Page 215 of Modern Romance December 2025 1-4

More than that, he thought of what would happen if Carlo had any reason to suspect him. Of anything.

It didn’t matter if hefeltlike ice, he reminded himself. Only that helookedlike it.

As usual, he did not greet his cousin until Carlo had come around to stand over him, looming in that way of his that he no doubt imagined was threatening—though with his coward’s inability to follow through without already knowing he had the upper hand.

“How long have you been back?” Carlo asked. Perhaps he imagined it came out as a threatening demand, but he couldn’t seem to stand still.

Jovi cut his gaze to his cousin and remained impassive. He did not clear his schedule through Carlo. He never had and he never would.

It occurred to him that Rux had not been wrong to suggest that he had a kind of death wish. He served his uncle. He would not serve his cousin. There was only one way that typically ended.

Had he always known that? Or had he simply not cared enough to think through the details and possibilities?

It was amazing what clarity a man could find when his heart finally beat properly in his chest. So loudly that he was shocked his cousin couldn’t hear it, but then, he doubted Carlo heard much above the din of his own self-interest.

Carlo looked at him, then quickly away when he accidentally met Jovi’s gaze. “My father wants to talk to you. You can’t be surprised.”

“I am neither surprised nor unsurprised,” Jovi replied without inflection. “That is not my job.”

“Your job was to take that bitch out,” Carlo retorted. “Instead—”

“Instead?” Jovi asked. Mildly. “Have you laid eyes on her? Has anyone?”

Carlo scowled him, but he didn’t dare maintain eye contact. Jovi merely gazed back at him.

For a long moment, there was nothing. The sea air. The night sky.

“He wants to see you now,” Carlo gritted out. “Unless you have some compelling reason why you’re suddenly disobeying orders?”

Jovi stood. He did it smoothly and swiftly, and managed not to smile when his cousin stepped back. Quickly.

“Are you questioning my loyalty, Carlo?” he asked in the same mild way he always did, complete with a faint tilt of his head.

He was well aware that the effect on others was threatening.

Carlo shook his head, temper and fear all over his face. “Just remember, my father takes promises seriously.”

It was almost as if he was warning Jovi. Helping him.

Almost.

What Jovi remembered was that Carlo had been here in the villa that night, though he’d been a boy himself. He remembered his cousin’s gleeful expression. His high-pitched laughter, more disturbing than the screaming—and not any better when Jovi could no longer hear him.

He’d blocked that out for a long time, because it wasn’t helpful.

Jovi merely gazed back at Carlo until the other man shifted again, clearly uncomfortable. And likely furious that it showed. That his cowardice flashed neon bright and Jovi had never pretended he couldn’t see it.

“I never forget it,” Jovi assured him in the same soft tone. “I never will.”

He didn’t look back toward the garden. He kept his gaze trained on his cousin. “There is only one person who deserves my loyalty. And it has never been you,cucinu.”

Carlo made a noise at that, as if he couldn’t believe Jovi dared. But not a loud noise, because he knew better. Behind him, Jovi thought he heard a rustle in the shrubbery, though he didn’t dare look to see. He could not allow himself to be the one who gave Rux away.

“Take your own car. I’m not a taxi service,” Carlo muttered, trying to make it sound like the potential for inconvenience was the reason he didn’t want to be in a vehicle with Jovi. Not the more practical concern, which was that Jovi could easily overpower him and be rid of him in short order. They both knew it.

Maybe, Jovi realized now, this had always been a power struggle that he’d never bothered to play.

Maybe he’d hoped his cousin would do something about it, because whatever happened would have been fine with the Jovi who felt nothing at all but cold.