Page 61 of Joey

“This is about Max?” Dante gives a sarcastic laugh.

“No, this is about a ridiculous promise you forced your best friend to make, just because I was born without a dick.”

“This isn’t about you, Joey,” Lorenzo says, sighing.

“No?” I fold my arms again. “If I was a boy, would you have cared who the hell I dated?”

Dante scowls at me, and I direct my attention to my oldest brother.

“Lorenzo, would you have ever dared to tell Dante who he could or couldn’t date?”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “This is about Max lying to us, Joey. He made us a promise.”

“He only lied to youbecauseof that promise. Why did you make him do that? Why?”

“Because him fucking our little sister muddies the waters,” Lorenzo says, his hands steepled under his chin.

“Lorenzo,” Anya chides him.

“Tell me why you’re so against us being together. I’m an adult. You were fine with me and Toby, and he’s half the man Max is.”

They both go on glaring at me.

“If you’re going to come between us, at least tell me why,” I demand.

“Because you deserve better than him,” Dante shouts. “He is not the kind of man you need, Joey.”

“Why? Because he does bad things?” I challenge.

“You have no idea of the kinds of things he’s done, Guiseppina,” Lorenzo growls, his tone low and menacing enough that it sends a shudder along my spine.

“Things he’s done in your name. Our family’s name,” I shout as anger and frustration burn through my veins. “Why do you get to decide who or what I deserve? I love Max. I want to be with him.”

“No.” Dante shakes his head while Lorenzo scrubs a hand over his face.

“You know you can’t really stop this, right?” Kat pipes up from beside me, earning her a withering glare from her husband.

“I think you’ll find I can, kitten,” he replies.

“Is this really the kind of life you want for our daughter?”

“Where she’s protected every day of her life?” he fires back.

“Where she isn’t given the same opportunities as her brothers?”

“Brothers? Are you…?” He frowns at her. Dante’s desperate for more kids, and considering he can barely go five minutes without dragging Kat off to a quiet room, I figure he’s thinking the same thing I am—that she might already be pregnant and she’s chosen this particular moment to announce it.

“I mean we might have sons one day too,” she says, her cheeks turning pink. “But if this is going to be Gabriella’s life, Dante, then I’m not sure I want to fill this house with children.”

Go Kat!She went straight for his weak spot. The anguish that flashes across his face almost makes me feel sorry for him. But then his mask is back in place, and my sympathy dries up at the sight of his scowl. “We’ll see about that, kitten.”

“How can you walk away from a man who’s been your brother in all but blood just because he fell in love?” Anya asks, and I turn to her, my mouth hanging open as her words wash over me.

“You think Maximo is in love with Joey?” Lorenzo frowns as he voices the same question that runs through my mind.

“You think that a man who risked everything to spend just one night with her isn’t?” she asks, softening her tone.

And right there, I see my first glimmer of hope.