CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Tierney
“It’s so good to finally hang out again.” Lila picked a grape from the charcuterie board and popped it into her mouth with a content sigh. “It’s been ages. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Because you haven’t.” I chugged half a glass of champagne, chasing it with a piece of cheese. “I was busy running away from your brother, screwing him, getting shot in front of him, and then moving in with him.”
I left out the other juicy parts, like our showdown with Stefano last week. No need to add screwing her brother in front of a dying mobster to my list of never-ending adventures.
Sofia nodded, her eyes big as saucers. “You’ve certainly been busy. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Doing something normal, after weeks of living life in the fast lane, was a relief.
When Sofia picked up the phone and called to ask if I’d consider joining her and Lila for lunch, I did not hesitate.
I appreciated her seeking out my company and including me, especially when I knew she had a lot on her plate right now.
“So tell me why you forgave him,” Lila urged, reaching forward to pat my knee.
She was glowing and looking so much happier than when I first saw her. She and Tiernan brought out the best in each other.
“He was extremely persistent,” I sighed. “And you were extremely overbearing. It was the perfect storm.”
“I wasn’t overbearing. I was looking after you!” She swatted my knee, turning to Sofia. “Tell her I’m not overbearing, Sof.”
Sofia squirmed in her seat, turning red. She was painfully shy and sweet; it was hard to imagine her with a man like Luca, not to mention a man like Jeremie. “You can be a bit…much,” she admitted softly. “But it’s coming from a good place!”
“Totally,” I agreed.
“You do look good together.” Sofia beamed up at me, taking a sip of her herbal tea.
Her pregnant stomach was starting to show.
I didn’t want to ask her anything about it because it was clear her marriage was a shit show, and I wondered if the new baby—or Ciro—were even the fruit of a consensual relationship.
Knowing Luca, I wouldn’t put it past him to take what wasn’t offered.
I wanted to broach the subject, but I didn’t want to embarrass her, either. If she’d come to me, though—if she gave me any sign of distress—I promised myself I’d finish her husband with my bare hands.
“You think so?” I asked.
Sofia nodded. “The way he looks at you reminds me of all the romance novels I used to hide under my bed so my mama wouldn’t find them.”
“Why? Were they dirty?” I wiggled my brows.
Sofia giggled, shaking her head. “Not too dirty, no. I think she didn’t want me to read them because she didn’t want me to have any expectations regarding marriage and men.”
“That’s horrible.” Lila’s light brows scrunched. “My mama was the same, though. She wouldn’t let me read any romance books, only clean love stories with morals.”
“Please,” I sighed. “I didn’t even have a mother. So I win. Sort of.”
The three of us laughed quietly. We were sitting in Lila’s kitchen, our respective beaus in the office upstairs, holed up and discussing God knew what.
“So…” Sofia looked between us, her teeth sinking into her lower lip nervously. “What does it feel like?”
“What does what feel like?” I asked.
“Being in love with the man you’re with.”
Lila and I exchanged looks. I wasn’t sure I was one to talk about a steady and healthy relationship. Achilles and I were in a good place, but we still had a few hurdles to get past.
Yes, we were back to fucking. Emphasis on the word fucking. I still refused to give him what he wanted. My soul. Yes, I said the words. I loved him, and I couldn’t deny him. But for me, letting go, having tender, intimate sex, was the last wall between us.
I wasn’t going to make it easy for him to break.
He’d denied me pleasure with other people, and I couldn’t get past that. No matter how deeply I felt for him.
“You take the lead.” I cleared my throat, gesturing at Lila.
Lila smiled, turning back to Sofia. “It feels…like being in tune with the universe. But feeling secure and loved in a relationship is not a privilege, Sof. If Luca doesn’t give you what you’re looking for…”
“Then what?” Sofia’s expression was defeated. “I can’t divorce him. No one in our world is ever going to accept that outcome.”
“You don’t have to ask people for permission to live your life as you please,” I thundered.
“Easier said than done. Even you had Achilles monitoring your every move.”
She was right, and I could say nothing about it. In our world, women had to claw their way to freedom. Even that didn’t always help. As much as I knew my brother loved Lila, I doubted he’d ever let her go. She was his, and he’d die before giving her up.
“Is love completely off the table?” Lila murmured. It was so Lila to ask such a thing.
Sofia bowed her head, twisting her fingers in her lap. “That ship has sailed. Luca and I have no positive feelings toward one another.”
“And Jeremie?” I blurted out.
“Jeremie?” Sofia’s brows knitted. “What about him?”
Lila and I exchanged glances. How could she be so blind to the way he looked at her?
“You seemed…close.” Lila cleared her throat. “During dinner the other day.”
“Really? He’s super shy and completely disinterested. He wouldn’t even look me in the eye!” Sofia let loose a self-deprecating laugh.
“So you’ve never…?” I frowned.
She tilted her head sideways innocently. “Never what?”
“You know…”
Sofia’s eyes grew huge. “Oh, never. I doubt Jeremie is even capable of asking someone out. His social anxiety is worse than mine.”
This woman had no idea what was going on in her life.
I opened my mouth, about to clue her in, when Achilles, Luca, Enzo, and Tiernan descended the stairway, making themselves known while conversing loudly. The three of us immediately clammed up.
Achilles stopped behind me, putting his hands on my shoulders and kissing the crown of my head. “Ready to go, sweetheart?”
I nodded swiftly, standing up.
Tiernan rounded the table, placed his index finger under Lila’s chin, and raised her face to kiss her. The entire table watched as my brother took his sweet time showing his wife just how much he’d missed her over the last hour.
Only Luca stood a few feet away from his wife, glancing at his watch in boredom. “Sofia,” he said tersely. “You’ll be late to your obstetrician appointment. Stop loitering.”
She deserved so much better.
I secretly hoped Jeremie would kill him.
Sofia stood, a blush flooding her cheeks as she straightened her sensible dress. “It’s been such a pleasure spending time with you girls.” She offered Lila and me quick kisses on the cheeks. “Let’s do this again soon, okay?”
“Text us as soon as you finish your appointment.” Lila squeezed her hand in solidarity.
We watched Luca and Sofia exiting the house, walking at least two feet away from one another, not sparing each other one glance.
“Can you imagine those two boning?” Enzo muttered, his eyes locked on his phone screen, per usual. “It’s probably colder than a ski competition.”
“We need to do something about your brother.” I pinned Achilles and Enzo with a frown.
Enzo looked up from his phone. “I’ll go see if Sofia needs help throttling him.” With that, he walked out the door, following Luca and Sofia.
Lila stared at his back. “Enzo’s been acting weird.”
“Everyone’s been acting weird,” I sighed.
Achilles looked to be over everyone who wasn’t me. He grabbed my hand in his and tugged. “Let me buy you dinner and then you can tell me why I need to punch Luca.”
Tiernan shook his head at our antics. Lila smiled.
When we headed to the door, my brother called out after us, “Hey, her curfew is at nine and don’t try any funny business, lad.”
Achilles flipped him the bird as he dove to kiss me.