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"I’m fine," I said, spearing a bit of whatever the hell I was eating and forcing myself to swallow it. "Just tired. Work was busy."
"What happened?"
"I think Emilia met someone," Sofia stage whispered.
I kicked her, and she choked on her wine. Luca hid his grin behind his glass. "Stop it, Sof. Angel's already being gross tonight."
"So, it is a man." Luca's voice was deceptively calm, eyes twinkling.
"I--" Heat crept up my neck. "It's not--I mean, nothing happened. I didn't meet anyone. She’s just being dramatic."
"Sure, you didn't." Sofia wiggled her eyebrows. "Who is he? Is he cute? I told you I wasn't going to let this go."
"No. I--"
Luca was unsuccessfully hiding a smirk. "Look at you. You're blushing."
"I am not."
"You always were a shit liar."
"You really are." Angel pointedly stabbed at his dinner. I suppose he thought it was sexy, the way his lips curled around the fork, but it just made me nauseous. "Care to share with the rest of the class?"
Beside me, Luca tensed, and Sofia rolled her eyes. I scowled into my plate. "Leave me alone, Angel."
"No can do, baby girl. Who's the guy?"
Luca leaned his elbows on the table. "Surely you can't think it's you."
Angel narrowed his eyes. "Watch it, Mariano."
"Sorry, Angel, but it ain't in the cards. I'm afraid just sitting across from you meets Emilia's douchebag quota for the year."
"Luca!" Sofia snorted into her wineglass.
Angel's face darkened. He gripped his knife like a weapon, rather than the gold filigree nonsense it was. "Shut your fucking mouth."
"Angel, let it go." Dom said.
"No. I've had about enough of that entitled--"
"Hey, it's not my fault Baby Angel can't take a little teasing," Luca raised his hands. "Maybe one of these days it'll get through his thick skull that no means no. Emilia isn't interested."
Angel abruptly shoved himself away from the table, his fists clenched at his sides. Luca sat calmly, both hands spread on the table, but his eyes never left Angel.
Dom rose from his chair, eyes blazing. "That's enough. Angel, sit down and let it go. Luca, apologize."
Luca's lips twitched in the barest of grins, and he took a measured sip from his wineglass. "Luca, don't." I said.
"I apologize, Angel." Luca inclined his head. "I'm sorry it's been so long since a woman actually let you touch her that you have to resort to chasing after your own stepsister. Blue balls really are a bitch, aren't they?"
"I swear to God, I'm gonna--"
"Enough!" Lorenzo slammed his fist on the table. Wine sloshed on the white tablecloth, staining it crimson.
The room fell silent, the only sound being the soft clinking of silverware against plates. Lorenzo's voice was low anddangerous as he spoke again. "I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my home. We are family, and we will show each other respect.” He glanced around the table, his gaze lingering on each of us in turn. "Do I make myself clear?"
We all nodded, chastened by Lorenzo's rebuke. Angel sat back down, jaw clenched, anger simmering below the surface. It wasn't often that Lorenzo lost his temper like that, and it was a reminder of just how powerful he was. Even his own sons knew better than to cross him.
