Page 100 of Deathless & Divided

With a lift of his brow, Damian silenced his cousins.

As with Lily’s return to Chicago, the Rossi twins had been welcomed home the same way. An informal dinner party at the Trentini home with an open invitation to the families as guests. Lily couldn’t help but notice there was a great deal fewer people milling about for the twins than there had been at hers.

Considering the mess going on, it wasn’t a surprise. No one from the Conti family showed up. Even a few men Lily knew had been at hers for her uncle’s sake hadn’t come, either. The tension residing between the guests kept the crowd at a dull roar and little laughter was shared.

One week after someone shot up the Conti bar, and nothing was settled. Things were off in the Outfit. Even Dino hadn’t shown at the welcoming home party, but Theo had. Theo dismissed his older brother missing it as something to do with work. A last minute call.

Lily didn’t know if that was true or not. The dinner had been a last minute thing, so maybe that was why fewer people showed up to celebrate. Lily had a feeling that wasn’t the case at all.

Emptying what bit of white wine was left in her glass, Lily told Damian, “I need a refill. You want something?”

Damian handed over his empty glass. “No, but I’d be thankful if you got rid of this for me.”

“Will do.”

Lily found the closest maid she could and got rid of Damian’s glass and her own. She took the chance to snatch a bottle of water from the kitchen before making her way back through the large home to find Damian and his cousins.

The conversation happening between the Rossi cousins drew her attention. She knew better than to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help it. Lily stayed in the shadow of the hallway and didn’t go further.

“Do you like her?” Lea asked.

Damian chuckled. “Why is that any of your concern?”

“Because we care about you, smartass,” Cara replied with a roll of her blue eyes. “I’d hate to see you settled down with someone you can’t stand. That doesn’t seem fair to you at all.”

“And Mom said—”

“Fuck Serena,” Damian interrupted sharply. “I’m about done dealing with her crazy mouth. Someone needs to permanently shut that up.”

“Well, I’m not going to disagree there,” Cara said, snorting. “But what Lea was trying to say was that we were told it’s business, D.”

“It is,” Damian confirmed.

“So?” Lea pressed.

“So what?”

“Come on, Damian,” Lea said. “You two seem close for it being business.”

“I like her,” Damian said. “She’s easy to like.”

“At least she doesn’t hate you,” Cara replied.

Damian sighed. “Yet.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Lea asked.

“Nothing. So hey, I heard you two were home the night the shooting happened,” Damian said quietly. “Or that’s what Ben said.”

Cara crossed her arms. “So?”

“You didn’t see anything?” Damian asked.

“Nothing,” Lea said.

Damian hummed under his breath. “No one left?”

“No,” Cara said. “Not that we know of. We were pretty out of it. Long flights.”