Her eyes stayed connected to mine the entire time, making my heart pinch from the sight. I didn’t know if I wanted to hug her or shake her.
Matteo came up and stood by my side, his eyes rounding in surprise as he got a good look at Isa.
“Is she drunk?” he asked. “Oh, Valentino is not going to be happy.”
She looked away from me and over at my brother. “Matteo! You’re here too.”
“Hi, sweetheart,” Matteo said softly, sitting down next to her a little too fucking close. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he shot me a strange look before turning back to Isa. “What are you doing here?”
She moved in closer to him, and he bent his head down, as if they were conspiring with each other. “Getting drunk. Valentino doesn’t know. Neither does Elio.” She brought her pointer finger up to her lips and made a shushing sound. “Don’t tell them. Valentino will just lecture me, and Elio will grunt and give me one of his disappointed looks.”
Matteo glanced over at me, chuckling a little. “Hate to break it to you, but Elio already knows. And I’m sure Valentino will as well.”
She glared at him. “Did you tell him?”
He held his hands up and shook his head.
This conversation was getting out of hand. I squeezed her hand to bring her attention back to me. “How did you get here, Isa?”
“I took a taxi.” The look she shot me told me she thought the answer was obvious.
Matteo made a small sound in the back of his throat that sounded a hell of a lot like a laugh. I glared at him.
“Text Valentino,” I said, before turning back to Isa. “Did you come here by yourself?”
“Of course.” She frowned. “I used up all my money on that taxi ride and beer. And beer doesn’t even taste good. I think I might have to walk home.”
Jesus Christ. Was she serious? Did she really get drunk in the middle of the night with no way to get home?
“Isa,” I said sternly.
She let out a small sigh and turned to Matteo. “See? His disappointed look is out.”
Matteo glanced at me and nodded. “I see what you mean, sweetheart. He does have that disappointed dad look down.”
This was getting nowhere. She was too drunk to reason with.
I stood up and pulled her with me.
She looked down at the beer bottles. “I didn’t finish drinking.”
“You’re done,” I said.
“But—”
I cut her off and pressed my thumb against her lips. “You’re. Done.”
She pushed her tongue out and licked my thumb. I quickly pulled away. Fucking hell.
“How come I never get to do anything? It’s not fair,” she said sadly, and perhaps it was the alcohol making her talk like this, and that she didn’t really feel this way, but fuck if I didn’t hate the sad look on her face.
I wasn’t like Matteo. I didn’t know what to say in situations like this to make her smile and be happy again. I could probably tell Matteo to work his magic, but the thought of my little brother bringing a smile out of Isa had my fists clenching and my thoughts turning red with murderous rage. And I didn’t know why the fuck that was, or why I was acting so possessively with Isa.
I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in close to me, leading her over to the car. Matteo followed behind us, joking with her. I mostly ignored them, my eyes scanning my surroundings. I stopped when I thought I saw some movement across the street.
“What do you see?” Matteo asked, coming up beside me.
I shook my head. It could be nothing. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I don’t like her being out on the street at this time.”
