Page 17 of Ravage God

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, you should have.”

I grimaced. “Have I ruined things with your…lady friend?”

I didn’t think that woman was his girlfriend. At least, I didn’t think he was seeing anyone seriously. But the other option was that she was not his girlfriend but someone he invited to his home to?—

I quickly shoved the thought away before it could fully form.

His lips twitched. “Marianna? It wasn’t that serious, anyway.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal, and I felt a small flash of jealousy running through me. Not because my brother had someone over at his apartment, but because of his freedom.

Valentino was afforded more freedom than I would ever have, simply because he had that Y chromosome.

He could choose to bring people home for a one-night stand, and no one would even bat an eye. And even if I didn’t like to think about my brother’s sex life, it wasn’t a secret that Valentino wasn’t a virgin. He probably hadn’t been in a long time, and no one cared.

I felt his hand on my head before he playfully tugged my hair. “Are you okay?”

I shot him a small smile I didn’t feel and nodded. It wasn’t like I could tell him what was going on with me. He wouldn’t understand. “Yes. I can… I can go back home, and you can call Marianna back.”

He shook his head. “Nah. The mood is entirely ruined.”

“Right. Sorry about that,” I said.

He sat down on the sofa beside me. I moved over to make room for him. “So, are we having a slumber party?”

I gave him a grateful smile. This was his way of saying I could stay the night. “Okay. But can you order pizza? I’m hungry.”

He pulled out his phone. “On it.”

My smile widened, and I settled further into the sofa, feeling a weight lifted off my chest now that I knew I didn’t need togo home tonight. I would have to go home, eventually, but that would be a problem for another day.

I let out a small yawn,still feeling sleepy, as I made my way to Valentino’s kitchen the next morning. It was late. Way past the time I usually woke up and got ready for my day, but all the stress from last night must have tired me out.

Valentino was already awake. He probably woke up at the crack of dawn, even if I knew he had gone to bed much later than me. I heard him rummaging through the kitchen early this morning, trying to be quiet for me, before he left, probably to work out at the gym in the building.

I moved around the huge apartment with one eye closed, trying to shake the sleep away.

Why was I so tired?

I thought I had at least eight hours of sleep last night, but there was this heavy exhaustion that was hard to push aside.

Which would explain why I didn’t see the huge figure sitting on one of the barstools by the kitchen island before it was too late.

I let out a frightened shriek and dropped the empty mug I was going to use for my morning coffee. Some shards of glass hit my bare foot, and I winced slightly from the pain.

A curse rang out as Elio stood.

I backed away on instinct. “Don’t move,” he said sharply.

I froze, feeling as if my heart was trying to push its way out of my throat as he walked over to me. It took everything in me to go against my own survival instincts and not back away. Logically, I knew Elio wouldn’t hurt me. And perhaps a part of me didn’twant him close, not because I was scared of him, but because I didn’t know how I would react to him.

It was too late. He stood about half a foot in front of me. I swallowed and tilted my head back to look at him.

He frowned slightly. “You’re not afraid of me, are you?”

I hesitated but shook my head.

It didn’t seem like he believed me. He wrapped his arms around me. I let out an embarrassed, surprised squeak as he lifted me up and placed me on the island, then pulled his arms away completely. The interaction lasted no more than five seconds. It was over before I was even aware of what was happening, and then Elio turned away, taking in the mess I had created in the kitchen, while I worked hard to get my heart rate down to a normal rhythm and not feel so… off-balance.