Page 31 of Incognito (Royally Reckless #1)

31

“ Y ou’ve been avoiding me.” Gina jabbed her finger at the computer screen and scowled, her brows drawn together in a deep frown.

Dante sat behind his desk, accustomed to facing pushy dignitaries and demanding world leaders via video calls, but he rarely faced an irate Gina.

His sister looked mad enough to jump on a plane and return to Calida, something he’d considered an impossibility until now.

“I haven’t been avoiding you,” he said. “I didn’t have time to say goodbye in Melbourne due to urgent business, and I’ve been extremely busy since I returned home.”

“Liar,” she said, her black eyes flashing with disgust. “You were never adept at telling lies.”

“A good thing, I would suggest.” He sat back and folded his arms, wishing he didn’t react so defensively around her.

He’d always been like this with his younger sister: vacillating between condescending and superior, firm and in charge. He couldn’t help it. Once his father died, he’d become the man of the family; his mother had seen to that.

In a way, he felt like he’d failed Gina in not protecting her better from her disastrous marriage, in not inducting her to the beauties of their homeland. Maybe if he’d done a better job looking after his sister, she wouldn’t have done absolutely anything—including marrying the wrong man—to escape Calida.

“Cut the smug act, big brother. I need to discuss something important with you.”

He sat forward, concerned. “Are you all right? Is Paolo all right?”

Had he been so wrapped up in his misery he’d missed the signs that his sister could be in trouble?

“We’re fine, though we’re both hurting from you running out on us without saying goodbye.”

Dante flinched as if she’d reached through the screen and struck him. He’d hated leaving without farewelling his family, especially when he specifically travelled to Melbourne to rebuild bridges with his sister.

But he couldn’t face her after the debacle with Natasha, couldn’t face her inevitable probing, her bossy brand of curiosity, so he’d taken the easy way out and withdrawn into official duties.

For Gina to talk about emotions, he must’ve hurt her beyond belief. His super confident sister never mentioned feelings, let alone hers.

“I’m sorry. I had a lot on my mind.”

“I know.” Gina pursed her lips in disapproval. “I visited her. Twice.”

He leaned forward and peered at the screen. “I beg your pardon?”

Gina smiled, the same cheeky smile he’d seen a thousand times while growing up; when she’d put snails in his bed, when she’d snatched the last sweet cannelloni off his plate, and when she’d fed his algebra to a goat.

“Since you had trouble hearing me the first time, I’ll say it again.” She paused for emphasis. “I’ve seen Natasha, your friend , twice.”

His heart flipped at hearing Natasha’s name, his mind a kaleidoscope of images; of her, and the special time they spent together in a city far away.

“Why would you do something like that? You don’t even know her.”

“So she keeps telling me.” Gina rolled her eyes. “She’s as stubborn as you, that one. You’re a match made in heaven.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said, ignoring the stab of pain lancing his soul.

Perhaps they could’ve been a good match, if only Natasha had been honest with him and he was a different man; a man without a royal title, who wasn’t heir to a throne.

“I’m doing this because I want you to be happy,” she said, her voice lowering unexpectedly as she huffed out a breath. “And also, because I don’t want you making the same mistakes I did.”

Damn it, they should be having this talk face to face, not via a screen. He’d screwed up with his sister, again.

“Are you sure you want to talk about this?”

Gina nodded, her dark curls bouncing around her face. “Don’t you think we’ve avoided it for too long?”

They had, but Dante wasn’t in a good headspace, what with still missing Natasha, his vacillating moods, and coming to terms with impending royal duties that would escalate once crowned.

After a long moment, he finally nodded. “You know I love you, right?”

Her bittersweet smile spoke volumes. “Yes, but you also resent me. You always have.”

An instant rebuttal sprung to his lips and he swallowed it. As much as it pained him to admit it, she was right, and he’d fostered this latent animosity long enough.

“I envy your freedom, and your ability to take charge of your destiny,” he said, hating how petty he sounded, but feeling like a weight had slipped off his shoulders for admitting it.

“Even when I made a mess of things?”

“At least it was your choice to make.” He shrugged. “I may have come across as the disapproving brother, but that’s only because of my inadequacies for not protecting you better. Besides, you’re happy now?”

Gina’s genuine smile warmed his heart better than any confession. “I love Melbourne. Don’t tell Mother, but I’m proud to be Calidian, and I miss home at times, though I wouldn’t trade my current life for the world.” She paused. “Or a crown.”

“Don’t get carried away. I may envy you your freedom, but my duty is important to me. It’s what I’ve grown up with, it’s what I know, and I’d never let my country down.”

“But what about you?”

Her whisper slammed into his conscience, resurrecting similar questions he’d asked himself but successfully buried when he put his interlude with Natasha behind him.

“I am content,” he said, hating how hollow his forced statement sounded.

His sister finally sounded at peace and they’d broached their feelings; the last thing he wanted to do was laden her with his problems.

“Content is not happy,” she murmured, pity in her eyes. “Content does not recognise love. Content does not keep you warm at night or stand by your side while you rule.”

“Leave it alone, Gina.”

He had, leaving his brief taste of true happiness behind when he closed his heart to the one woman who made him dream about possibilities and a future.

Gina smiled and waggled her finger at him. “What sort of a caring sister would I be if I left you to your own devices?”

She chuckled. “What I wanted to say before we got all sentimental? Natasha is in love with you, so whatever is keeping you apart, get over it and make yourself happy for once. Calida will always be there, the crown will always be yours, but you’re one shot at true love may not wait around, so don’t screw it up.”

She didn’t have to add ‘like I did.’ He could see regret written all over her face.

Not wanting to hurt his sister after she’d gone to a lot of trouble to finally open up to him, he said, “I appreciate this, Gina.”

Non-committal, honest, and brief, his usual way of handling news that made him uncomfortable, and right now, the thought of Natasha truly loving him—and that he’d thrown it away—didn’t only make him uncomfortable, it made him downright sick to his stomach.

“Good luck, big brother.”

Gina blew him a kiss and he returned it, feeling exceedingly stupid sending kisses to a screen.

Not half as stupid as he’d feel if he’d ruined any chance of a future with the woman he loved.