Page 82 of Angel

“And don’t make a scene.”

“I won’t make a scene,” I promised. “Come on. Let’s get those ornaments in there. Just wait till you see how great the tree looks.”

***

The tree trimming passed flawlessly. I kept an eye on Lia from the corner of my eye. Once or twice she glanced Paige’s way, the expression on her face unreadable, but mostly she stayed on the couch, untangling lights or joking with Franko.

With the tree finally finished, everyone dispersed to get ready for a late lunch.

“Lia,” I said in a low voice as she rose from the couch.

She froze and eyed me, everyone else filtering out of the room. Paige glanced over her shoulder at me, her plea to keep things chill practically audible.

“What’s up?” Lia asked.

I stepped closer to her and waited till we were alone in the room. “I get the feeling you don’t like Paige very much.”

She scoffed out a short burst of laughter. “What gives you that idea?” She folded her arms and stared me down.

“Come on, drop the facade. I know you better than that.”

She sighed. “She’s using you, Angelo. It’s plain as day.”

Anger flashed through me but I kept it contained. “You barely know her.”

“I don’t need to. I know you, and I know her circumstances. She wants at your money.”

“She has her own money.”

Lia rolled her eyes. “This is the exact same conversation I had with Dom. Don’t you guys get it? Gold diggers are greedy. They’re not going to stop at ten million. After that they want twenty, and after that...”

“I get the picture,” I hissed.

Her eyes narrowed. “She’ll break your heart.”

“If she does it won’t be due to money. I love Paige and she loves me. That’s just something you’re going to have to deal with.”

Lia’s upper lip curled. “Wow. It sure sounds like you’re whipped.”

“Watch your mouth, and quit it with the resting bitch face, little sister,” I snarled.

“Call me bitch one more time, you little shit,” Lia said calmly, all the threatening made with her eyes.

I held her gaze. Backing down from Lia was the worst thing anyone could do. “Be nice and I won’t have to,” I grunted out.

“I’m not being mean to her.”

“Yeah. Right.”

Lia just gazed back at me.

“You’re wrong about her. But honestly, I don’t give a crap what you think of her. Just show her some respect.”

Lia jutted out her chin, ready for more arguing, but I was done. I stomped past her and out of the room.

I’d been rougher than I meant to be. I knew that. I couldn’t take anyone treating Paige unfairly. The fact that the offender was my own sister made the hurt sting twice as much.

I had to make things right between all of us.

I had no idea how I’d make it happen.