was carrying takeout from the Capri. His smile fell the moment he saw Savio. His eyes darted from him to me. “What’s going on here?” He stalked into the room, dropped the takeout boxes on the table then glowered down at us.
Savio leaned back and motioned at the cake. “We celebrated Gemma’s birthday. I didn’t want her to be alone so I kept her company.”
Diego looked at me for confirmation.
“I was lonely.”
Savio’s expression flickered with protectiveness, but then he stood. “I’ll leave.”
Diego shook his head. “I brought enough food. You can eat with us.”
Savio seemed as surprised about his offer as I was. He met my gaze. “What do you think, Gem?”
“Stay.” I didn’t say more.
Savio sank back down and stretched out his legs while he rested his arms on the backrest. His shirt rode up, revealing those infamous horns. Noticing my gaze, Savio smirked.
“What have you got?” I asked Diego who was unpacking the boxes.
“Lasagna and gnocchi.” He fixed Savio with a hard stare. “Why don’t you grab plates and cutlery?”
Savio heaved a sigh but pushed to his feet. “So you can interrogate your sister? Don’t worry, no traditions have been broken.”
He left for the kitchen and Diego turned to me. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” I said with a roll of my eyes.
“Because I came home?”
I flushed. Diego cursed. “I knew it. I just knew it!”
“Nothing happened, Diego. We almost kissed, but we didn’t and we won’t.”
“Next time you’re considering kissing Savio, just remind yourself that his mouth has been between another girl’s legs not too long ago.”
My face scrunched up. “Thanks for the image. I didn’t need that.”
“You do. Maybe it’ll keep you from making a mistake.”
Savio came back with plates and cutlery. He scanned my face then cocked an eyebrow at Diego. “What kind of horror story did you tell now?”
“Only the truth.”
“That’s always the worst,” Savio said with a grin, and Diego actually laughed.
“You’re both idiots.”
They both settled on the sofa, Diego between Savio and me. Savio sent me a wink over my brother’s head. I smiled. I had missed him. Everything. Even his annoying arrogance and teasing smirk.
Diego turned on the latest cage fight. Together we ate and chatted about fighting.
Savio enjoyed it as much as I did. Then why couldn’t he finally give up on other girls and really give us a chance? Turn this engagement into more than a sign of his ownership around my finger?
Gemma’s family invited me over the next day. They wanted to reconnect and probably get me to commit to a wedding date, which wasn’t going to happen. Fuck, I was turning twenty-two in two months. I had absolutely no intention of settling down.
Daniele opened the door for me. He seemed to have aged ten years since I last saw him. We shook hands. “The offer stands,” I told him as a sort of greeting. He knew what I was referring to.
“No,” he said immediately. “I’ll take care of my family. I may not have much, but I have my pride.”
I tilted my head, even if I thought his pride was endangering his family. I followed him into the house, three bouquets of flowers in my hands. Diego nodded at me as he carried a huge dish with lasagna over to the dining table. Nonna and Gemma were behind him, carrying a salad bowl and antipasti. Gemma sent me a small smile. She seemed to have gotten rid of her modest dresses once and for all. The skirt and blouse she was wearing weren’t exactly sexy, but she made them look that way. Her dark hair fell in dark curls down her bare arms.
Nonna clucked her tongue, drawing my attention to her, only to be met with a frosty glare. I smiled at her, but she didn’t return the gesture. I walked up to her and held out the flowers. She took them with narrowed eyes.
Then I handed the next bouquet to Gemma’s mom who’d entered the room with a pale Carlotta on her arms. I gently stroked the little girl’s head before I finally stepped up to Gemma and handed her the bouquet with red roses. Then I leaned down and kissed her cheek, which was a sign for Diego and Daniele to back off. Gemma was my responsibility as my fiancée. “You know how to wrap people around your fingers,” she said with a small laugh. “But you’re playing with fire.”
“I can handle your dad and Diego.”
“I’m not referring to them. If I was you, I wouldn’t turn my