“Seriously, you’re going to leave me hanging.”
“Yep,” he growls.
I take the seat opposite him. “Ant, you know this whole thing with Lucia was not my idea, and I’m as happy about it as you are.”
“But you’re the fucker who’s going to go through with it. You’re doing our father’s bidding like you always do. That’s so fucking weak, man.”
My fists clench at my side. The accusations are like shards of glass cutting into my skin, drawing blood.
“I never said I was going to go through with it,” I grind out through gritted teeth.
How could I have let my father poison my relationship with my brother and Tori? Maybe I am everything Ant is accusing me of being.
“Have you spoken to Lucia today?” I ask, and his brows rise high. Obviously not.
Leo appears behind him. “He lives,” he says, smiling at me while referencing my disappearing act over the last thirty-six hours. Then, seeming to notice the icy atmosphere between Ant and me, he moves to stand halfway between us. His gaze tracking silently back and forth. All three sets of eyes now a stormy gray.
Placing his palms on the table, he leans forward. “What the fuck is up with you two?” he asks in a low voice.
Ant’s gaze never wavers from mine as he says, “Gio is going to marry Lucia. And he promised me that he wouldn’t.”
Nico arrives just in time to hear Ant’s words. “Bro, why are you marrying Lucia? I thought you liked some Australian girl.”
All three of my brothers are now glaring at me. “Will you all just sit the fuck down so I can explain.”
Leo places two bottles of Barbieri Wines’ finest pinot noir on the table between us, then sits. Ant throws back the remainingburnished liquid in the crystal tumbler in front of him, which I suspect is an aged whiskey. And Nico opens and pours four glasses of wine.
When we’re all seated with a full glass in front of each of us, I begin. “I don’t want to marry Lucia. And Lucia doesn’t want to marry me. The problem is that if Lucia doesn’t marry a Barbieri, according to a fucked-up contract our father signed with hers, then the majority share of the Barbieri Corporation will be transferred to Romano Holdings.”
“Why the fuck are we only hearing about this now?” Leo growls, scowling at Ant and me.
“Because it’s taken the last couple of weeks for my lawyers to go through the contract line by line to try to find a way out of it.”
“And have they?” Leo asks.
“No. It’s rock-solid,” I admit.
“So that means you’re going to marry her? You can screw your life if you want, but don’t take Lucia down with you,” Ant accuses.
“Guys,” Leo pleads, his hands held aloft. “Don’t you get that this arguing is what Dad wants? You two divided. We’re brothers, and we’ve always sorted the important shit out together.”
Ant and I go to argue, but Leo’s hands rise again as he commands, “No, stop. I don’t want to hear it. You’re my brothers, and I love you both, but don’t make me choose sides, because I won’t. I’d rather throw you both out of my restaurant now than do that.”
“I’m sorry, Leo,” I say, because he’s right; this is what our father wants.
“G, I’m not who you should be apologizing to.” He gestures toward Ant, who is leaning on his elbows with his head dropped into his hands.
And finally, it hits me. The answer was right in front of me.
“Ant, you should marry Lucia,” I say in a low voice.
His head springs up. “What the fuck is wrong with you? She’s my best friend.” He goes to stand, but Leo’s hand on his shoulder keeps him in place.
“I know, which is why it makes more sense that you marry her than me.”
Leo releases his hold on Ant before lending his support to my suggestion. “It’s a good idea. But how would that work with the contract?”
Ant turns his glare from me to Leo. “But Lucia—” he starts to argue.
