Chapter 13
GAbrIELA
Three days pass with no word from Eros. I spend the entirety of them overthinking, swinging from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other.
I’m irritated that he left instead of letting me help, and the rejection stings. But then I try to reason with myself that we’re supposed to be casual, so maybe he doesn’t owe me an explanation.
The problem is, I don’t know how to navigate this, and I can’t stop catastrophizing. What if something really happened to him?
For Julian’s part, he doesn’t mention the mysterious threat again, and he never says anything else about what happened at Riccardo’s investor dinner.
Riccardo, on the other hand, texted me several times that night. I didn’t open them until the next day, and while he was irritated, there wasn’t much he could do. He told me he’d been called away on urgent business, and whatever it was, he wasn’t happy about it.
I didn’t care. It was a relief to have him gone.
When I arrive at the penthouse on Wednesday afternoon, the elevator doors open to the sight of Rafe and Romeo sprawled across the lounge.
Naturally, Romeo doesn’t waste any time finding a way to provoke me. His gaze cuts over my black bodycon dress, all the way down to my Dr. Martens.
“You just get home from school or paramilitary training?” He arches a brow at me.
I glance at his combat boots and give him a pointed look. “What’s your excuse? Just get done dismembering a body?”
“Everyone needs a hobby, Gabi.”
“Romeo,” Mariella chides him. “Don’t be a dick.”
I follow the sound of her voice to the kitchen, where she’s organizing some prescription bottles.
“It’s my default setting,” Romeo tosses the words back at her.
I take Beppe out of his carrier and set him down, then join Mariella in the kitchen.
“What’s all that?” I ask.
“They’re Romeo’s,” she says. “I’m just making sure he has everything he needs while he’s here.”
I stare at her in confusion, and she glances over my shoulder then lowers her voice.
“He and Rafe are staying here this week. Apparently, they have some kind of business in the city. Is that going to be an issue? I know you two don’t really get along, but if you want, you can come stay on the island.”
I shake my head, hoping she can’t see the dread on my face. Romeo and I cohabitating for the rest of the week sounds like a recipe for disaster. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of upending my routine.
“I’ll be okay here,” I insist.
“Alright, well, I have something for you, too. Let’s go to your room for a minute.”
Romeo tracks me with his gaze as Mariella leads me to the hall. I swear he lives to make me squirm.
Once we’re inside the room, Mariella shuts the door and pulls a few sample packs of birth control from her pocket. She’s been giving them to me off the record since I asked for them six months ago. She does the same thing for other women in need.
In our world, going to a doctor and asking for birth control isn’t an option without a husband or father’s approval. But Mariella has connections that keep her in supply for those who need them.
“I’ll want to see you in my office soon,” she tells me. “But I figured I could drop them off while I’m here. Still no issues to report?”
“Everything’s been fine,” I assure her. “Thank you.”
She nods, then glances at the door, like she’s considering her next words carefully.
“Are you really okay with Romeo staying here?”
“It’s the Vitale penthouse.” I shrug. “I’m the guest.”
“I know, but if he torments you too much, you let me know, and I’ll come straighten him out.”
I smile at the offer. Mariella isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with her brothers. She’s one of the strongest women I know.
“I doubt we’ll even see much of each other.”
“Well, if you do, just keep an eye on him, will you?” Her voice softens. “He’s been in a bad pain flare. If he looks like he’s not coping, I want you to call me.”
“Is it the migraines again?” I frown.
Mariella nods. “That and everything else.”
Since the lightning strike, Romeo has experienced numerous long-term complications.
He’s had severe migraines, which, fortunately, I’ve only had to witness once. It was so brutal I locked myself in the bathroom and cried for twenty minutes after it happened.
In addition to insomnia and chronic pain, his blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline can spike without warning.
It’s another reminder that he’ll live with the consequences of that day for the rest of his life.
The thought rips open the raw wound inside me that never really heals.
“Has he been stressed?” I ask.
I know the pain flares sometimes come out of nowhere, but they can also be triggered by other factors.
