scattered around my kitchen.
Tali snorted from her spot on the couch. “Friend.”
I glared at the back of her head. Clearing my expression, I looked back at the junior man in the District Attorney’s office. “And you are?”
His cheeks went pink. “Sorry. I’m Chad Wentworth.” He held out a hand.
I reached over the island and shook it. “Nice to meet you. Have you been a lawyer long?”
My front door opening stalled his answer.
Dom strode forward, his gaze hard, his body straight and stiff. “Let’s get this over with.” He didn’t bother looking at me. In fact, I think he made it a point to not look at me. “Wentworth, set it up.”
My heart broke a little at the coldness. I felt like something between us had been damaged. I had no idea what or how to fix it, either.
Tali moved on the couch, drawing my attention.
“You better pull that stick out of your ass when you talk to her, big brother, or I’ll sic Massi on you. You know what to do if you want the situation to change. Don’t you dare take your frustration out on her.” She glared at him, her dark eyes gleaming in the early morning sun streaming through the windows.
He acted like he hadn’t heard her. “Wentworth?”
The younger man nodded. His hands trembled slightly as he set up a small device and laid it on the counter between us. “Ms. Chase, if you’ll give me your version of events, someone on our team will get this typed up. You can sign it by the end of day.” His pale blue eyes showed his fear.
I nodded. Smiled. “That sounds great, Chad. Thank you.” I wanted to reach over and pat his hand or ruffle his hair. It wasn’t his fault Dom was in a shitty mood.
I made it through the affidavit without issue. Dom made some clarifying statements when Chad asked me some oddly worded questions. By the time it was all over, I felt like I needed a stiff drink and a long nap.
Dom showed Chad out the door. “I’m leaving, too. Bye.”
“Dom, wait!” I tried to rush after him. I could walk without assistance thanks to Ryker and his magic hands, but I couldn’t manage too much speed yet.
“Not now, Willow. I can’t talk to you yet.” With that, he closed the door in my face.
I turned back to Tali. “What is his problem?” I felt the tears pushing at the back of my throat.
She gave me a sad smile. “Nico considers you to be his. I think last night, finding you and Ryker in your bed,” she held up her hand before I could speak, “even though you weren’t having sex, it shook him. Made him reevaluate his world and your place in it.”
I walked to the couch, slid down onto the seat next to her. “I can’t give him what he needs, Tali. But I also can’t lose him.”
She sighed, pulled me into her arms. “I know that. You know that. And I think Nico is coming to realize that. You’ve got to give him some time to readjust.” She rested her chin on the top of my head. “He’ll be back to normal. You two will go back to weird sexual talk that makes everyone else uncomfortable. And all will be right with the world.”
I chuckled. “Oh please. The Amatucci children wouldn’t know uncomfortable if it bit them on the ass.”
She drilled her fingers into my rib cage. “That’s rude. I think I’m going to steal one of Penn’s cupcakes for that remark.” She jumped onto the seat of the couch, launched herself over the back.
“No! I need all of them for the message I’m going to spell out.” I tried to get my butt out of the cushions I’d been wedged between.
“Too bad. Now you’re going to have to make some more.” She picked up a cooling pastry and licked the top of it. “I licked it, it’s mine.”
I laughed. “You bitch.”
She raised one dark brow high. Bit into the cupcake, paper wrapping and all. “Now, I’m going to go give these to the boys.” She scooped up as many as she could carry and darted towards the door.
“Talia Maria Amatucci, you walk out of my apartment with those cupcakes, and I’ll…” Damn it, why was I so bad with threats? “I’ll…” I finally heaved myself up and out of the sofa. A glint of metal on the coffee table gave me an idea. I snatched it up in my hand.