Page 76 of Secrets of the Brother
I couldn’t let her go.
Ever.
I did that once and it nearly killed me. I’d never make that mistake again.
One of our security guards approached and whispered something to my father. His lips thinned as he turned to me.
I frowned. “What?”
“The Morettis have arrived.”
I nodded. I'd received a text from the man watching the house the moment they left. “I know. We all knew they wouldn’t miss an opportunity to press their connection to us.”
He cleared his throat. “There appears to be a man with Bianca.”
Everything faded into the background.
The people around me were just flashes of color and garbled noises.
My hand clenched into a fist, snapping the delicate crystal stem of the wineglass I was holding. The goblet portion toppled to the polished marble tile and smashed at my feet.
All conversation around us stopped and countless pairs of eyes turned and stared.
My jaw was clenched so tight I could barely form the words. “Where is she?”
Papà gestured for a server to clean up the glass. He stood facing the guests, a false smile on his face as he spoke to me. “Do I need to remind you, this is your brother’s engagement party?”
I stared straight ahead, unseeing. “Where. Is. She?”
He let out a frustrated sigh. “Somewhere among the guests. I want your word. No scenes.”
Before I could answer, Amara hurried up to us both, blocking my path. “Enzo! There you are! You look so handsome in your tuxedo!” she exclaimed before throwing her arms around my neck.
As the guests observed what looked like a friendly, sisterly hug, she whispered into my ear, “I heard about Bianca’s date. You know I love you, but if you ruin Milana’s party, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”
She then broke free and brushed some nonexistent lint off my shoulder. “Do we understand one another?”
I caught my father’s questioning look before responding. “Perfectly.”
Papà looked between us. “Is there something I should know?”
Amara gazed at me, a sweet smile that wouldn’t melt butter pasted on her seemingly innocent face.
I pulled on the suddenly tight collar of my tuxedo shirt. “Only that the two of you are well matched.”
I stepped over the shards of shattered glass and went in search of Bianca.
* * *
I spottedher across the room.
Releasing the button on my jacket I shrugged it off as I shouldered my way through the throng of guests to reach her.
The moment I did, I threw my jacket over her shoulders. “Cover yourself.”
That her beautiful breasts were on obscene display for every ogling man in the room made me want to rip out the throat of anyone who dared look at her.
What could she have been thinking to wear such a dress in public?
