“Oh, honey,” she says, patting his hand, “It’s not uncommon in Italian families to take more than one lover.”
“I could have gone my whole life without hearing you say lover,” Alexey mutters.
“And we’re sending her to an Italian family,” I say, waggling my eyebrows just to get a rise out of them.
Alexey slams his fist down on the table. “She’s not fucking going now.”
“Language,” Nina says sternly, and I can’t help but laugh when Alexey shrinks back in his chair.
“My mom is with an Italian man,” Leo says, then grimaces. “Why the hell did you have to say that?”
“My dad’s nothing if not traditional,” Ryder says with a straight face. “He’s got a lot of brothers.”
Leo’s face goes pale, and he stands up. “I’m calling Mom.”
“He’s just messing with you, Baby!” I yell at his retreating back; he flips me off and keeps walking.
Dex chuckles. “He will have his mom on the first plane back home.”
“Baby?” Nina squeaks after hearing what I called Leo.
“Yeah. They’re together too,” Dmitri says with a laugh and motions between Ryder and Holden. “They are too.”
Holden blushes, and Ryder chuckles, “What’s the matter,Bello?”
Holden’s blush deepens, but he smiles. “Nothing.”
I shake my head with a laugh. “I’m going to go check on Les.”
I stand up and follow the path she took. I find her on a swing that overlooks the property and flop beside her. She’s having an animated conversation in full Italian, and I can only pick up on a few keywords. Les tried to teach me Italian, but it was too damn complicated. She says her goodbyes and turns to me. “If you’re here to argue, you can go right back in the house.”
“I wasn’t arguing, Pretty girl. I get what you’re saying,” I soothe.
She snorts. “No, you don’t. You just don’t want me pissed at you.”
“That too.” I smile.
She rolls her eyes. “You and those damn dimples,” she mutters, pulling up Zane’s contact. She flips it to the speakerphone, and I feel my teeth gritting.
“Well, hello, Beautiful,” he answers, and I barely resist cussing his punk ass out.
“I need a favor,” Les says without preamble. “This goes above anything I’ve asked you to do before.”
“Does it involve a dead body?” Zane deadpans. I feel my lips twitch and fight the smile. I refuse to find him amusing.
“No,” Les huffs. “I can take care of those myself.”
“Beautiful. Do I need to remind you who you’re talking to?”
“Trust me; I remember you’re a traitor.”
“Hm,” Zane hums, ignoring that dig. “What do you need?”
“I have a friend on the run from an abusive husband. I need you to take her to the jet.”
Zane’s quiet for a minute. “You said this is bigger. What aren’t you telling me?”
I have to give it to him; he’s fucking smart. This isn’t a simple drop-off at the airstrip with a random abused woman.
