Page 98 of Contract of a Billionaire

“Bad Aunty,” Autumn scolded Branka through laughter. “We have a baby to feed here. Eat Maman’s manicotti.”

“You two are the worst,” Mrs. Corbin grumbled. “My manicotti is just as good.”

I went for the platter that nobody wanted to touch, but before I could put it on my plate, Autumn’s hand shot to mine and she shook her head.

“Trust me,” she mouthed, looking at me pointedly. “You’ll die.”

My lips curved up, amused at her playfulness. It reminded me of her four years ago.

“I’m happy you want me alive,” I remarked low, so nobody else could hear me.

Her hazel eyes fell to my lips and darkened. Fuck, it was enough to have my blood rush with a powerful heat. I wanted to explore her body, feel every inch of her again. It had been far too long. I stroked a stray strand of her hair off her eyes with her finger.

She didn’t flinch. She didn’t pull away.

“Kol, no!” Branka hissed and the moment was broken. Both of us turned our heads just in time to catch my sister sweeping all the food off Kol’s plate and giving him her own plate.

“Oh come on,” Mrs. Corbin exclaimed. “It was food poisoning only twice.”

I froze. Food poisoning?

A bunch of grunting followed. “Okay, maybe four. Five tops,” Mrs. Corbin added exasperated. “But in twenty-five years. That’s normal.”

“Maman, once in a lifetime is normal,” Autumn snickered. “Twice is attempted murder.”

Mrs. Corbin let out a string of French curses. Branka and Autumn chortled. Autumn covered Kol’s ears while his grin stretched from ear to ear.

I could finally see the appeal firsthand why my sister loved coming here. It was an easy-going, welcoming, and relaxing atmosphere.

Even with the threat of food poisoning.

Chapter31

Autumn

Alessio carried Kol’s sleeping body already dressed in his pjs. His favorite ones - airplanes all over them. Thank God for grandma.

“We should have gotten home sooner,” I murmured softly as we stepped through the penthouse door. My feet came to a halt. Did I just call Alessio’s penthousehome?

In barely a day. This was moving way too fast. He blackmailed me to get me here for fuck’s sake.

“Kol was having a good time,” Alessio answered. “I was too. I can finally understand what drew Branka to your parents’ home all these years.”

I chuckled softly and we started to make our way to Kol’s bedroom. “You mean besides the bad food?”

The door of Kol’s bedroom was ajar and my breath hitched when I looked inside.

“Oh my gosh,” I whispered, my eyes glued to the walls. The entire room was redone. The room was painted dark blue with white planes on the walls and light blue skies for a ceiling. The modern black dresser was gone and in its place, a children’s dresser with planes for knobs.

“Do you think he’ll like it?” Alessio's voice was soft, low.

I whipped my head to the side, my gaze meeting his. “Like it?” I breathed.

“I’m going to build him that airplane bed, but I’ll have to do it in my shop back on the estate.”

Returning my gaze to the room, my chest warmed and my eyes burned. “He’ll love it,” I rasped, my emotions choking me. “Thank you.”

The look he gave me seared, dark and hot. It held promises that were too scary to believe. Branka’s words flashed in my mind. Talk to Alessio. This was probably a conversation that should have happened four years ago.