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I knew as soon as I walked into the office on Tuesday morning that I’d have a long talk in store with my family.

Last night at Rian’s had surprised them.

I was amazed at how well Papà seemed to take it.

He had questions, but didn’t come across as disbelieving or angry.

On the other hand, my brothers, Rocco in particular, seemed to have doubts, and they’d hit me with them today.

We started our day every morning with a meeting to review the schedule and discuss any pertinent matters. They’d wait and do it at the end when the other office staff were dismissed to allow us to talk about our specifics. We didn’t make them sit and listen to it.

Rian had called me to wish me good morning and told me not to let my brothers give me too hard a time.

If they did, I was to call him, and he’d come over to speak with them.

I assured him I could handle my brothers.

He told me I didn’t have to do it alone.

I blew him a kiss over the phone and promised to talk to him later.

Last night, we spent a long time on the sofa after our families left.

That was after I got to tour his house, which was amazing.

We kissed and talked, then kissed more. I ached for him to touch me in other ways, but I held back.

I didn’t want him to think I was rushing him or to think I was easy.

I’d had lovers, but I wasn’t someone who got around everywhere.

I made sure to smile and greet the office staff.

They returned it. We’d always stuck to family.

Those who worked for us were related in some way.

They were distant cousins on the DeSantis side.

Claudia was our payroll and HR person. Maria worked the front desk, taking calls, making appointments, and taking money and paperwork from those who came in.

Her brother, Massimo, was security. You couldn’t be too careful, so he provided it in the office.

We’d had problems crop up a few times that he’d handled.

I made sure to get there right before the meeting.

Many times, I was in early, before the office opened.

However, today, I didn’t want to get cornered until after the meeting.

I grabbed my cup of coffee and took my seat.

The others took theirs. I felt eyes on me, but I kept my head down and went through messages on my phone.

I put it down when Papà called us to attention.

The first part went by faster than usual.

When it was over, Maria, Claudia, and Massimo left. I wanted to go with them.

The next part was who we planned to go after today.

We had three skippers who were originally in our area.

We planned to sit on their regular haunts to see if we could luck out and catch them.

They weren’t at their homes. I researched all three yesterday to discover close friends, relatives, and hangouts so we could get started today.

Sometimes, we’d get lucky and find them within a few days.

Other times, it would take weeks. They’d get cocky and think we’d forgotten about them after a time and would return to their homes or favorite spots.

Once we had the schedule and updates on whose bonds were about to expire due to their court dates, we finished with a couple of odds and ends.

I stood as soon as we were done and was told that was all.

I tried to reach the door fast, but my brothers were faster.

Rardo got up and placed himself in front of the door.

He smirked at me. Just to show him my displeasure, I punched toward his gut.

He went to protect himself, so he didn’t expect the kick to his shin.

He cried out in pain. I wore steel-toed boots to work. He hopped on one leg.

“Are you two done?” Papà asked.

“I am,” I said sweetly before turning to resume my seat. As I did, I whispered, “Sucker,” to Rardo. He always gave me an opening.

“ Monello , brat,” he muttered as he hobbled past me to his chair.

“I assume, because Rardo threw himself in front of the door, that there is something else you want to discuss,” I asked innocently.

“Damn right there is. You hit us with you and Rian O’Sheeran supposedly wanting to be a couple out of nowhere, and then expect us to swallow it without considering all the angles and talking about it in private? You know better, sorella ,” Luc said.

“I was hoping that you’d believe that I know my mind, that I am the only one in charge of my life, and what I do in my personal life is not up for debate,” I replied.

“It is when we think you’re making a horrible mistake, and you’ll only end up hurt or worse.

Come on, Gia, you can’t see this working between you.

He’s from a different world from ours. Look how he lives.

The way people treat him and his family.

They’re multimillionaires with servants, bodyguards, and God knows what else.

Hell, I doubt he knows how to scrub his toilet.

How can a man like that make a life with you?

He’s good-looking, but that’s no reason to do this. Sex isn’t everything,” Luc stated.

“Luc is right. You’re attracted to him, but you’ve been attracted to other men, and it has never gone anywhere. You need points of commonality to make a relationship successful. I don’t see you having any,” Rardo added.

“Is it the money that has you all gaga for him? You want to live in a fancy house with jewels, servants, and cars? I never thought you’d be materialistic,” Rocco snipped.

Throughout it all, Papà remained silent. When the three of them were done, I glanced at him before I answered them.

“Do you have anything to add?”

“I want you to be happy, loved, and protected, Gia.”

“ Papà , I want the same. And it hurts that my family doesn’t believe I know what I want, have the brains to decide whether I’ve found it, and am a gold digger.

Oh no, you’ll stay quiet. You had your chance.

Now it’s my turn to speak,” I snapped at all three of my brothers, who were opening their mouths. They shut them.

“Last night, I shared something with my family that you tried your hardest to dampen my happiness about. Then, today, you’re at it again.

Rian’s family didn’t react that way. And if anyone should wonder if I was after his money, it should be them.

They were happy for us. You heard how their family is about soulmates and waiting for the right person to come along.

Is it because I’m a woman, or would you react this way if it were one of you with a rich, successful woman?

No, you’d be high-fiving each other and congratulating the one who caught her attention.

I’m not a na?ve teenager who has her first crush.

I’m a grown-ass woman who knows what and who she wants, and it’s Rian.

“You can accept it or not, but I won’t continue to be made to feel stupid or that I have to justify myself.

Oh, and as for that cute question last night about whether I want to end up like Aurora, Rocco.

The answer is if I do, that’s my problem, and I won’t ask you for anything,” I hissed.

My temper was about to snap, and when it did, things would be thrown.

“Gia, your brothers are only voicing their concerns. No one is attacking you, calling you stupid or anything of the sort,” Papà admonished.

“And I’m just voicing mine. If I end up hurt, I’m a big girl. I’ll deal with it. I can’t help that the three of you have never been with a woman more than a few weeks and seem happy to hop from bed to bed for the rest of your lives.”

“And Rian has been the same. All you have to do is watch television and read magazines. He’s a manwhore. Why would he want to settle down when he can have any woman he wants? And he suddenly wants Gianna DeSantis?” Rocco sneered.

I grabbed the closest object, which happened to be a vase with fake flowers in it.

I threw it at Rocco’s head. He ducked, and it hit the wall and shattered.

This got voices raised in protest. I was done.

I stood, yanked open the door, and stomped out.

I heard Papà calling my name. I ignored him, too.

I went straight out the main door, past a gawking Maria, Massimo, and Claudia, and to my car.

I was backing up when my brothers came running out.

I flipped them off as I took off out of the lot.

The hell with them. I didn’t need their skeptical shit.

Tears wanted to fall, but I wouldn’t let them.

I desperately wanted to talk to Rian, but I didn’t want to drag him into my family trouble. I’d weather it alone. Maybe they’d come to their senses soon and would stop with this shit. If not, it would be rough around the office and on their end, too.