“Why what? Are we going to that café? It’s good.”
“Why are you going out to dinner with them?”
“Because they’re my family…”
That obviously wasn’t the right answer because he stared at me with more anger. “And who’s included in this?”
I felt the anger rise in my blood, felt it slowly start to boil. “I don’t appreciate this interrogation. I go where I want to go—and I see who I want to see.”
“You should look up the definition of prisoner because you obviously don’t know what it means.”
“Fuck off.”
“How about I fuck you instead?” he countered as he cornered me against the closet, over six feet of pure man. When he was sweaty and hot, it reminded me of the way he looked after he screwed me for a long time. Sweat collected all over his physique, and his skin became slippery over his big muscles. My nails struggled to get a hold because they kept streaking down his wet skin.
“I’m going to dinner with Conway and Sapphire, alright? They worked late in Milan and wanted to see me.”
He cocked his head slightly, seeming to not like that answer. “Conway is arrogant like his father. Probably because he looks just like his father.”
I’d never let him insult my family without a retaliation. My family was everything to me. Without them, I was nothing. “Conway is not arrogant. He’s kind, compassionate, and an extremely successful man. He built his company on his own, not using a dime from my parents. I wish I could say the same. I’m proud to call him my brother.”
His blue eyes shifted back and forth as they looked into mine, studying me. “All he cares about is money—like the rest of us. Don’t put him on a pedestal. You’ll just watch him fall. He’s not everything you think he is.” His hands pressed against the wall, cornering me against the closet.
“He’s my brother. It doesn’t matter who he is or what he’s done. I love him anyway—because that’s what family means. Regardless of what you think he’s done, it won’t change the way I feel about him. I admire him for his good qualities, and I’ll love him no matter what mistakes he’s made. That’s something you’ll never understand…”
That was obviously a poor choice of words, because his angry expression deepened. “Because I don’t have a family?”
“No…that’s not what I meant. I meant—”
“Don’t backpedal. Own up to your crimes—like a real woman.” He dropped his arms and stepped back. He turned his back on me, his shoulders shifting as he headed into the bathroom to shower.
“It’s really not what I meant.”
He grabbed a towel off the dresser. “Then what did you mean? That I’m too heartless and cold to understand what unconditional love is?” He turned around, the white towel gripped in his hand. “If I didn’t understand what unconditional love was, then I wouldn’t be risking my life to avenge my mother. I wouldn’t still love her despite what she did to put food on the table. You think you’re so much better than me because you had a perfect life. Well, I’ve got news for you. You’re a spoiled little brat who has no idea what it really means to suffer.” He turned his back on me and walked toward the shower, slamming the bathroom door behind him.
I remained in front of the closet and listened to the water start to run. Our relationship was so volatile and unpredictable. One moment, we were pledging our fidelity to one another, and then the next, we were telling each other off. I’d never had a relationship with a man that was so emotional, that changed so drastically from minute to minute because we were both so passionate. We’d had another fight that ripped us apart, but when I came back later that evening, we would have the same unbelievable sex we always did. Maybe the fight made the sex better. Maybe the threat of violence made it deeper. I wasn’t sure.
I wasn’t sure of anything at this point.
I hugged Sapphire first when I reached the table, noting the way her stomach stuck out just slightly. Her belly probably wouldn’t be noticeable if she weren’t so slender. But since her waistline was so narrow, the outline of her belly was visible through her shirt. “You’re showing already.”
“I know.” She hugged me back before she placed her hand over her belly. “I can’t feel anything other than my belly stretching my jeans, but it’s still pretty incredible.”
I placed my hand on her belly too, feeling nothing like she said. “It’s still amazing. There’s a little Barsetti in there.”
“I know.” A glow accompanied her smile. “I’ve always wanted a family, and now I’m having one.”
Conway cleared his throat as he appeared at my side. “Are you going to say hi to me?”