Page 86 of Vicious Intentions
“When it comes to Anna, yes,” I state plainly.
Raffaele’s smile drops, his jaw clenching, the steel in his blue eyes turning a dangerous shade of gray.
“I get to call her once a month, or I don’t call her at all. Final offer.”
Porca miseria!
“One supervised call, no longer than five minutes,” I offer.
“No supervised call and ten minutes,” he counters, but like hell I’d ever concede to that.
“Now it’s one supervised call every two months, three minutes, tops.” I smile, calling his bluff.
“Fine. Whatever. Give me the damn phone, then,” he grumbles, extending his hand.
“Wait. Let me see if she’s somewhere private to take the call now.”
“It’s the day after Christmas, Matteo. She’s probably holed up with her family at Big Sal’s mansion. I doubt she’s even out of bed at this hour,” he points to his watch, showing it’s not even nine in the morning.
I don’t know what upsets me more, that he knows her schedule so well, or that he’s memorized it by heart.
I take the phone out of my jacket pocket and send Anna a text.
Me:Good morning, sweetheart.
Me:Can I call you now?
Anna:Yes!
I hate how my heart kick-starts into high gear at her excitement, all while my brother watches from just a few feet away.
“Call,” I order coldly, handing him the phone.
Raffaele takes the phone from me and FaceTimes Anna.
“Hi there, angel. Long time no see,” he says, his voice softening the second his eyes land on her.
“Hi to you too,” she answers.
I can’t see her face from where I’m standing, but I can hear her voice. She still sounds groggy from sleep, and when she can’t help but let out a yawn, I think it’s the cutest sound I’ve ever fucking heard.
“I’m glad you called. I was starting to wonder if you didn’t want to see me again.”
“Not possible,” Raffaele replies, a bit too sweetly for my taste. “Who wouldn’t want to see that pretty face?”
Anna doesn’t reply, but by the smile stretching Raffaele’s face, she must be smiling back at him.
My hands clench into fists, my knuckles cracking under the pressure. This was not how I expected to react to a simple phone call, but here I am, fuming with jealousy.
Her smile should have been for me, not him!
“So how was your Christmas?” Raffaele asks, moving the conversation along.
“Oh, you know. It was great. Even better after your thoughtful gift.”
“You liked my gift, huh?” Raffaele parrots, but I don’t miss how he glances above the phone to stare at me.
“Of course I did! I can’t wait to go downstairs and play it again. Stella had to pry me away from it last night, or I would have probably slept over the piano. It’s beautiful, Rafe. I have no words.”
