Page 70 of Thorns of Blood

“How’s your arm?” I asked.

“Getting there.”

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. Being a bitch was so much easier. “Umm, I guess I should apologize.”

He let out a breath, amusement flickering across his expression. “You guess?”

I shrugged. “Well, it was self-defense.”

“Woman, I wasn’t attacking you.”

“But you and your brother kidnapped me,” I pointed out. “What was I supposed to think? That the two of you planned on taking me on a trip of a lifetime around the world?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ll give you that.”

“Thanks.” We started to walk and I turned to look at him. “Do you know where the kitchen is?”

“I do. As a matter of fact, I’m on my way there.” He clomped his feet together and gave me a soldier’s salute. “My brother’s orders to show up for breakfast.”

The corners of my lips twisted with sarcasm. “And you strike me as the guy who always obeys orders.”

His green eyes twinkled. “You know it, sister.”

My step paused. “What did you call me?”

He shot me a look, not stopping. “Sister. You’re Giovanni’s wife, my sister-in-law.” He stopped and turned to look at me. “You know how it works, right?” I nodded, rolling my eyes. I wasn’t an idiot. “Is there a problem with me calling you that?”

I pretended to think about the decision before responding. “No.”

We walked in silence until something amazing filtered into my nose. The clatter of metal and utensils signaled we were close to the kitchen and once we stepped in, my brows shot up.

Romeo sauntered in, making his way to the coffee machine. “Hey, bro. I see you’re on your cooking kick again.”

“I’m also in my shut-my-little-brother’s-mouth kick too.”

Romeo didn’t seem fazed. “You know that doesn’t work with me. It only makes me want to talk more.”

“I honestly don’t know why you and Marissa don’t get along better,” Giovanni muttered, moving around the kitchen with surgical precision while I wondered who Marissa was. I certainly didn’t want a repeat of my last marriage.

“Because she always tries to upstage me.”

I stood in the doorway, feeling out of place but also fascinated with the dynamics of their relationship. Louisa and I were close, but it was always about sticking together and keeping out of our mother’s way.

Giovanni held a knife, slicing with efficiency I didn’t know existed. There was something sexy about seeing him move in the kitchen, and it had nothing to do with his black jeans that hugged his ass perfectly or the white T-shirt that revealed his bulging biceps and veiny forearms.

He paused, his eyes snapping to mine, finally realizing I was standing there. He flashed me the most dazzling smile as he dragged his gaze over me.

It didn’t matter that I wore a plain white dress with a black belt and black flats. The way he looked at me, you’d think I put on the sexiest outfit on this planet, and dammit, I kind of liked being looked at that way.

“Okay, you two,” Romeo interrupted the moment. “I feel dirty watching you stare at each other. Let’s try to salvage my innocence.”

“You were born with dirty thoughts,” Giovanni retorted, his eyes never wavering from me. “Wife, will you do me the honor of sitting next to me?”

I stepped into the kitchen and he extended his hand. I took it and he gallantly raised it to his lips, pressing a kiss to it before whirling me through the kitchen. His strong hands gripped me, my feet following his lead of their own accord.

“You’re a natural at dancing,” he said, smiling.

“I had a good teacher.”