Page 125 of War Within
Without another word, I disappeared upstairs to my bedroom closet, changing out of my suit and into running shorts.As I was thumbing through my t-shirts, my phone vibrated across the shelf. Quickly choosing one, I slipped it over my head before checking the caller ID.
Yeah?
I’m pulling in the drive. Cristiano is asleep so I’m gonna sneak in and put him to bed if that’s okay?
Sure. I’ll meet you downstairs.
I wanted to tell my son goodnight, but I was sure I would have the opportunity as he usually woke up for a few minutes at night. Sauntering downstairs, I entered the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of whiskey from a bottle I had left conveniently on the island the day before. Finding myself staring at the pool through the window above the sink, I lost myself in my thoughts, unaware how long I had zoned out.
“Ahem!” Lily made her presence known.
I turned around to discover her, arms crossed, standing in the doorway next to Carmine. “How the hell did you get here so fast?” I arched a brow at him curiously, knowing I had left him with my brothers back at the office.
“I left shortly after you because they were handling it. I knew you’d need me here. Emilio was making calls. Luca was making sure the mess you left was cleaned up.”
“And why would I need you here?” I darted my gaze back and forth between them as I stalked to the other side of the kitchen island. “What’s going on?”
Carmine slid his hands into his pockets, moving cautiously to a safe distance. I knew that meant I was about to be blindsided by some sort of news that I did not want. Without taking his gaze off me, he opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer.
Narrowing my eyes on Lily, who was rolling her bottom lip between her teeth, I sighed. Silence was never a character trait of hers. Talkative, bossy, and feisty? Yes, but silent? No.
Carmine took a sizable swig from the bottle then placed the drink on the quartz counter. “We need to talk to you about something.”
“What?” I crossed my arms, knowing it would not be thefamilybusiness.
He smirked. “Just wait for it.”
Just as Lily opened her mouth to speak, her phone rang. She dug it from her own Lillian Jade handbag that was draped over arm.
Hey sorry. I just got to his house.
Yes.
Yes.
Of course.
Okay, I'll let him know.
Talk to you soon. Bye.
“That was my mother, wasn’t it?”
“She’s worried.” Her brow crinkled as she returned her phone to a small pocket on the front of her bag. She lifted her gaze to mine. “You haven't spoken to her in weeks.”
“I haven’t felt the need to speak to anyone unless I had to.”
“She’s family. She’s your mother.”
“Watch it, Lily.” I clenched my jaw. “You’re treading thinly, but I’ll call her tonight.” I knew she was right, and my mother was the number one woman in my life besides my daughter. Still, I was anxious for Lily to get to the point. “I have a feeling that’s not what you wanted to talk to me about, though.” I glanced at Carmine.
Reversing several steps, he leaned back on the cabinets, sipping his beer, quietly.
“Okay.” Lily placed her hand on her chest, inhaling deeply with her eyes closed. She lifted her bright, blue eyes, meeting my stare. A lost, puppy dog expression settled on her face. “Let me preface this by saying, I don't mind watching Cris. In fact, I love him so much, and I love spending time with him.”
My eyes flickered as I tried to encourage her to get to the point. She was dancing around the topic, leaving me annoyed. She knew not to toy with me.
“But,” she sighed, “he's getting to the point where he's scooting and crawling and I'm having to chase him around my office.” She sighed. “It's getting harder to have video conferences and meetings with him being so active. I spend half my life with my ass in the air, picking him up off the floor and not that I mind having my ass in the ai—”
