17. New Brothers
seventeen
Felicity about jumped out of her skin when a voice that was most definitely not Cristiano’s called her name, encouraging her to step into the main conference room. She’d heard every word, of course, because there was no real ambient noise to obscure their conversation and the men hadn’t been whispering. Her heartrate accelerated and she swallowed hard. It was time to meet her future in-laws.
She smoothed her hands down her skirt one more time, doing her best to imagine her nerves vanishing like the nonexistent wrinkles in the probably way overpriced dinner dress she’d chosen to wear for the occasion. Her earlier choice of a maxi had been very comfortable for lounging, but was much too casual for meeting men like Dante the freaking Dragon De Salvo. Not that she was entirely sure what a woman was supposed to wear for being introduced to her fiancé’s family, who just so happened to have recently put a bounty on her head.
Cristiano met her just past the single-wide doorway, his hand already extended in waiting. She knew what he wanted. It was the reason he’d waited until the after-dinner hour to meet with his family in the first place. So she placed her left hand over his palm, letting her fingers curl enough the beautiful and freshly polished diamond would surely catch the overhead light. He’d said his family would understand if they saw her with the ring, and he didn’t want to take the risk that they wouldn’t.
Having Cristiano at her side helped Felicity to keep breathing when she found herself standing only feet away from three men she knew only by reputation and, in one case, the occasional magazine cover. It was daunting.
The one she presumed to be the middle brother, Romeo, was the closest. He was leaning forward in his seat, dark blue eyes that weren’t too different from Cristiano’s only slightly wider than his mouth as he gaped openly. He had the bushiest hair of the three, though it was by no means unkempt, and from what Felicity could tell he had a strong build.
Directly across the table from him, and furthest from her, was the youngest brother. The one who already knew about her. He was watching with narrowed eyes that looked to be a brighter blue, had a head of well-trimmed, darker brown hair, and cut a leaner profile than the rest. That did add up to Cristiano’s description of him preferring to spend his time behind a computer.
Romeo started to make a sound, but he cut himself off as Felicity’s attention was drawn to the man she hadn’t been able to see as clearly. He stood from a seat between Romeo’s and Mikey’s, eyeing her with an unreadable expression as he walked around his seated brother until he stood before them directly. He wore pressed black slacks, a matching suit coat that hung open, and a nice button-up that was undone just enough for his trademark dragon tattoo to peak through at the neck. But Felicity barely noticed that, because up close, those cool blue eyes she couldn’t read had made her mouth go dry. He was a couple of inches shorter than Cristiano, a bit leaner, and yet there was no denying this was the man who commanded the room.
She watched the Dragon’s stare drop to where her hand rested in Cristiano’s unwavering grip.
“Is that Aunt Margaret’s ring?” He asked the question so quietly Felicity almost cried. Not from fear, or relief, but rather from whatever unnamable tender emotion she imagined she heard in his tone. Or, maybe, it was because out of all the first words she had thought she might hear in this situation, those hadn’t been anywhere on the list.
“It is,” Cristiano replied. His voice was calm. A complete contradiction to the tension she felt in him.
The Dragon drew a breath, his chest inflating, and then something that had to be a smile lifted his lips. “Well, damn. I never thought I’d be happy about being so blatantly disobeyed.” He reached out and pressed a finger into Cristiano’s chest. “You are going to explain that, though. We’re talking about everything, is that clear?”
Felicity pulled her lips between her teeth. She’d expected to have to have more difficult conversations in order to get past this, of course—they had both expected his cousin’s response to be rather challenging in itself—but that didn’t mean she was looking forward to it.
“I understand,” Cristiano said.
The man across from her shifted his attention from Cristiano, suddenly staring at her as his arm fell back to his side. “Any woman worthy of that ring is welcome in my family,” he said. “I’m sure you know our names. You can call me Dante so long as you stand loyal at my brother’s side.” He held out his hand in greeting, as if this wasn’t one of the most impactful conversations of her life.
Felicity resisted the urge to wipe her hand on her dress first, telling herself her palm surely was not sweaty. It was kind of strange, she noted, to shake one man’s hand while still holding the hand of another. But Cristiano didn’t let go or readjust, and she made no move to try and prompt him to. She did, however, finally unstick her lips and push out a few words—even without croaking. “Felicity. Please call me Felicity.”
Dante nodded once and indicated the chairs beside them. “Let’s talk, then. That is why we’re here.” He turned to return to his seat, but stopped and glanced back over his shoulder. “And Cris?” His voice hardened just enough to add a chill to the air. “Whether I’m happy for you or not, once we’ve cleared the air, I will rip you a new asshole for lying to me and failing to trust me from the start. I hope you’re prepared for that.”
