Page 99 of Secrets of the Brother
Before we could make any further plans, there was an angry screech, then the sound of shattering glass.
Matteo shouted down the hallway. “Enzo, your presence is required.”
Papà and Cesare both turned to look at me.
I inhaled and squared my shoulders as if I were a soldier heading into battle. “I should probably go take care of that.”
CHAPTER25
BIANCA
The moment Matteo opened his office door to call out to Enzo, I shouldered past him and marched down the hallway.
I stormed into Enzo’s office, already in mid-sentence. “—another think coming if you—”
I stopped short when I came face to face with his father and brother. I clamped my mouth shut, sucking my lips between my teeth.
I hadn’t seen them since the funeral. So many snakes had crawled out from under rocks since then.
One Cavalieri was intimidating enough, but three of them? Forget about it.
They filled the room with dark, male energy.
I had never really interacted with Cesare in school and since Enzo and I had barely started dating when my parents and Renata orchestrated that horrible deception on him, I never had a chance to formally meet his father.
Before that, I had stayed far away whenever my family was at the villa for any social engagements because of all the rumors about him murdering his wife.
My gaze shifted, deliberately avoiding Cesare’s questioning gaze.
How could I look him in the eye, knowing what my sister had done?
I then caught Barone’s narrowed gaze and my heart stopped.
His was worse, with good reason.
The stench of the inspector’s cheap cologne still lingered in the room. Because of my family, his eldest son had been forced into a disastrous marriage and was now suspected of murder.
I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn’t think of a single thing.
How would I even begin to apologize for the actions of my super corrupt, unethical family?
Deciding I couldn’t, I turned to leave.
Enzo moved forward and wrapped his arm around my middle.
He placed a kiss on my cheek and gently pulled me back into the room. “Bianca, you remember my father, Barone, and brother, Cesare?”
I swallowed and said nothing, keeping my gaze trained on the floor.
A pair of scuffed, dark brown work boots appeared a few inches from the toes of my polished high heels. I slowly looked up over the denim trousers and hunter green cable knit sweater pulled over a barrel chest to finally meet the stern gaze of Barone Cavalieri.
He placed both his hands on my shoulders before pulling me in for a bear hug.
And that was precisely what it felt like, being hugged by a giant bear.
I didn’t know what to do.
Barone said quietly, “There’s no need to be scared. We’re going to protect you like one of our own.”
