Page 198

Cade’s hand splays on my lower belly as I start to leave. “Baby,” he whispers against my temple. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I whisper back. And then I shoot a final glance at the room.

Nico and Dante are locked in one of their wordless conversations—entire arguments conducted through subtle shifts of expression and body language. Meanwhile, Giovanni just... looks on.

There’s something chilling about the man. He’s not just controlled, he’s deliberate. He’smakinghimself act that way. Like aghost trying to simulate breathing so no one notices he’s actually dead. It’s more than unsettling.

And I know I can never tell Reese what he’s really like. She has enough nightmares as it is.

In the hallway, Sophie is already on the phone, presumably with the doctor. Addy and I pause, forming a little circle of unspoken relief as we wait for the meeting to grind to a halt.

Cade’s concentration is shot. And judging by their expressions, so are Nico’s and Dante’s.

I notice Addy’s shaky fingers. I can’t believe Addy dragged her husband over hot coals just to support me.

“You’re off the hook, Addy,” I tell her softly.

“What?”

“Oh, please, I know you can’t even hold out nine days on Dante.”

“Days?” Sophie snorts, slipping her phone into her pocket with a sly grin. “Try nine minutes. By the way, girls, The Beast? Like, what the fuck? Those pale eyes . . .”

“Total heebie-jeebies,” I declare, and Sophie and I dissolve into laughter.

Addy’s brows furrow. “There’s nothing wrong with his eyes. Dante’s are lighter.” Then, to our collective horror, she adds. “Actually, he’s quite attractive.”

Sophie and I whirl on her like she’s just lost her mind. “What?” we demand in unison.

Addy shrugs. “Oh, come now, he’s hot. And yes, it’s creepy how he makes himself act like a decent human being. But if people like us bolt at first glance, is it any wonder he’s a recluse?”

“Way to imply we’re not normal, Addy,” Sophie chirps, though she doesn’t argue with Addy’s logic.

How does Addy manage to read these men, anyway?

Curiosity wells inside me. Cade never talks about the man, and I never asked, determined to keep my husband’s demons firmly where they belong: in our past. But damn if I’m not tempted to dig them up.

We should break out some pot this weekend. Cade does get remarkably agreeable when he’s stoned. The problem is, I won’t remember whatever he tells me when I get sober.

Footsteps echo behind us, and then Cade is striding down the hall, his eyes locked on me, not slowing until he reaches me, his hand sliding possessively around my waist. “Meeting’s over.”

“So soon?” I fake surprise, catching Sophie and Addy’s knowing smirks out of the corner of my eye.

A moment later, Dante heads straight for Addy. His arms slip around her waist, and despite her earlier fury, she melts back against him like gravity has reclaimed her.

“Tesoro,”he whips off the baseball cap and buries his face in her hair, and just like that, we know all is forgiven.

Giovanni approaches next, flanked by Nico. His gaze sweeps over us, and then he grins, all perfect white teeth. “Interesting evening. We should do this more often, Nico.” And just like that, he’s gone, vanishing into the night like smoke over water, his two-dozen entourage trailing behind him.

Yep. Nope. Sorry—can’t get past the aura.

“Home,” Cade growls, his voice rough with promise. “Now.”

The city blurs past as Cade drives, one hand on the wheel, the other resting possessively on my thigh. The silence between us pulses with the weight of tonight’s revelations and three days of separation.

“Nine months,” he says finally, his voice low and controlled. Too controlled. “And you never raised it.”

I stroke the back of the hand on my thigh. “Neither did you.”