Felicity felt her eyes widen.
Cristiano reached around her and pulled out the chair three seats removed from Romeo’s. “Sounds fun.” He moved his hand to her hip and gave her a gentle nudge, indicating for her to sit there.
Felicity complied, heat rushing to her face as she felt the attention in the room lingering on her. Of course it would. She was the unexpected twist in the evening’s plan.
Cristiano lowered into the seat at her side, keeping one between himself and Romeo.
She inhaled. I belong here. She rubbed her thumb along the underside of her engagement ring. Cristiano had chosen her, had been willing to put himself at odds with the family he loved for her sake, and left it entirely up to her whether or not she entered into this conversation. He owned the damn building, for crying out loud. I belong here.
Cristiano settled his hand over her thigh, beneath the table, and squeezed.
“So, since we’re already on the subject, let’s start with the good news,” Dante said, seated in a chair exactly one removed from both Romeo and Mikey. It seemed the men liked to spread themselves out when they took over the conference room. He leaned back, arms out of sight beneath the tabletop. “Congratulations on your engagement, Cristiano. Mother will be delighted with the news. How long have you been keeping this little secret?”
“We’ve only been officially engaged since yesterday,” Cristiano replied.
“Well, congratulations, then,” Mikey said, a little quieter.
Romeo let out a loud sigh. “I’m so torn,” he said. “I want to be happy for you, bro, but…” He leaned forward enough to look around Cristiano, aiming his stare at Felicity. “Are you really okay with this? You do know what we’ve done to your family, right? He told you? Because you should definitely know.”
Felicity saw Dante narrow his eyes at his brother, but she answered anyway. “Yes. Cristiano told me what Tristán did, or has been doing I guess, and I know that’s how the rest of us ended up on some kind of hit list.” She let herself pause. She’d had a strange series of reactions in the days following her biological family’s deaths. Most of them felt like a sadness for herself, but she was learning not to feel horrified about that. “I know he’s the only one left.”
“How do you feel about that?” Dante asked, his voice entirely neutral.
It was harder to look him in the eyes, but she made herself do it. “I’ve never actively wished death on someone, but the world is better off without them. I’m better off without them.” She drew a breath, wanting to be honest and straightforward in the hopes that these dangerous men who were basically her new family could see the truth, and suddenly tears dripped from her eyes. “I will be so … so much happier … when that monster leaves this world.”
It was the harshest truth she’d ever spoken out loud. For as much as it hurt her heart to say, the pain felt like relief.
Cristiano moved his hand to the nape of her neck and leaned over, pressing a kiss into her hair. “It’s all right now, baby,” he murmured over her ear.
The brothers were silent for several seconds, seemingly letting her compose herself.
Dante broke the silence in a lowered tone, his voice almost respectfully hushed. “Forgive me for asking, Felicity, but that’s a very strong sentiment to have about your own brother. Has he hurt you?”
She tensed. It was a question she’d expected, arguably been trying to brace for, but would never be ready for. She wiped self-consciously at her face one more time, did her best to will away any more tears, and reached for the anger. It would make articulating easier. “Tristán is my half-brother,” she said, “and yes, he’s hurt me.” She managed not to laugh hysterically. “They’ve all hurt me, but he’s been the worst. He thought he owned me, and that he had—” Her throat constricted. She did so hate telling this story. “Rights to me.”
Three pairs of differently hued blue eyes widened for a split-second before a round of curses circled the table. All three brothers looked away as they processed her meaning. Romeo curled a hand into a tight fist and Dante folded his arms across his chest, a scowl building on his lips.
Felicity pushed down as many of her roiling emotions as she could. “We don’t know each other right now, so all I ask is that you please not lump me in with him.”
Dante met her stare again, and for just a second, she thought she saw actual fire in his eyes. “You don’t have to worry about that.” He shifted his gaze. “I assume you want his head?”
Cristiano’s grip tightened. “I want to strangle that fucker with his own insides.”
Mikey shook his head and Romeo let out a huff that was almost a laugh.
Dante unfolded his arms. “If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t bother asking me for permission. Hell, I don’t think I’d ask me for forgiveness later, either.” His brow furrowed. “Garcia crossed all of us when he took those men and filmed their murder. He crossed me two more times after, but the worst direct affront resulted in nothing more than a bump on Iris’s head. I need him dead for that—but if his death comes at your hands, Cris, I can accept that. So we’ll skip the argument. You have my blessing, Cristiano. Find Tristán Garcia and end him, and make it fucking hurt.”
