I didn’t say anything, but the thought of anything happening to Isa…
My fists clenched.
Matteo glanced over at me, a curious look in his eyes as he took in my clenched fists.
I forced myself to relax and nodded. I would definitely be letting Valentino know about this.
“One more thing. Luna’s birthday is coming up, and Giulia is helping me plan a party for her.”
Meaning our sister was doing most, if not all, of the planning. Massimo might have tried to add his input here and there until he realized there was no winning with our sister and gave her full rein. I grinned.
“Mark that day. I expect everyone to show up, even if you come down with the flu.”
Matteo chuckled. “A party? Count me in.”
Romeo shot our younger brother a look.
Massimo ignored them and said, “Okay, that’s all I wanted to tell you guys. And also, you’re staying for dinner. Luna’s cooking.”
Romeo frowned, and Matteo grimaced. Massimo shot our third brother a pointed look. Not that I blamed Matteo. Luna was sweet, but sometimes, it felt like she was trying to poison us with her cooking.
“Don’t look like that,” Massimo said dryly. “Luna has Beatrice helping her.”
Beatrice was the new cook Massimo had finally hired a couple of months back after letting go of his previous cook and her daughter for disrespecting Luna. Beatrice was great when it came to the kitchen, but I didn’t know if she had the skills it took to save whatever Luna decided to make. That would take a miracle.
“No fair, brother. You trapped us into coming here,” Matteo complained.
Massimo didn’t say anything, but the glint in his eyes gave him away.
He definitely trapped us into coming here.
Fucker.
3
ISA
Tommaso droveme home from the art center.
He was a stoic man whom Valentino had personally picked to be my driver and bodyguard. He didn’t talk much. I didn’t talk much either, so we mostly drove in silence.
I looked out the window as the car drove past the familiar scenery that led toward my family's home. My heart felt heavy with every mile we ate up, bringing me closer and closer to the one place I didn’t want to be. But it wasn’t like I had such an exciting life that I had places I needed to be.
I closed my eyes briefly, taking in a deep breath as Tommaso pulled up into the driveway of the huge mansion that sat atop a small hill, looking out toward the city of Las Vegas. It was the epitome of luxury and sin. The only reason this mansion even existed in the first place was because of all the blood money my father had “worked” for to build.
It wasn’t like Valentino was any better. He was in the life, and there had been talks in our circle that Valentino was even more ruthless than our father ever was. He worked for Massimo as the eyes and ears around Nevada, but at least my older brother had some lines that he wouldn’t cross.
Unlike my father.
I looked up and met Tommaso’s eyes in the rearview mirror and shot him a small smile. He nodded. We had known each other for the last three years, and while I wouldn’t say we were close, I thought he might have held some small affection for me. He was older than Valentino by a decade and had been in the life for a long time. And Valentino obviously trusted him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been assigned to me, despite my father’s protest. So, in effect, I trusted him as well.
I got out of the car and headed to the front entrance. Tommaso wouldn’t drive off until I was inside. I shut the front door quietly behind me and was about to head to my room when Maura came out from the entryway leading to the foyer. Something in her eyes gave me pause.
She came closer to me and leaned down, her voice quiet and soft when she spoke. “Go to Valentino’s apartment. See if you can spend the night there.”
I frowned. “Why?”
She shook her head. “Your father is drunk and…entertaining.You don’t want to be here for this.”
