury. Dom laughs menacingly. Nico takes a step back as I pull his arm, allowing me to see my brother. I’ve never seen Nico so angry.
“This why they’re hell-bent on protecting you? You spread your little legs and—” He makes an opening gesture with his hands.
My turn.Before he can even get the rest of his words out, I charge at him and punch him so hard across the face it echoes, and my knuckles scream. His face has to feel the same, but I don’t give him a chance to recover the second he looks back up at me, then I deck him again.
“Don’t youeverfucking disrespect me like that!” I scream back at him.
Dom looks shocked for a moment, palming his face, but then he takes a deep breath. I can tell he’s trying to rein in his anger before he does something he’ll regret.
