He slapped me on the shoulder. “Look who fucking turned up.”
I inhaled through my nose and smiled. “Happy birthday, Nic.”
“Where the fuck’s my present? I don’t see you carrying anything.” He glanced at both my hands and his mouth twisted. When his gaze slid to Phoenix, I tensed. “Unless he’s my present. I prefer them bigger than me, but he’s pretty.”
I shoved him, glaring, and he laughed loudly. Real anger made my blood hot as I wrapped my arm around Phoenix and dragged him against my side. “He’s not for you, and you know what I think about gifts. Phoenix is here under my protection, leave him alone.”
Nic’s laughter only grew louder, and soon Toma was at his side, sneering.
“So, you ended up bringing your boyfriend?” He raised his dark brows and gave Phoenix a once-over.
“Boyfriend?” Nic asked in surprise.
“He’s not,” I argued, but I slid my glare to Toma. He looked as good as he always did in his fancy ash suit with a violet tie that reminded me of the color of Phoenix’s futon frame, and that only annoyed me more. I took a deep breath and thought about God and his plans for me. This was another test—my family would always be a challenge given to me to try my patience.
“Then you won’t mind if I have a chat with him.” Toma went to take a step, but in a surprise move I shoved him. He tipped back on his feet, and the only thing that saved him from falling on his ass was Nic grabbing him. Toma’s face turned red, and he stalked forward, but I slid between him and Phoenix.
“Back off, Toma,” I growled out, low in my throat.
“Well, well, well, looks like the old Gian’s come out to play.” He bared his teeth at me.
“Touch him and find out.” In that moment God wasn’t at the forefront of my brain. Every piece of me surged with the need to protect Phoenix against Toma, and I would hurt him if it meant getting Phoenix out of here safely. I’d thought they would behave better than this with Mamma around here somewhere.
Much to my relief she came striding up, swatting at Nic and huffing. “You leave Phoenix alone. Shoo, both of you. Toma, don’t make me get your mamma or sisters. I’ll do it.”
Nic danced away like a man who’d told the best joke ever, but Toma took a little longer. Another long glare from Mamma, and he stalked away.
She clapped her hands together as she stared at us. “Look at you. Handsome, both of you.”
Phoenix snuggled in closer to my side when I wrapped my arm around him again, a flush fanning out across his pale cheeks. He ducked his head and touched a button on his suit. “Thank you, Etta.”
Mamma chuckled and kissed him on the cheek. “What do you think about this dress?” She stepped back and spun in a circle, and I took the chance to stare at her. She wore black, as usual, but the dress had more of an entertainment feel to it, with a frill at the bottom and short sleeves. Red roses added a line of flourish across the front, and it was nice on her.
“I love it. I love the dash of color,” Phoenix said, pointing at the roses.
Mamma’s chuckle turned into a giggle, and a blush spread across her face. “Oh stop. Come on, I want to introduce you to the ladies.”
“Mamma,” I tried to say, but she waved me off. The ladies were my aunts. My aunt Sofia married my uncle, Ric’s father, and my aunt Pamina was my father’s sister. They were all good women, but I didn’t trust Ric not to snatch Phoenix away from Mamma and my aunts.
“He’ll be fine,” Mamma said with another huff, and I had no choice but to let her drag him off.
Phoenix gave me a brave smile, but I didn’t miss the panic in his eyes before I lost him in the crowd of my family. I squeezed the bridge of my nose and went to follow them, but someone grabbed my shoulder, stopping me. I sucked in a breath; I didn’t have to look to know whose tight hold was preventing me from moving.
“Gian.” Ric’s deep voice sent shivers down my spine, and I turned to face him.
He was taller than me and his height made him appear more domineering. He’d ditched his suit jacket somewhere, and the sleeves were rolled up on his white dress shirt. He appeared more relaxed than I usually saw him, which wasn’t a good sign.
“Don’t play games with me, Ric. What do you want?”
His eyebrows jumped on his forehead. “We are direct tonight, aren’t we? Can’t we celebrate your little brother’s birthday?”
“No.” I raised my chin. “You told Mamma about Phoenix so I would bring him tonight. Why?”
His hold tightened, and he tipped his head to the right in a sign I knew as a directive to follow him. He let me go and headed toward a round table at the far corner of the room, and I let him lead me as though I was a lamb. When he sat down, I took the seat beside him, and surprisingly there was no one else here. I expected Toma or Domenic to be involved.
“Do you remember when I killed Papa, Gian?” He touched a champagne flute on the table that was half full but didn’t take a drink.
“Yes.” Another memory I couldn’t forget. I’d been there when he and Domenic took Uncle Gus out. Uncle had been a cruel man who beat his wife, children, and nephews. The respect for him among the family had dwindled before Ric and Dom ended him. By the time they’d stopped the old man’s reign of terror, his fate had already been solidified; his murder was going to happen sooner or later.
