“That’s even more of a reason why this is on him. It doesn’t matter how much you drink; it doesn’t mean others can advance on or take advantage of you. Yes, he could have gone much further than he did, but either way it’s wrong and I’m almost certain Bryce did it in spite of me. He knows how fragile we are at the moment with everything going on.”
“I know…Last night he noticed I don’t wear my ring anymore. He said something along the lines of it technically meaning him and I can spend time together without anybody talking.”
Giulio’s jaw clenches. “Is this guy serious?”
“Apparently nobody can resist the English charm. His words, not mine.”
“They say the same thing about Italian men, but I don’t go around raving about it. Maybe I should. Maybe I should get a gun and shove it up his ass for even thinking let alone saying such a thing—”
“Damn. Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” Marcus’ voice has me clutching my chest and screaming in shock. Oh, my heart. My brother-in-law chuckles from the entry of the kitchen at Giulio who responded to my reaction by instinctively throwing the sponge at his half-brother and protectively stepping in front of me.
The moment we see who it is, we both let out a sigh of relief.
“Fuck, Marcus!” Giulio curses, rounding the counter to collect the sponge. “Why did you have to scare us like that? There’s such a thing as a doorbell!”
“Why ring the bell when you have a key? If architecture ever gets exhausting at least I know I have a secure job in home invasions.” A cackle escapes Marcus, who winks in my direction. “Isn’t that right, Val?”
I feel as though I’ve received a blow to the stomach.
Addilyn. The home invasion. The abduction.
The havoc in my head must be evident in my eyes because Marcus’ expression falls and worry replaces it. “Oh shit, I’m sorry. I’m such a dick. I didn’t think.”
It’s not his fault. It’s mine. My incapability to detach everything that has been happening to us. Especially the fact that last night was the first night I actually slept well under the same roof since everything happened…well, I have the alcohol to thank.
I gulp down my glass of water.
Giulio glances my way and his jaw locks when he looks back at his half-brother. “That was a low blow. Do you ever think before you speak?”
“No need to get so defensive, bro. I admitted it was a shit move.”
“Wrong move or not, you knew better.”
“I thought that after all these months you wouldn’t tense up at every single thing associated with my goddaughter.”
“A parent’s pain doesn’t go away. Especially not when your child is taken like that.”
I don’t see what unfolds next between the men because my eyes stay on my hands. I take in my ring finger and swallow harshly as I recall Bryce’s words from last night. I never thought of it that way. Giulio and I decided to take off our rings to make it easier for us—I never considered the possibility of it meaning I’m open for business. I certainly am not. I am simply being.
Marcus scoffs. “I still don’t know why you’re going on about this!”
“You know why. Don’t play dumb with me,” Giulio growls in disgust.
“You’re the one acting like a lunatic! I said I’m sorry!”
“Me? Lunatic? I’m not the one spending my entire weekly pay all in one single day.”
Marcus’ reddened face turns livid. “Fuck you! You don’t have sex for half a year and all of a sudden you have no filter! Wow, talk about low blows. I can’t believe you just said that!”
“All I’m saying is the truth and you know it. I have always helped you. Always.”
I step in between them feeling lost. “Wait. What are you both talking about?”
What did Giulio mean about Marcus spending his entire pay in one single day?
Marcus must be ashamed to tell me what’s going on with him, but he knows the type of woman I am. I don’t judge. I will always willingly listen and help the best I can.
Marcus’ expression weakens at my furrowed brows. “Now is not the time.”
“No, now is perfect,” Giulio says, “I think Valencia has the right to know.”
Marcus mocks the suggestion. “Oh, is she your best friend now?”
“She was my best friend.”
“Until you both fucked things up.”
Giulio loses it, his composure cut prematurely short. He’s face-to-face with Marcus in three strides. “What is wrong with you this morning? Huh? You think you can come into my house and bad mouth my relationship? Let me tell you something. I loved Valencia, you know that. She was my best friend. My lover. My everything. Then in an instant, she was gone, along with Addilyn and my entire purpose. A family broken by the touch of evil. Have you ever felt that? Huh? The feeling that you could have it all and then suddenly you’ve lost it all?”
She was my best friend.
My lover.
My everything.
My throat tightens at the poetic melancholy.
“Give me a couple years. Maybe I’ll get to that point too, brother.”
“Marcus!” I gasp at his attitude. “Giulio has done nothing but help you. He’s funded your studies, flew you across the world, and gave you a successful position at his firm. I know your relationship is messy because of the past, but he’s always been good to you.”
“I’m not the issue. He is,” Marcus hisses, “Something has got him so uptight and it all started the moment you began working for us, Valencia.”
Giulio silences any further accusation. “Don’t you dare go there. Why are you here, Marcus?”
He glances between us, eventually calming down. “Tate called and needs to move the meeting an hour ahead. We are due to be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Was Bryce at the office?”
“Haven’t seen him all morning. Are you ready to go? We don’t have much time.”
I take their plans lightly. Although his words are
