I stood back, watching this reunion and suddenly feeling like an outsider. I didn’t like feeling like that around Beatrice, who, in some strange way, had become the main person in my life.
At last, Caspian turned to face me.
“Pavlov,” he hissed.
I nodded, closing the door behind us. “I asked the staff to stay away. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Why? You don’t want any more witnesses for crimes you might commit?” Giovanni, as expected, was the first to throw an insult my way.
“We are here on grounds of compassion, Giovanni,” I reminded him coolly. “I don’t plan to wreak havoc unless you do first.”
“You aren’t doing us a favor by letting us meet our sister,” Giovanni nearly roared, but Federico put a hand on his shoulder, holding him back from making a mistake.
A tense silence fell over the room, with Beatrice looking between us like she was terrified of one wrong move on either end.
“Should we…sit down?” she suggested, in a quiet voice like she was questioning even saying a word.
I was the first to move, and then, one by one, the couches and chairs filled up. There was already a bottle of scotch, with glasses and ice on the table before us. I reached out, pouring myself a drink, knowing I needed one bad.
“Please, help yourself on our dime. It’s not like you think twice before taking what’s ours,” Dante glared at me. I met his gaze and barely heard Beatrice admonish her brother, the anger rushing through me at the bait I saw he wanted me to take.
Instead, I gritted my teeth and held my tongue so damn hard my jaw hurt.
“You look thin,” I heard Giovanni tell Beatrice, and finally looked away from Dante. “Is he feeding you properly?”
Once again, I let the insult slide. What part of she’s my wife did these men not understand?
“I eat just fine,” Beatrice answered. “Marta is an excellent cook.”
“We’ve missed you at family dinners,” Federico shot me a distasteful look. “Sunday nights aren’t the same without you counting cards during poker.”
“I never counted cards,” she giggled, whacking him on the shoulder.
“You absolutely did,” Dante chimed in. “Remember that time Luca caught you on Christmas three years ago?”
“Oh. Shit.” Beatrice shrugged playfully, looking sorry only because she got caught.
“No wonder she won three grand from me last time we played.” Achille looked woeful as the brothers continued exchanging stories, making their sister feel special.
But I knew why they were reminiscing. They wanted to let me know I was the outsider, the unwanted one in Beatrice’s life. With each passing comment and conversation, they wanted to belittle me and make me feel small.
I knew today would be awkward, but not this goddamn hostile.
“We’re worried about you.” I came back from my thoughts to hear Achille say. “Are you truly okay?”
Beatrice nodded. “I am.”
“How can you be when he kidnapped you?” Luca scoffed.
I tensed, but kept my mouth shut as I’d promised.
“You married her against her will,” Caspian now addressed me. “What kind of man does that?”
“You can judge me all you want,” I replied calmly. “But the facts don’t change that we’re now family.”
A collective round of protests went across the room.
“We are going to have this marriage annulled!” Caspian roared.
