Page 38 of Scandalous Kingpin

“That look on your face,” she said with a jerk of her chin.

I waved my hand, dismissing her concerns.

“Oh,” Juliette teased, waggling her brows at me as she uncorked the bottle. “It’s definitely something. Spill it or we’re about to have a pillow fight in this immaculate penthouse.”

This was one of the reasons I loved Juliette. She had a sixth sense when something troubled me and knew how to defuse the tension. But this bit of information about Christian wasn’t something I would share with anyone. It was his secret… our secret.

And I’d never betray his trust.

“I guess pillow fight it is,” I said as I snatched a full glass from her, drank it down, and then gave her a feral look.

She threw her head back and laughed, and God, it felt good to have my friends here with me. I hadn’t realized how lonely I was without them over the past few months.

I blinked and was transported back to the old days in our dorm rooms. The girls abandoned the fragrant boxes of food and took off running in different directions, their sock-clad feet making them clumsily bump into furniture. Or it could have been Cobra nipping at their toes too. The two of us chased them around Priest’s home, all of us squealing like wild teenagers. We stopped every so often to take a bite of Chinese or down more wine, our cheeks aching from smiling.

“Best bachelorette party ever,” Davina sighed, rubbing her belly and sipping on her sparkling mineral water. “I think the little guy agrees, Cobra too.”

“He should be a girl.” Juliette laughed. “Little traitor.”

“But I bet your dad is thrilled it’s a boy,” I pointed out. Liam Brennan adopted Juliette and her brother when they were children, and he considered them his own, but Grandpa Brennan insisted it be Liam’s blood relative who eventually took over the Brennan mafia empire.

“He is,” Juliette agreed. “Killian, as well.”

“Where is he anyhow?” Davina asked. “I haven’t seen him around much.”

Something passed Juliette’s expression but she quickly masked it. “I don’t know.”

My brows rose nearly into my hairline. “You don’t know where your brother is?”

“Nope.”

I knew her tells well enough to know when she was lying.Interesting.

It looked like we were all keeping some secrets from each other.

“So how does it feel marrying one of the sexiest men to ever breathe air?” Juliette expertly changed the subject.

“Are you talking about your own husband?” Davina surmised. “Or Ivy’s soon-to-be one?”

I shook my head at them, but my lips twitched despite myself. “He’s okay.”

Wynter turned me to face her, keeping both hands on my shoulders, her face serious. “Ivy, do you not want to marry him?”

“I said yes, didn’t I?”

“He didn’t force you, did he?” Juliette asked. “After all, these DiLustro men have an affinity for acting first and asking for our acceptance later.” She rolled her eyes.

I burst out laughing and nodded toward the living room. “Well, Christian must be an exception, then. He asked, and we’ve come to an agreement.”

“Now isn’t he a gentleman,” Juliette said, refilling our glasses as we collapsed onto overstuffed linen cushions scattered tastefully on the polished hardwood. Davina chose the loveseat and immediately propped her swollen feet up on the coffee table, looking like she was in heaven.

“Well, he is my brother,” Wynter said with a laugh, teasing. “It’s to be expected. I’m so glad he fell in love with you, Ivy.”

A twinge of hurt accompanied her words, but I didn’t let anyone see it, not wanting to ruin the mood. Christian hadn’t exactly spoken about love. And me… could I be in love? With a man I hardly knew?

I didn’t have a straight answer.

I just knew it was dangerous how often I thought of him. How little it bothered me to learn of Christian’s dark tendencies.