Sweet and Vicious(Margarelli Brothers 1)

I wondered how he dealt with having a dual life. I hoped I would have the chance to try to do that. I noticed that he said ‘were studying’ with a pang.

“Literature,” I answered quietly.

“Ah, you are a book worm, like . . .” He trailed off, not finishing his sentence. He gave Vincent a worried look. Whatever he’d been about to say faded away. Suddenly, something was happening at the other end of the long table.

Forks were clinking against glasses and someone was standing. I turned and felt a stone drop in my stomach. It was Mr. Margarelli, clearly about to make a speech. Antonio grabbed my hand and held it tightly, pressing it into the table.

Does he think I am going to run? Or is he comforting me?

Maybe both. Maybe he is comforting himself, too, a voice inside me answered. I rested my other hand on top of his and was rewarded with an unguarded look. It was only a split second, but I felt like I saw directly into his soul.

In that moment, Tony’s eyes were chaotic with conflicting emotions. Longing, hurt, and an almost desperate need. But for what? Was it . . . for me?

And then the shutters came down and the cool, urbane gangster was back in place.

“Speech, speech, speech,” the voices chanted amicably. But at our end of the table, everyone was tense. I saw that Tony, Vincent, and Michael all had death grips on their glasses. It might have been my imagination, but it felt like they were all ready to draw their guns.

I belatedly registered the bulge that indicated a shoulder holster on both Vincent and Michael. Tony didn’t seem to be wearing his piece. I must have gotten used to seeing him come in with it on, though he kept it in his safe when we were both in the suite.

I watched the older man guardedly, mentally preparing myself for anything. For the worst. After all, this was the man who had driven Tony’s mother to . . . well, leave. In the most final way possible.

Mr. Margarelli may have been handsome once, but he looked as if he had led a life of indulgence. He had a thick head of hair, but it was nearly white, with jowls and a paunch. Even without the years of hard living, I knew without a doubt that both brothers must have taken after their mother. They were both, for the lack of a better word, beautiful. In an almost painfully masculine way, true, but beautiful all the same.

“Today is a momentous day. My son, my youngest, has finally grown up.” He lifted his glass in what was clearly a backhanded compliment. “I worried for a long time that neither of my sons would settle down and give me grandchildren. You are next, Vincent, eh?”

Vincent gave him a tight-lipped smile.

“Tony my boy, I am proud of you. Don’t let us down. We want this house filled with babies. Tonight, you become a man!”

Everyone cheered. I was frozen, trying to catch my breath. The speech was a little crass but not terrible. But it wasn’t that. It was that somehow . . . I hadn’t even thought about children.

About bringing kids into this life.

I didn’t even know what this life was going to be like.

But from the utter stillness of the man beside me, I could tell that that speech had struck a chord. A big one. He wanted kids, I realized. He just didn’t want me thinking about it yet.

I pulled my hand free, gave everyone a stiff smile, and left the table. I would tell anyone who asked that I just needed to use the restroom. I walked swiftly into the house, abruptly realizing I didn’t know where any of the bathrooms were, other than the one in Tony’s suite. Our suite now, I supposed.

I stood in the hallway, trying to control my breathing. I was on the verge of hyperventilating. I kind of already was.

“It’s in there, if you really need it.”

I spun on my heel to see Vincent leaning against the wall and watching me.

“What my father said, would it be so bad?”

“I . . . what?”

“You turned white. Tony saw it. We all saw it.”

“I just haven’t . . . thought about that.”

“Don’t you want kids?”

I stared at my shoes. I wasn’t sure why I was having this conversation with him and not his brother. I told him so and he laughed.

“I got up first so Tony wouldn’t get a chance to follow you in here. Dad would have loved that. He doesn’t think a man should chase after a woman.”

I lifted my chin.

“We’re married. I’m not trying to get anyone to chase me.”

“Ah, but he will chase you all the same.”

I stared at Vincent. He stared at me. We came to some sort of unspoken understanding. He was going to protect his brother no matter what. I wasn’t going to be bullied. It wasn’t acrimonious, but the challenge was there. Then Antonio burst out of the courtyard and down the hall. He looked at me, then he glared at Vincent. Then back at me.