Page 120 of The Temptation

“Yes, it does,” he growls through gritted teeth. “He had no right. You’remyfamily.” Dante jabs a finger into his chest as he speaks. “And he is my underboss. He doesn’t get to marry you withoutmypermission.”

“Well, sucks to be you then,” I shoot back. “Because he did.”

For a second, we stare each other down, then Dante turns on his heels and storms out of my room.

“Arabella!” he shouts down the hall. “Arabella!”

Little Caterina jolts in my arms, so I lean down and sink my lips into her chubby cheeks. Cheeks, I’ve been dying to kiss ever since I moved to the safe house.

“It’s okay, baby girl,” I whisper. “Your daddy is just being a butthead.”

By the time I manage to get off the bed, with my baby niece still cradled in my arms, my sister comes flying into my room.

“You and Romeo got married, and you never told me?” she shrieks.

“Oh God, not you too.”

“We tell each other everything. I can’t believe you kept something this monumental from me. And Romeo should’ve known better … you both should have. You know how the Cosa Nostra works.”

“He married me so Giuseppe couldn’t,” I say, rushing to his defence. “He wasn’t trying to deceive anyone. He did a noble thing … an honourable thing. He was protecting me. Once that madman was out of the picture, we were going to get a divorce or an annulment. That was Romeo’s plan all along.”

“He was going to divorce you?” she shrieks.

I take a steadying breath and lift one shoulder. “That was his plan, but I was never going to let that happen.” I meet her gaze. “And now that I know he feels the same way about me, I’m going to fight for this marriage.”

She exhales sharply. “Well, you better get out there and explain all that to Dante, because he’s in the kitchen about to have a coronary.”

I am currently en route to the hospital to see Romeo. My brother-in-law is taking me. When I explained why we got married, it didn’t help. If anything, it made him more enraged.

His jaw is tight, ticking with tension, and he’s currently gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles have turned white.

Not a single word has been spoken on the entire drive. He’s obviously not talking to me, but I don’t care. I’m not talking to him either.

When we reach our destination, I quickly scramble out of the car before Dante can open my door. I’m in no mood for his chivalry.

I should’ve left him at home to mope in his own misery. But I refuse to let his sour mood take away from my joyous reunion.

My husband is alive, and he loves me back. Nothing and nobody is going to ruin this moment for me.

I let Dante lead, because I have no idea where I’m going. And by the time we reach the ICU, I’m giddy.

“Give me a moment with him,” Dante says, pausing at the door to Romeo’s room, and giving me one of his ‘don’t fuck with me’ looks.

If I didn’t want more squishy nieces and nephews in the future, I swear I’d kick him in the nuts right now.

I cross my arms over my chest and give him a look of my own. One that has tiny daggers shooting from my eyeballs.

“If you hurt him … if you so much as upset him,” I say, pointing my finger in his face, “you’ll have me to deal with.”

He rolls his eyes, spins around, and gives me his back. “Ooh, I’m shaking in my boots, Lucia,” he grumbles before pushing open the door and disappearing inside.

Chapter 29

Romeo

When I open my eyes, I find my best friend standing beside the bed, gazing down at me like a goddamn creeper.

“Are you watching me sleep, or just waiting to smother me with a pillow?” I ask him as a slight grin curves my lips.