Page 47 of Vicious Union
“You say that because you and Rocco love each other. Emilio and I don’t. We have great sex, but that’s about it.”
Gabriella claps her hands over her ears. “La, la, la. I don’t need to hear that.”
Everyone laughs.
Ophelia turns to me. “When Massimo and I got married, I was terrified of him. But he was kind, and I was able to open up. Now, we’re in love. But it took a while. Give yourself time with Emilio. He’ll come around.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Massimo was a playboy before I met him, and he’s changed. Emilio will change, too.”
I smile, but it feels forced. “I appreciate all your support. I really do. But I’m just not sure if Emilio will ever change. He’s too stubborn for that. I know he’s dealing with the whole Dante thing?—”
Gabriella perks up. “What Dante thing?”
“Oh. He’s trying to find Dante and … well, end him, I guess.”
“Oh. My brothers never told me they were going after Dante.” She sounds … disappointed?
I look at her more closely. “Emilio said Dante kidnapped you.”
“He did,” she says quickly. “And it was terrifying. I just wasn’t informed; that’s all. I always get a little salty when my brothers keep things from me, like I’m a porcelain doll on a shelf.”
“Rocco probably wants to keep you as a doll forever,” Lara says. “That way, no one can hurt his precious baby sister.”
Gabriella sticks her tongue out at her. “Well, he can’t keep me on a shelf forever. I just hope they find Dante and make him pay for what he did to our family.” Her words said one thing, but her eyes say another.
“What is it about this Dante? I’ve never met him,” I say.
“He’s handsome,” Gabriella blurts out, then blushes. “But that’s not an important detail, is it?”
Lara shakes her head. “It’s not.”
“From what I heard,” Ophelia says, sparing Gabriella more embarrassment, “Dante tried to kill Rocco. And he kidnapped Lara and Gabriella. And now, he wants to take over. That’s what Massimo has told me. I just hope they can stop him before he does anything worse.”
“I agree,” I say. “He sounds like a bad man.” If Dante is this evil and hell-bent on going after Emilio and his family, I get why Emilio didn’t want me going off alone. He had his reasons, and I can’t be mad about it.
I’m determined to go home and make things work with Emilio, even if he keeps trying to push me away.
After I get home, I knock on Emilio’s study.
“What is it?” he asks.
“Are you free?” I ask, opening the door.
He barely glances up at me. “Caterina, I’m swamped with work. Another time.”
“Will there be another time?”
He sighs. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“What you’re doing. Judging me for working right now.” He finally looks up at me, “I’m busy. We can spend time together another time.”
“But when?”
“I don’t know,” he snaps.