“What’s wrong?” Leo frowns up at me.
I set my phone down on the countertop and push my uneaten food away. “Nothing, little guy,” I lie, offering him a fake smile.
“Was someone mean to you?”
Giovanni lowers his mug, his eyes burning into my face.
“Not at all. I got a message from a friend of mine. She was showing me her dress for the special event she’s going to.”
“She didn’t ask you to go… sure she didn’t?” He sighs heavily and shakes his head so the curls on his forehead swing. “That's mean. I would ask you to go with me.”
Dropping off the stool, I purposefully guard my expression and stop myself from looking at Giovanni. “I know you would, Leo, and I love you for that.” I lean down and kiss his cheek, not expecting his reply to slay me.
“I love you too.” He grins up at me, all toothy and loving.
I swallow the lump in my throat and swivel on the balls of my feet, hurrying out of the kitchen and along the cool corridor leading to Giovanni’s suite.
What the hell have I done? Tears sting my eyes and as much as I try to blink them away, they end up spilling over my lower lashes and plummeting to the tiles underfoot.
By the time I reach his master suite, I’m practically running through it to the adjoining bathroom. Until large hands are on me, spinning me around and forcing my chest to bump into a solid wall of muscle.
Deep creases furrow Giovanni’s forehead as he studies me. For a moment, we’re locked in a standoff of heat and silence. “Why are you crying?”
“It’s nothing.” I squirm. “Can you let me go? I need to use the toilet.”
“Fine. I’ll take you.” Suddenly, his bullish power propels me into the air, and I’m thrown over his shoulder with minimal effort.
When I kick and thrash, a hard, shocking slap connects with my ass, the sensation only slightly dulled by the shorts I’m wearing. “Don’t fight against me.”
“Christ, Gio, is there no end to your control!” I growl. “Put me down.”
He ignores me. My stomach clenches when his predatory strides eat up the floor, carrying me into the massive bathroom. Offloading me next to the toilet, he folds his brawny arms expectantly.
I glance at the closed toilet seat to remove my focus from him, resenting the sight of his godlike masculinity and how he makes me feel.
“Go ahead… pull your panties down and use the toilet, baby. I’ll wait here until you decide to tell me why the fuck you’re crying.”
“Get lost, Giovanni.” My voice comes across weak and breathy. “You’re being an asshole.”
In a swift movement, he gently swathes my throat, holding me captive as he lowers his head to meet my watery gaze. Thick eyebrows pinch together. “Don’t disrespect me, India,” he warns. “Talk to me.”
I narrow my eyes at him, shivery desire coursing through my veins. “Put me in the naughty corner by myself if you have to, but please turn around and leave.”
He stiffens, the fingers on my neck still strong, but not harmful in any way. “You’re upset. I’d rather not punish you right now… so please, baby, explain to me why you’re crying. Is it the whole prom thing?”
“Prom thing,” I hiss. “It’s not just athing. I've been planning prom since last year. Reno was going to drive me there in one of Dré’s flashy cars and then he said we’d stay in the penthouse suite at Sky Hotel afterwards.” My breath catches when I say the name of the Souza owned hotel—the very place where my brother died.
His hand slowly leaves my throat and drops to his side as I continue.
“Dré had the rooftop bar at Sky Hotel booked for our very own after party. You know the place, don’t you?” I choke on a muted sob, refusing to cry and watching the realization soften his expression. “Everyone at Thornhill is talking about prom. Every single day, all I hear is some bullshit about finding the right hair stylist and who is going with what guy. And I’m left sitting there, numb and lost in the fact my brother’s dead. He’s fucking dead, Gio. And he’s never coming back…” I suck in a shaky breath. “And now that I’ve found you and Leo… I’m slowly starting to feel like I could actually have a family… but you can’t even tell Dré about us… which means none of this is real and I’ll end up losing that little guy in there too.” I swallow hard when his pupils flare. “And I’ll lose this… us… you. So please, go away. I want to be alone.”
I hear his sharp intake of air when I plonk myself on the cold toilet seat and bury my tear-soaked face in my hands. He lowers to his haunches and peels my hands away, staring deep into my eyes. “I told you it wouldn't happen overnight.”
“Why? Are you scared of how Dré will react? That when he finds out you were my first, he’d go nuts? Or maybe you’re just playing with my heart and have no intention of letting me stay? Is that what this is… a sick game for you to play?”
Something odd passes behind his vivid green gaze. “I don’t play games, and if I did, I would win every damn time.”
Keeping eye contact, he gently cups my cheeks between his hands. He doesn’t bark orders for me to obey or threaten to punish me. Instead, he rests there and thumbs my lips, his tender touch catapulting an uncontrollable shiver over my scalp.
