Page 104 of Alessio

“I get how that works,” Bene muttered, “I’m not a fucking idiot, Corrado.”

“Then don’t ask.”

Bene looked only to Ginevra. “No, how does that work? Because Corrado was like a sixteen-year-old girl with her heartbroken throughout high school—in a fucking mood, and you just wanted to punch him in the throat and tell him to suck it up. And Les? Yeah, in case you didn’t get the memo, he’s a fucking asshole on his good days, too. How does she put up with it all the time? Because I had to live with one for a long while, and that was enough for me.”

Ginevra’s mouth popped open, but she said nothing. Maybe she didn’t know what to say. Light laughter drifted down the table, from the other twins, Marcus at the end near his father, and the heads of the household, too. Not nervous laughter, either, but genuine. Because well, none of what Bene said was a lie, and he always had the biggest fucking mouth at the table.

Alessio wasn’t even offended.

Corrado grunted under his breath. “I am not that bad.”

“I am,” Alessio said, nodding in his seat, “and Corrado is … well, Bene isn’t wrong.”

“See,” Bene said. “I wanna know how.”

All eyes turned on Ginevra again. Alessio was sure this was not what she had planned for the dinner, but hell, one had to expect anything with the Guzzis. Well, everything except judgement or problems. As long as they gave a shit about you, then that’s what mattered. They would be the first to jump in and support whatever someone needed or wanted even if it meant everyone else would back away.

Her cheeks tinted with pink as she said, “Well, I learned to like it, I guess.”

“But how?”

Ginevra’s stare drifted between Corrado at her side, and Alessio across the table. “Kind of hard not to with those two, that’s all.”

Bene opened his mouth to speak again, but it was Gian who spoke up to stop him at the other end of the table. “That’s enough, Bene, you understand the rules. Unless someone offers, you mind your own.”

The youngest twin scowled. “I can’t help I’m curious.”

“Be curious privately and allow others the same respect.”

“Fine.” Bene muttered to Ginevra out of the corner of his mouth, “But they’re still moody as fuck, and I’m not sure how you do it.”

Alessio smirked at Corrado’s mother, shrugging as he took the final drink from his wine glass. “So yeah, it’s good.”

She laughed. “That’s all I care about.”

Right.

Him, too.

Alessio whistled low, admiring the twin Ducati super bikes parked in front of the large garage. “Damn, I will need to get me one of those.”

Matte black.

Chrome detailing.

Speed like nothing else.

“Yeah, I need one,” Alessio said.

Beside him, Chris chuckled and shook his head. “Ma saw them, and the first thing she said was it was just another way for Bene and Beni to kill themselves.”

“Well …”

“She had a point,” Chris muttered. “They have no concept of fucking danger, and if anything, they chase that shit. Usually together.”

“You’re aware I like you, right?”

“Mostly, yeah.”