Cristiano inclined his head. “Happily.”
Felicity had the strongest, most horrendously inappropriate urge to climb into his lap and kiss him until she couldn’t breathe. Certainly until they had both forgotten about where they were or who they were surrounded by. She contented herself with shifting sideways and leaning into him, letting her hand come to rest on his thigh.
Cristiano released her neck and slid his arm around her shoulders.
“Mikey,” Dante said, his tone taking on a sharper tone, “make sure you put out the word. Felicity Garcia is off the list. She’s an innocent in this war. We’ll give Cris another twenty-four hours to make the rest of his important personal announcements before we make the next update.”
Mikey pulled his tablet closer. “Sure, sure.”
“Have you picked a date?” Romeo asked. A grin tipped his lips. “Might be a little tough to try for a double.”
Felicity stared at him. She was pretty sure she understood, but she had no idea how to respond to that joke.
Dante arched a brow in his brother’s direction. “Are you getting married and forgot to mention it?”
Romeo twisted around. “The fuck?”
“I promised Iris her dream wedding,” Dante said flatly. “That means I wouldn’t let you morons double up with us if you begged.”
Felicity felt her lips twitch as a flicker of amusement flared inside her.
Cristiano grunted. “We haven’t picked a date yet, dumbass. But obviously Dante and Iris will be first to the altar.”
Felicity tipped her head to smile up at him. “You did say ‘before winter’.”
Cristiano grinned down at her. “I did say that.”
Romeo balked. “That’s next—”
Dante chuckled. “Looks like it’ll be a busy October.”
Romeo sighed and sat back. “We’ll still have the rest of the Ink Blots to contend with, too. This won’t be over by then.”
“One player at a time, brother,” Dante said. “We have names and eyes on the field. Their circle is shrinking.”
Felicity felt Cristiano draw a deep, slow breath.
“There is something else,” Cristiano said. “Those men I had Ryōma take from Felicity’s building had more information than I expected.” He paused for a beat, and Felicity rubbed her hand up and down his thigh gently. “I learned who the benefactor is.”
Mikey lowered his tablet and Romeo spun sideways in his seat.
Dante leaned forward. “Excellent. I’m tired of fighting some kind of fucking hydra. Who is it?”
Cristiano spoke the next name that changed the tone in the room through clenched teeth. “Brendan Coughlan.”
Once his cousins had been made aware, Cristiano felt comfortable adding Felicity to the electronic security system that gave her access to the private elevator from outside. It would also give her access to the building from any pedestrian entrance. He made that a priority the following morning, before taking her out for breakfast.
In public.
She soaked it up. Her eyes sparkled and she beamed up at him when he put his arm around her as they walked from the car. He knew she’d been cooped up, having to spend so much time locked in a veritable tower with minimal access to the outside world, so he imagined the freedom to do even this simple thing was exhilarating. He felt guilty for having to put her through that, and grateful for the trust and patience she’d given him.
They sat like an ordinary couple in the booth at the diner, facing each other and talking while they skimmed the menu. He watched her gaze dart out the window, following the movement of some unassuming passerby for a moment. He paid no attention to the waitress who tried to flirt with him as if he weren’t already out with the most beautiful woman in the world.
Felicity, on the other hand, seemed to have noticed the waitress’s flirting. She scrunched up her face after their meals were delivered, watching the woman walk away.
“Something wrong, Foxglove?”
Felicity pushed her plate across the table until it crowded his and proceeded to slide from the booth. “Scoot over,” she said, coming closer. “I want to sit next to you. I can’t stand the way our waitress keeps drooling over you like I’m not even here, or worse, like I’m just your kid sister.”
Cristiano bit back his smile as understanding settled, but instead of making room for her, he moved to his feet and met her at the end of the table. She blinked up at him with wide eyes, obviously caught off-guard, and he curled a finger under her chin. “It’s safer if I’m on the outside,” he said. Before she could step back, he leaned in and closed his mouth over hers in a lingering, less-than-appropriate kiss.
He released her before they could forget themselves and indicated for her to sit again, which she did quickly. He helped her reposition their plates, drinks, and silverware, then settled beside her on what had been her side of the table. And he had to admit, he preferred this. As much as he loved looking at her, it wasn’t hard to turn his head for that. This way, he got to feel her up against him, too.
“Thank you,” Felicity said softly.
Cristiano scooped up her left hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “I’m more than happy to help you chase off the leering eyes.”
She laughed under her breath, finally stabbing into her potatoes. “We don’t even look related.”
