Chapter 8 #4
He hates when I call him that. Dante is my biological father.
It’s not as though he’s my stepfather, and there’s been more times than I can count that he’s scolded me or shouted at me for not giving him the respect that he deserves.
I wait to embrace another tongue-lashing.
He’s never physically abused me. He doesn’t have to for me to know that he’s a monster.
Dante shakes his head. “I don’t have time for your antics,” he mutters, heading back inside the compound. The sliding glass door slams with a resounding thud, and I can practically hear the curtains being shut from inside, keeping all prying eyes out.
Harper pulls back, but I keep my hands on her hips, holding her in place. She raises an eyebrow at me. “The girlfriend show is over; your father is back inside the house. Which, I might add, you forgot to mention he’s weird.”
“Why do you think I avoid him like the plague?” I grumble.
“Yeah, that’s why,” Ashton says and rolls his eyes. I shoot him a look to shut up. I don’t need to worry Harper or have her any more involved than she already is. The fact Dante came outside to tell us to keep the fuck out of the house tells me all I need to know.
They’re bringing in someone for interrogation.
My stomach roils just thinking about the poor soul who betrayed the Ricci family. Hopefully, they’re not a father or married. If they’re lucky, maybe no one will notice or care that they’ve gone missing.
It’s unlikely they’ll return home.
Moreno and Dante don’t take prisoners for entertainment. They interrogate because they require information, and when that information is obtained, those men are of no use to them.
“I can’t believe we got kicked out of the house during my own birthday party,” Nova says, groaning under her breath.
“Maybe they’re making you a birthday cake and don’t want to ruin the surprise by you seeing it before it’s ready?” Harper quips.
I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, my thumb stroking her cheek. “That’s sweet,” I whisper, but completely foolish.
Harper smiles and shrugs. “I’m glad you gave me your sweatshirt. It’s freezing out here!”
“I know a few ways to get you to warm up,” I say suggestively.
She smacks my arm and climbs off my chair, grabbing the stick to add another marshmallow to roast. Harper sits back down in her own chair, bringing it slightly closer to the fire to keep warm.
I stand, grabbing a few more logs, tossing them carefully into the fire to keep it roaring. It is chilly outside. Thankfully, I was already dressed warmly before arriving at the compound.
Ashton clears his throat, glancing between Harper and me. “So that little marshmallow debacle back there, was that entirely a performance for his father?” he asks.
It’s certainly a question roiling through my mind at the moment. I give props to Ashton for bringing it up.
“You did say I was your girlfriend,” Harper smiles at me. “I was just playing the role.”
Nova snorts with laughter. “Sure, keep telling yourself that, Harper.”
Harper's eyes narrow. “I thought you were on my side, friend.”
My little sister tosses her arms up in the air. “Truce. Don’t make me pick a side. It’s my birthday, remember?”
“Fine.” Harper laughs. “Are you going to open your birthday present?” She gestures to the gift bag sitting at Nova’s feet.
“Oh, sure! We usually do that after cake, but who knows when we’ll have dessert.” Nova grabs the gift bag and places it onto her lap. She grabs the card first, opening it. It’s grown dark outside, and she grabs her phone and turns the flashlight feature on, allowing her to read the card. “Cute.”
“Are you going to share with the group?” Ashton asks, waiting for her to hand over the card for everyone to read.
Nova laughs. “No! When it’s your birthday, you can read your own card.” Her hands dig into the bag, pulling out an adorable narwhal stuffed animal, and I can’t help but wonder if she chose that because it’s my team’s mascot.
My heart fills with pride.
“Oh my gosh! Isn’t he adorable?” Nova squeals and brings it to her face and nuzzles its horn. “I can’t wait until I start there next semester!”
“There’s a gift card in there too,” Harper says, gesturing to the bag.
Nova’s eyes light up even more and she feels around, finding it and looking at it with the flashlight. “Oh, bookstore! Yes! We are going first thing tomorrow morning so I can grab a new book.”
Her excitement is contagious.
“Okay,” Harper says and smiles. “Sounds fun.”
“What’d you get me?” Nova asks, turning to face me.
“He probably brought you dirty laundry,” Ashton jokes, and he stands. “My gift is in my bag. Give me a second to grab it.” He heads over toward the house, but his bags are still outside on the porch. He digs through, and a minute later, he returns with a wrapped box.
Shit.
I rub the back of my neck awkwardly.
I didn’t have time to get Nova a present, and not because I didn’t want to, but between school and hockey practice, I haven’t exactly gone off campus. If I’d thought ahead, I could have ordered her a present … but she hasn’t been the first thought on my mind lately.
I’ll think of something before the night is over. I can always have Moreno swing by the store and pick it up if I give him cash. Wouldn’t be the first time he’s made a run for a last-minute gift.
Nova’s eyes light up as Ashton carries over a box that was small enough to fit into his backpack but isn’t so tiny that it could be jewelry.
Thank heaven.
I’d have had a fit if he'd bought her a piece of jewelry.
That’s way too intimate a gift to be giving to Nova.
Ashton hands the gift-wrapped present to Nova. “Happy Birthday,” he says and smiles at her.
Her eyes crinkle as she takes the present and holds it up to her ear, gently shaking it. “It’s not a puppy.”
Ashton laughs and throws his head back. “Definitely not a pet.”
“Are you going to open it, or keep us all in suspense?” I ask.
Nova glances at me peculiarly and then shakes her head, dismissing whatever thought that traverses through her head. She doesn’t say anything, just rips the birthday wrapping paper off the box and reveals a brown box.
She raises an inquisitive eyebrow and opens the box, pulling out an eyeshadow palette and perfume.
“Oh my gosh. It’s gorgeous!” She squeals with delight and then opens the perfume from its box, unwrapping the contents to smell the bottle.
“Thank you, Ashton!” Her excitement is overflowing with glee.
“You bought her makeup,” I say, unsure what to make of the gift he gave her.
“I love it!” Nova says excitedly.
“I didn’t know you wear makeup.” I stare at her, surprised.
“There’s a lot you don’t know,” Nova says and shrugs. “You’re always with your fake girlfriend.”
“We’re always studying together,” Harper says. She carefully pulls the marshmallow from the stick and takes a bite, her eyes closing in perfect bliss.
She looks sexy as hell.
It takes everything in my power not to waltz over and capture her mouth with mine, kissing her, tasting her, devouring that marshmallow along with her.
Fuck.
When did I fall so damn hard for Harper McKenna?
“You’re staring,” Harper mumbles, the marshmallow in her mouth as she catches my gaze on her.