I jump up and try to take them, but he’s too quick, and when he moves, I stumble into him with a grunt.
Our eyes clash, and his darken as my lips part. He’s so warm and solid, I’d forgotten what it felt like to be close to him.
I’m pretty sure this is the first time we’ve even touched in nine years.
Voices outside the door carry down the hall as they approach, so I take what’s left of my dignity and peel myself off Romeo’s body.
Much to my dismay, he pockets my underwear. Before I can lodge another protest, all four of his brothers enter the room with more of my belongings.
“What’s up, Gabs?” Rafe glances between Romeo and me, noting the unusually close distance between us. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Is it congrats or condolences?” Michele glances at my bare hand. “Did Riccardo even buy you a ring yet?”
My ribs compress at the thought of Riccardo’s ring on my finger. Thankfully, he hasn’t given me one yet. But it seems he’s spreading the word about our impending marriage, regardless.I’d hoped to keep it under wraps a while longer, but Riccardo has a big mouth and an even bigger ego.
“Definitely condolences,” Abella mutters as she enters the room.
“You do remember that’s our cousin?” Rafe smirks at her.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Well, Gabi, you can break his heart and decide to marry me instead,” Michele offers.
“You’re too late.” Romeo studies me with his wolf-like gaze. “She only has heart-eyes for Orion.”
Heat surges up my spine, prickling my skin at the mention of that name. The very specific, only-ever-written-in-my-journal code name.
Abella glances between us in confusion. “Who’s Orion?”
“Don’t know,” Romeo answers. “Care to share with the class, Gabi?”
I stare at him, paralyzed with the horrific realization that he must have read my journal.
He arches a brow at me when I don’t respond. “If Orion is known as the hunter, does that mean you’re the prey?”
To my eternal shame, I can feel my ears turning red as I glare at him, making it obvious he’s gotten to me. .
Satisfied that he’s ruined my day, he shoulder checks Michele as he stalks from the room and down the hall—my underwear still in his pocket.
The brothers glance at each other, and Angelo shakes his head. “You’re playing with fire.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Rafe winks at me as he exits the room, leaving me more confused and frazzled than ever.
The rest of the men follow, and Abella stares after them with an odd expression on her face.
“That was weird, right?” I ask.
Sometimes I don’t know if I’m reading things correctly, but she confirms it with a nod.
“That was definitely weird. Things have been tense between them the last few days, and I’m not sure why.”
I twist my fingers together, scanning the boxes they’ve brought in so far. The panicky urge to find my journal swells in my chest, but there isn’t time before the men return with more of my belongings.
After another handful of trips, they’ve delivered all my things and organized the boxes into stacks on one side of the room. I’m still staring at them when Abella pulls me aside.
“Is everything okay?” she asks. “I know this is a lot all at once.”
“It’s just…” My words trail off. What am I going to say—I think Romeo read my diary? Then I’d have to admit who Orion really is, and that’s the last thing I want to do right now.
