Page 80 of Depraved

Her eyes stay on mine, searching for something. Our fingers touch when I reach to pat Ella’s back gently as she stirs, and I see the sadness behind Sarah’s eyes.

Sarah’s tongue darts out through the seam of her lips before she speaks. “What do you consider me, Dante?”

Everything. Tell her, you idiot.

“You already know that I consider you mine, but don’t ask that of me if you’re planning to leave because I can’t be held responsible for what happens around me if you tear me up.”

Sarah stares at me, her mouth opening then closing before opening again. “I…”

“She’s falling asleep,” Gretchen interrupts, smiling down at us, completely unaware of the moment. Sarah exhales, turning to smile at Gretchen, and nods.

Gretchen smiles down sweetly as Ella reaches up. “Come give Daddy kisses before you pass out, monster.”

Gretchen pulls her up, taking Ella around the table to give kisses and hugs to everyone before Luca smothers her with love, then pulls Gretchen down to kiss her too.

“My mommy,” Ella whines, hitting at Luca’s face, and we all laugh.

“Yes, she is.” Luca smiles as Gretchen winks at him and takes Ella inside to give back to Rose, their nanny.

I turn to finish my conversation with Sarah, but she stands, and my eyes lift to her face as she reaches for my empty glass. “Do you want a refill?”

Conversation tabled.

“I’d love one.” My hand absentmindedly finds her hip, giving her ass a tiny pat.

“Anyone else?” she asks as Drew stands up to help her.

The guys shake their heads, and the girls walk inside the house, leaving us alone. The very moment the door closes, the two buffoons in front of me raise their eyebrows.

Luca spreads his arms wide open in a “what the fuck” expression as Dom points a finger at me, nodding his head.

Jesus.

“Everything. Now. Come on.” Dom smirks.

“You two are fucking exhausting. I’ll give you two questions each, and then we’re done with another episode of the fucking Brady Bunch.”

My brothers look at each other and nod, each tossing questions at me left and right.

Motherfuckers.

I shake my head and start laughing.

“Quit, dicks. All right. All right,” I forfeit as they laugh and drumroll on the table.

I take a deep breath and narrow my eyes, ready to admit something to them I haven’t said to her.

“She’s a problem,” I state frankly.

Their faces grow more serious, the amusement beginning to fade.

“Because you love her,” Luca surmises, tapping his finger on the table.

I nod, sitting silent, crossing my arms over my chest.

Dominic angles in toward the table, rubbing his scruff. “And you don’t want to bring her in knowing what you know. How this life eats away at you?”

My eyes meet Dom’s as he finishes, and I answer, “Yeah. And she still’s considering leaving.”