Page 23 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

Emma had no idea what her husband was talking about.She couldn’t hear any music. The downstairs section of the home was as quiet asit ever was, but she was pretty sure that was on purpose. Affonso mentionedonce or twice that the home’s walls were doubly thick for business purposes.

Emma didn’t question him more.

She didn’t want to know why.

Toward the back of the house, where the library andAffonso’s private office was located, Emma began to hear the music. The sweet,upbeat tune of the piano flooded the back hallway. Soon, she was leaning in thelibrary doorway, watching Michelle play the piano while Cynthia did a few stepsthat Emma immediately recognized as ballet.

She hadn’t known the girl danced.

Calisto rested on the edge of the piano bench, smilingin a way that Emma hadn’t seen from him before. It was sweet—affectionate,even. Like he was so damn proud of the girls. Emma hadn’t ever seen Affonsograce them with even a small fraction of that kind of love and attention.Calisto wasn’t their father, and he gave them more than Affonso did.

It was terribly sad.

Once Michelle had finished her song, Emma cleared herthroat to gain their attention. She pretended like she didn’t notice Calistowatching her under his lashes in that way of his that said he’d known she hadbeen standing there for a while.

“Time to eat,” Emma said.

“Great. I’m fucking starving,” Cynthia mumbled, makinga beeline for the door.

“Watch your mouth,” Calisto barked. “Ladies don’t talklike that.”

Michelle snickered as she strolled past Emma like shewasn’t even standing there. The girl didn’t pretend to like her. “Who saidanything about Cynthia being a fucking lady?”

“Oh, my God,” Calisto grumbled.

“They don’t talk like that in front of their father,”Emma noted.

Calisto’s eyes popped open, and a clearness replacedhis glassy-eyed look from the night before. He pushed off the bench to standwith a learned grace that Emma appreciated. She just wish her body didn’tappreciate it, too.

“Better for them that they don’t,” Calisto said.

“I see you sobered up.”

“I’m still a little drunk.”

“And you drove here this morning?” she asked,disgusted.

Calisto laughed deeply. “No, I have a driver. Worrynot, kitten.”

Emma swallowed hard.

Kitten.

That was a new one.

She liked it.

In his mouth, she liked it a lot.

“What brought you over here this morning, Cal?” sheasked. “One apology was enough.”

“Business for Affonso, nothing more. It wasn’t aboutyou.”

Emma hoped he was telling the truth.

Without saying anything else, Calisto crossed the roomin long, smooth strides. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he passed herby, not giving her a second look. Emma almost wished he would.

Wary, she followed behind Calisto until they were inthe dining room and taking their seats. She filled her plate with differentfoods, and watched Calisto approach his uncle out of the corner of her eye.Calisto bent down, whispered something into Affonso’s ear, and waited.