“Probably, but who knows?” Mariella sighs. “He’ll never tell anyone what’s going on with him. I swear the man is a vault.”
I think about what Romeo could be dealing with behind the scenes, but the truth is, I have no idea. He keeps his life private from everyone, including his family.
“Anyway, don’t worry too much,” Mariella says. “Rafe will be here as well, so I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
She pauses to check the time on her phone. “I have to run, but how do you feel about having the Aegis meeting here tomorrow?”
“That works for me.”
“Perfect. I’ll put the word out.”
After she leaves, I take a minute to collect myself before I venture back down the hall.
In the living room, I find Romeo sprawled across the lounge, his head leaned back against a cushion. Beppe is tucked inside his hoodie, just his face poking out the top.
He looks exhausted, and clearly Beppe knows something is off too.
“Hey, Gabs.” Rafe raises a brow at my all-black ensemble. “Finally decide to join the dark side?”
“Well, I can’t let the boys have all the fun.”
“Speaking of fun, what’s on the agenda tonight?” he asks. “Should we have a pillow fight and make friendship bracelets?”
“Will you shut the fuck up?” Romeo glares at him.
Rafe’s eyes sparkle mischievously. “What? You don’t have to participate. I bet Gabi would love to hang out with me. She knows I’m the fun one.”
“I just have to work on my project for a while, then I’m all yours for the night,” I tell him.
Romeo levels me with his gaze, and Rafe grins victoriously. I don’t know why he’s so bothered by it.
I’ve grown up with all the Vitale brothers, and everyone knows that Rafe and Michele are incurable flirts. They’re also the most social of the bunch, and they love to pull me out of my shell for a bit.
I can only assume Romeo is annoyed by this development because he doesn’t feel good.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Rafe says. “Nonna sent us with a couple of lasagnas for tonight. Veggie for you.”
“Oh, okay. That sounds good.”
“Six o’clock fine for dinner?” he asks.
“Yeah, that works.”
Romeo gives his brother one last look of contempt before he pulls his hood up over his head and closes his eyes. I leave Beppe with him and head to my workspace, checking my phone for the thousandth time.
There’s still nothing from Eros, and considering he’s been ghosting me, I doubt I’m going to hear from him today. But I send him a message, just to be safe.
BiteSizedGabi: Not sure it matters, but just wanted you to know there will be extra people staying here this week.
I stare at the message for a minute, waiting to see if he’ll actually read it this time. But he doesn’t. So I settle in and shift my focus to my project.
With the exception of Rafe propping up most of the conversation, dinner is filled with awkward silences. We eat together at the table, but Romeo looks even worse than he did earlier, and he doesn’t eat much.
I want to ask him if he needs anything, but I know that would probably only make him even crankier. The man isn’t known for accepting help, and he really doesn’t like it when people fuss over him.
As we all settle in on the lounge to watch a movie, I can’t help wondering why he’s not lying down in bed and getting some rest.
Rafe dims the lights, and I sit between the two men on the lounge. When the movie starts, and I see it’s Friday the 13th, it reminds me that Eros and I were supposed to attend Davenport Manor After Dark next weekend. Now, I’m not sure that will even happen.
I feel Romeo’s gaze on my face, and when I look at him, I swear he knows I’m thinking about something I shouldn’t. We linger in that staring contest for a beat too long, and it makes my chest feel weird.
I force my attention back to the movie, and usually, I love this one. But tonight I’m having trouble concentrating. Maybe it’s because Romeo is so close, or because things with Eros are so confusing right now. Either way, I feel out of sorts.
Halfway through the movie, Rafe falls asleep, leaving me and Romeo in stilted silence. I’m expecting him to ignore me, but instead, he waits until I’m engrossed in a scene to make his move.
He leans in while I’m focused on the screen, waiting for the jump scare. With perfect timing, he gives my ponytail a quick tug, startling a yelp from me.
