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“Please, don’t cause a scene,” I whisper to my brother feeling the anguish burning off him as he stares at Dario.
“Cause a scene? I wouldn’t dare.” He laughs, and when I notice Cassio pause his conversation with Lorna and look toward us, I can sense this is becoming a problem.
“I just came here to wish you a happy birthday and check in on my nieces.” His hand reaches out to touch my stomach and Dario immediately snatches at his wrist.
“I don’t think so.” He shakes his head and holds it firm.
“She’s my sister.” Nic laughs and I gasp along with the rest of the room when Dario twists my brother's arm awkwardly against his back.
“And she’smywife. I told you not to touch her,” he growls into Nic’s ear. “You're embarrassing her, and yourself,” I hear him whisper before he shoves him toward Vito. “Get him out ofhere,” he orders, then smiling politely at all of our guests, he takes me back in his arms and kisses my forehead.
“It’s time for you all to leave,” he announces, keeping his eyes focused on me, and I feel my stomach flip when I think about what I’ve got coming to me.
He waits for everyone to start making their way to the door before he speaks.
“I’m sorry you had to see that, but he was in no state to be around you.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into?—”
“What was all that about?” Lorna interrupts.
“He was buzzed, he should never have come.” I can’t help being a little mad at him, myself.
“He’s acting like such an idiot.” She shakes her head.“You're right about that.” Cassio steps up beside her sliding the olive off the cocktail stick, that was resting on his glass, with his teeth.
“Hey, you don’t know my brother, our dad just died and he’s having a hard–”
“I told you that boy is a liability.” Thadeo joins the conversation and when Dario shakes his head back at his father firmly, I know I’m missing something.
“We need to talk about this.” Thadio eyeballs him. “All three of us.” He looks at his other son and snarls.
“Tomorrow,” Dario tells them both, then leaving everyone to see themselves out, he starts leading me toward the stairs.
“Madalina.” Serena rushes after us with a worried look on her face. “Your brother, he’s not himself.” Her eyes plead up to Dario. “He’s grieving, please.”
“Dev, please ensure Mrs. Conte gets home safely,” he orders one of his men before looking back at her. “You should speak to your stepson, remind him of his father’s values,” he tells her.
“Dario, he’s just having a tough time. Please try and reason with your father. If you take away his district, he’ll have nothing.”
“Good night, Mrs. Conte.” Danti makes no promises and I smile at her over my shoulder as he leads me up the stairs.
DARIO
“What was that all about?” Madalina is on to me as soon as I’ve closed the bedroom door. I’m raging, fucking furious, and I have to put all that aside and somehow stay calm.
“That was your brother doing what he always does,” I remind her, taking a seat on the edge of the bed and massaging my temples. Nicolas Conte is an asshole, and it’s a good job I’m insanely in love with his sister or he’d be a dead one.
“There's more to it, I can tell, you're keeping something from me.” She paces the floor in front of me with the heel of her palm pressed into the dip of her back and her belly sticking out in front of her. Just thinking about her brother's hand touching everything that's precious to me, in the state he was in, makes me wish I’d broken each one of his fingers.
“Calm down. It’s–”
“Don’t tell me it’s bad for the babies, the babies are fine. I want to know what's going on.” She stops and folds her arms under her chest, and the look she’s giving me assures me that she’s not going to back down.
“Your brother's a liability, and he’s not ready to run his own district.” I give it to her straight, knowing that it won’t be easy for her to hear. “I knew that, and yet I still convincedmy father to give him a chance.” Her anger turns to shock as she drops her arms back to her sides.
“Cassio was supposed to take over Queens after your father died. Our dad was finally giving him a shot to be somebody, and I ruined that for him by demanding that my father allow Nicolas to keep it.” I keep my head down because I’m ashamed of myself. “Cassio knew this before he helped you last week which is why his kindness came as such a shock.”
“Why would you do that?” She shakes her head, looking utterly confused.
