Page 212 of Vicious Intentions
I suppose one good thing came from my kidnapping. The Cosa Nostra exposing my parents’ relationship finally gave them the freedom to love each other openly.
No more sneaking around. No more hiding. No more risking their lives in endless mafia wars just to stay together.
They finally got their happily ever after.
Must be nice.
“Anna,” Enzo calls out once most of my siblings have left the living room. “Alejandro and I were just about to watchIt’s a Wonderful Life. I remember how much you love that movie. Want to join us? I’ll even make popcorn.” He flashes me a wide smile.
“Maybe tomorrow? I’m not in the mood to watch a movie right now,” I reply, forcing myself to speak when each word feels like glass scraping my throat.
“Raincheck, then.” Enzo smiles, but the worry in his chestnut eyes betrays him.
I lower my head and quietly leave the room, thankful no one tries to stop me. I can only pretend to be half alive for so long before the cracks start showing.
And no one wants to see that.
Especially not on Christmas Eve.
But as I walk down the hallway and begin to pass Marcello’s office, something catches my attention.
A name.
“You have got to be shitting me,” Stella snaps. “Donato must’ve been a cat in a past life because the fucker clearly has nine lives.” She lets out a disgusted exhale.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were getting rusty,” Kirill teases. “Not like you to miss.”
“Bite me, Kill. I never miss.”
“Later,milaya. Let’s help your brother deal with his Cosa Nostra problem first. Then we can play.”
A low growl rumbles through the room, and I instantly know it came from Marcello.
“I think what my husband is trying to say,” Izzie cuts in smoothly, “is that he’d appreciate it if the two of you kept the foreplay to a minimum in his presence.”
“No promises,” Kirill replies unapologetically.
Even without seeing him, I know he probably just winked at my brother.
I’m not usually one to eavesdrop, but curiosity roots me to the spot. Which Donato are they talking about? Raffaele? Niccolò? And when exactly did they try to kill either of them?
They never tell me anything anymore.
Even after I reminded them that Raffaele and Niccolò are my family, too.
Sure, Niccolò always intimidated me, and Raffaele… Well, we’ve seen better days. But they’re still family.
“Can we please move on from Stella and Kirill not being able to stop dry-humping each other for five seconds?” Jude groans. “This is serious. How the hell did he even get into our city? How did nobody see him coming?”
“Oh, my poor sweet naïve husband,” Mina coos. “Isn’t it obvious?”
When the room falls silent, I clasp a hand over my mouth to keep anyone from hearing me breathe outside the door.
“It’s clear as day. How haven’t you all accepted it by now? The man loves her.” Mina’s voice softens. “Tell me, husband of mine… how far would you go for me? Or you, Marcello? Or you, Kill? Wouldn’t all of you walk straight into enemy territory and risk death itself for the woman you love?”
My heart, which stopped beating weeks ago, suddenly kicks fiercely against my ribs.
No.