His dark laughter slides over me like honey. It’s been so long since I heard him laugh like that, I almost think I’m imagining it. But when I glance over at him, his lips are tilted in a smirk. He’s definitely amused by this.
I stare at him far too long, trying to think of something to say. My brain seems to have malfunctioned.
As the moment stretches on, I can feel my face warming, so naturally, I get awkward. Searching for a diversion for my eyes, my gaze dips to the black T-shirt stretched across his muscular chest. His inked forearms are on full display, and I’m not sure how something so unassuming can look so…erotic.
At some point, he took off his hoodie and shoes and changed into a pair of black sweatpants that hang low on his hips.
He looks insanely hot right now, and I hate that I still think that about him. This whole situation is weird, and since I changed into my flannel pajama set, it feels far too casual.
We shouldn’t be lounging together like this. It feels like date activity.
“Do I make you nervous, Gabriela?”
When I look at him, his attention has shifted to my fingers. I didn’t even realize I was tapping them together.
“No,” I lie.
“You look unsettled.” His voice dips, emphasizing the word.
I think we’re playing a different game now. One where he tries to see if I’m still affected by him.
“I need a drink,” I announce as I jump up too quickly. “You want anything?”
“Why? Is that what you and Mariella were whispering about earlier? Is nurse Gabi here to take care of me?”
“If you want.”
Did that sound a little breathless or was it my imagination? God, how embarrassing.
Romeo’s gaze turns molten hot, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Okay, stop doing that.”
“Stop doing what?” he asks innocently.
“Looking at me like you want to eat me. I know you’re just trying to get inside my head.”
“Am I?” A hint of humor touches his voice.
“Yes.” I flee to the kitchen, taking a much needed breath.
I’m not really thirsty, but I grab two bottles of water anyway. What I really want to do is press one against my overheated skin, but that would give me away.
When I return to the lounge, I offer Romeo a bottle, and he purposefully brushes his fingers against mine as he takes it.
“You okay?” He arches a brow at me. “You look…hot.”
“I’m fine,” I grumble.
I sit back down, and he stretches out diagonally, narrowing the distance between us. His leg is only inches from mine now.
My eyes drift to that small gap between us throughout the rest of the movie, which I can’t seem to focus on.
When the credits roll, and Nightmare on Elm Street starts automatically, neither one of us moves.
This feels like the who will admit defeat first game, and it won’t be me.
I settle in for the long haul, grabbing the throw blanket off the back of the lounge and tucking my knees to my chest.
Minutes pass, and I occasionally steal glances at Romeo as my eyes grow heavy. He has to be exhausted, but he’s not caving at all.
Eventually, to my irritation, sleep must win.
When I wake up, I’m blissfully comfortable, my face nestled against something warm. I burrow into that fabric, inhaling as my brain tries to process what smells so good.
As my eyelids flutter open, I realize with humiliating clarity exactly what it is.
“Oh dear God,” I groan, blinking up at Romeo.
I fell asleep on him. I don’t know when or how, but my face is plastered to his abs.
“Morning, sunshine.” His eyes glint with satisfaction as he watches me squirm. “Sleep well?”
“I, um…” For some ungodly reason, my gaze drifts lower, and I swallow.
I’m only inches from his very large, very rigid cock.
Holy crap.
Do not make this weird.
That’s just biology. It doesn’t mean anything. Men wake up ready to fuck anything in their vicinity—like cavemen.
Why can’t I stop staring?
“Well, isn’t this cozy?” Rafe chirps.
I glance up at the amused expression on his face as he casually sips his coffee, staring at us.
This horror show is getting worse by the second.
“I have to…school,” I blurt.
Romeo is the picture of relaxation as I flounder against him, pulling myself upright.
I don’t think I’ve ever moved so awkwardly in my life as I scuttle to my room.
I head directly for the shower, desperate to wash away my humiliation. But as I close my eyes and let the water rush over me, the memory of a dream resurfaces.
Warm fingers grazing my cheek, rough words whispered against my ear.
“Sempre così dolce, piccola… anche quando mi fai impazzire.”