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She shifted to pin Antonio with her glare. “And you! I’m not an idiot, and I’m not fucking lucky! I don’t need you!” Her chest heaved as she watched his eyes harden. “I’ve already told you, focus on what’s important. That’s good for you, and it’s good for me. I don’t need some asshole Di Salvo telling me what to do! Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“I’m someone who fucking loves you!” Antonio shouted.
Vespa stopped breathing.
Antonio’s eyes looked crazed, and he raked a hand through his hair again. “Fuck! I didn’t mean to say that.”
“So you didn’t mean it?” Beatrice asked, her lips twitching as if it was some kind of goddamn joke.
It wasn’t fucking funny. If Vespa couldn’t drag in air soon, she was going to die.
“No! I mean, yes, I meant it, just…” He closed his eyes and shuddered out a breath. When his eyes opened to meet hers again, they showed nerves, something she’d never seen on him before.
The Coronella soldiers remained dead silent. No catcalls or teasing ensued; it was as if they were waiting for her to say something.
Vespa didn’t have enough air to say anything. He loved her. No one but Montrell had said that to her before, but it sounded so different when Antonio said it. Maybe because he’d shouted it at her.
Her lungs tried to seize, and she finally dragged in a breath. “The fuck?” was the best she could come up with.
Antonio didn’t smile, not even his fake one. His jaw ticked from being clenched so tightly, and he just stood there, like he didn’t know what to do either.
Vespa was embarrassed and panicked and dizzy and felt a little like she was going to throw up.
“I love you, Vespa. I didn’t mean to announce it like that, but it’s true.” Antonio took a step closer, holding out a hand. “Come on. After the day you’ve had, it’s not a weakness to need sleep.”
“Exactly what we’ve been telling her.” Dominico let out a nervous laugh. “Go on, boss. We’ll handle things for now. You can be superhuman tomorrow.”
“Whatever,” Vespa mumbled, barely feeling her hand slipping into Antonio’s over the pounding pulse that was taking over her body.
“Try to get her to let you treat that scratch, too,” Beatrice called after them as Antonio led her to the stairs.
“You love me? What the hell?” She glanced nervously behind her. “You can’t say that shit in front of the boys. And don’t get any ideas! I’m exhausted, remember?”
Antonio squeezed her hand. “I’ll be a gentleman.”
She snorted.
His grip turned almost too tight when they made it to her wing. “There should be soldiers here keeping guard.”
“Don’t start.” Vespa opened her bedroom door. “I didn’t plan on being here.”
“Me neither,” he admitted. He released her hand to close the door behind them.
“Right.” Vespa flipped on the lights and turned to face him. “So, what was all that?”
“Me losing my mind.” He grimaced. “I didn’t like the way we left things at the restaurant. The Di Salvos… It’ll be safer for Giovanni and Nera if we end the alliance. That sounds cold, but—”
“No. I agree.” Her heart began to settle. “It’s the only thing that makes sense from your side. I can respect it.” She ran a hand over her face and winced. The cut on her forehead was on fire.
“Hey, stop that.” He grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the bathroom. “That cut is more than a scratch and needs to be treated.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re a little bossy?” Vespa griped, but her chest was squeezing again.
“Don’t get any ideas. No more sex tonight.”
Vespa choked on a laugh.
Antonio flashed her his lovely, genuine, lopsided smile.