“We do not.” Cristiano grinned. “If this doesn’t work, I can think of several other methods.”
Felicity swallowed her mouthful of potato before saying, “I don’t think I’m an indecent-exposure-on-the-first-official-date kind of girl.” She pointed her fork at him. “You’ll have to wait for that.”
He chuckled and cut into his meal. “Whatever you say, baby.”
The waitress was definitely flustered when she returned to check on them, too. So he made a point to find a way to refer to Felicity as his fiancée in their final interaction, keeping his eyes entirely on his woman and letting her address the waitress who barely stopped long enough to drop off their check.
They were just finishing up when another woman stopped at the table, a purse on her shoulder and a diner tab in her hand. “Felicity?”
Cristiano scowled as Felicity looked up, fork popping from her mouth. If he’d seen the woman before, he hadn’t made an effort to remember her. She was average height, a healthy build, had a pile of dark hair on her head and looked to be enough years older than Felicity that they couldn’t be old school friends.
Felicity raised a hand to hide her mouth. “Abby, hi!”
Abby?The name did sound familiar. Hadn’t she mentioned a woman from the apartment building by that name? The woman who disarmed Chuck.
Felicity gestured to Cristiano as she finished swallowing down her last bite. “Sorry. This is my fiancé, Cristiano. Cris, this is Abby, the woman I mentioned from the other day in Chuck’s office.”
Abigail smiled over to Cris, not making an attempt to reach across their dining table. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said. “Sorry about intruding on your date. I saw you from where I was seated and I thought I’d come say hi on my way out, since I don’t know how often we’ll run into each other again.”
Felicity shook her head. “You’re fine. I do feel like it’s kind of a shame we won’t be bumping into each other at the mailboxes or something, you know? But obviously I couldn’t stay there.”
“Oh, me, either. I already have a lead on a new place.” Abigail leaned closer, raising her check as if to hide her words from other patrons. “I heard a rumor this morning that Chuck’s up and disappeared, too.”
Cristiano barely kept the smirk off his face when his fiancée let her mouth fall open and said “He’s what?” Then she held up her hand. “No, wait. I actually might need a whole lot of distance and alcohol before I care.”
Abigail laughed quietly. “Yeah, I sort of wonder if he’s just ditching.”
Cristiano nudged his plate and coffee cup aside and stretched out an arm. “Give me your tab.”
Both women blinked at him.
“Sorry, what?” Abigail said.
“You stepped up for Felicity when I wasn’t there to do it myself. The least I can do is cover your breakfast.”
Abigail remained hesitant. “You really don’t have to do that. I was just doing the right thing.”
“Even so, I believe in repaying my debts.”
Felicity made a vague sweeping motion with her hand. “He’ll buy out the entire diner before he’ll let you refuse. He’s crazy stubborn.”
Abigail laughed again and set the paper on their table. “Fine, fine. I’m not so desperate to spend money.” She flattened her palm over the check. “But let me be clear, I did not put that jerk on his knees so someone else could owe me one. I did it because someone needed to, and I could.”
Cristiano curled his arm around Felicity’s shoulders. “Which makes me all the more grateful.”
Abigail straightened, grinning, and looked again at Felicity. “Congratulations on your engagement. Good luck with that one.” She motioned to Cristiano, paused to add a proper parting sentiment, and slipped away.
He gathered up the two checks, waited for Felicity to polish off her diner mocha, and said, “I’m surprised you didn’t exchange numbers.”
Felicity looked up at him, confusion wrinkling her brow. “I’m not going to date her.”
Cristiano gave her a look. “Sharing is not one of my eccentricities.” He leaned close and whispered as someone settled in the booth behind them. “You’re allowed to have friends, Felicity.”
“Oh. Right.” She obligingly followed him out of the booth, and finally mumbled, “Well, you know, that’s not really been going so great for me lately, so….”
He frowned but waited until he had paid the set of bills and a healthy cumulative tip—more out of appreciation for the occasion than the service—before continuing the conversation. With a hand at the small of her back, he pushed the interior glass door open and quietly said, “Once the current job is done, how do you feel about taking a trip out to California? We can aim for a long weekend, and you can patch that up.”
Felicity stopped so abruptly he nearly hauled her off her feet with his momentum alone. She blinked up at him with wide, rapidly watering eyes. “You would—we could—do that?”
He cupped her face, heedless of the door they stood in front of. “I would do any goddamn thing for you, baby. That’s nothing.”
Her tears spilled over as a smile lifted her lips. “That’s not nothing,” she whispered. “Not to me.”