Page 122 of Vicious Behaviors

“I like saying it too,” the reckless words spill out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“You really shouldn’t have said that,bella,” he growls, pressing me flat against the couch and hovering over me. “There’s no way we’re going back to the party now.”

I giggle at his lack of restraint, only for my laughter to swiftly die out under his ardent kiss.

My arms wind around his neck, the party already a distant thought, when a sharp creak of a door opening suddenly cuts through the moment. “Get the fuck out!” Marcello shouts, pissed that someone dared interrupt us.

“Sorry. Sorry,” we hear an embarrassed Annamaria utter before closing the door behind her.

“Fuck,” Marcello grunts, jumping off me and fixing his pants before running after his sister.

I do a quick check on myself, too, before hurrying after him. When I leave the room, I find the siblings in the hallway, speaking to each other in low voices.

“You really should have locked the door,” Anna says softly, her face red from finding us in such an awkward position.

“I thought I did. I must have forg… doesn’t matter. Sorry I barked at you,” Marcello apologizes.

“It’s okay. I understand.” Annmaria’s gaze falls to the floor.

“No, it’s not okay. I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. Especially on your birthday,” he says, his voice softening in an attempt to console his sister. “Where have you been anyway? I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“It’s a big party, in an even bigger house. I’m sure you just didn’t see her,” I cut in quickly. Anna looks up, her lips pulling into a quiet, grateful smile.

Marcello, however, doesn’t seem to be buying what I’m selling. Wanting to pivot out of the awkward situation we find ourselves in, I open my clutch and hand Anna her birthday present. “But now that we have found you, here. Marcello went to great lengths to get these for you.”

“What’s this?” she asks before opening the envelope.

“It’s your birthday present, angel. I hope you like it.”

When Anna opens the envelope and sees four Taylor Swift tickets, plus backstage passes, she jumps in elation.

“Marcello! You didn’t?!” She squeals in excitement before jumping into his arms. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

“You’re welcome,” he smiles, hugging her tightly, her excitement all the thanks he could ever need. “I got four, so you can invite your friends to go with you.”

His last remark draws a sorrowful curve on her lips.

“And by friends, your brother means me, Frankie, and Stella,” I hurry to turn her frown upside down.

“Oh, that would be wonderful,” she exhales, relieved to know she’ll see her idol together with her loved ones. She pulls away from the hug and presses a kiss to her brother’s cheek. “Thank you, Mar. I couldn’t ask for a better brother.”

“You’re welcome, angel. It was either that or a tour to a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory. This sounded more fun.” He shrugs sheepishly.

“I’d be happy with either,” she smiles widely.

I’m not sure how a trip to an ice cream factory could ever compare to concert tickets, but I can tell she’s being sincere.

“How about we return to your party so you can open up some more gifts?” Marcello encourages, wanting to keep that broad smile on his sister’s face.

“Okay,” she says brightly, looping her arm through her brother’s as he extends his other arm for me.

I tuck my arm into his, following Marcello as he leads us back to the party. However, the moment we turn the corner, Stella’s furious voice cuts through the air, colliding with her mother’s.

“How can you even say that to me, Stella?! I gave you life. I watched you sleep in your crib. I loved and nurtured you all your days. Does that not mean anything to you?”

“No,Mammà.Not when you refuse to let me live my life on my own terms.”

“Do you not see how much that terrifies me? To even think about the choices that you are making without even trying to find out if there is something better for you out there? Something safer? Something that won’t keep me up at night?”