Page 19 of Toxic Devotion

“How did you two meet, and no, I don’t want the police-friendly version,” Alicia said, brows cocked inquisitively.

“Too bad,” Marco said and sat down on the couch next to Neil, their thighs pressing together and making a thrill run through Neil. “That’s all you’ll get.”

“We met in a bar,” Neil said, fighting back a laugh at the disapproving look Marco gave him.

Alicia’s eyes lit up. “Were you guys there looking for some bow-chicka-wow-wow?”

Marco groaned and dropped his head into his hands, and Neil met Alicia’s gaze, matching her grin.

“I was actually just trying to enjoy my expensive glass of whiskey when your brother walked in and turned my world upside down.”

Alicia gave an excited squeal and grabbed Neil’s hand though she quickly let go with a goofy look on her face and Neil didn’t have to look to know Marco was glaring at her.

“I turned your world upside down?” Marco asked with one brow arched.

Neil nodded, throat drying out. “That’s putting it lightly.”

He found himself lost in brown eyes and he knew he was smiling, just a little quirk of the lips. Marco was looking back at him with intense eyes.

“Did you just take a picture?” Marco asked, gaze snapping onto his sister. She was sitting with her phone and when she turned it around, there was a picture of them on her screen.

Only his side profile was visible in the picture, but Marco’s face was in full view and his heart took flight when he saw the way Marco looked at him. There was something deep and emotional in those brown eyes that he recognized right into his bones.

Love. He was seeing love.

No one had loved him for so long that even the notion of it scared him shitless. Seeing the evidence staring right back at him so clearly? He wasn’t sure if his heart was about to burst from love or terror.

Falling in love with a mobster was a stupid thing to do but he couldn’t help himself and as he stared at Marco, he only fell harder.

Marco

His sister had taken it well. She was way more invested than he would’ve preferred but how could he blame her? They were all the other had. He knew Alicia kept her flings to herself, not wanting her big brother to scare them off, but while they didn’t talk about it, they both knew. Alicia always had Marco’s men protecting and watching her. She was the easiest way to him, after all. Or, at least, one of them.

If anyone went after Neil he might just lose his shit. He knew he was in love with the man. He also knew they had everything working against them. His enemies. Neil’s job.

He turned his head to look at Neil. They were seated at the dining table, Alicia next to Neil and he had a hand over hers while she tried to pry information out of him. His nosy sister was somehow succeeding in getting Neil to open up though he suspected it was mostly because Neil thought it funny when Marco complained about it.

The chef was preparing a grand meal for the three of them. Neil thought it too dangerous for them to go out for dinner. Even at Serrano’s. So, he’d made Serrano’s come to them instead. Rome looked quite unhappy with the situation, but he kept his mouth shut and resorted to just glaring at Neil when he thought no one was watching.

He zoned out for a brief moment and was brought back when his sister asked, “Top or bottom?”

He snapped his gaze onto her and said, “You’d better be talking about bunkbeds.”

Neil huffed out a laugh that made Alicia grin and waggle her brows at Marco.

“I can go either way but…” Neil trailed off, gaze clashing with Marco’s, the heat he saw in those eyes making him very uncomfortable about his sister being in the same room as them.

“But what?” Alicia asked.

“But nothing,” Marco said and was forced to clear his throat before he could keep speaking. “Mind your damn business, woman.”

Alicia crossed her arms over her chest and Marco’s heart stuttered in his chest because for a moment she looked exactly like their mother. That inquisitive look on her face. That twitch of her lips.

“Not a chance.” Alicia shook her head. “My big brother brings home a boyfriend and I’mma snoop like no one’s ever snooped before.”

“Boyfriend?” Neil asked with a teasing gleam in his eyes.

Alicia gasped, then pointed accusingly at Marco. “Have you not locked down this fine piece of man-meat?”