“You did it on purpose!” Tullia says in a raised voice. Her lower lip is wobbling, and tears fill her eyes as she stands, pointing at her older sister. “You knew how I felt about him, and you deliberately went after him because you can’t let me have anything.”
Sofia slips her phone into her purse. “That’s not how it happened, and we shouldn’t be discussing this here.”
Fiero is frowning, his concerned gaze centered on his little sister.
“This is Ro’s day. We can talk about this tomorrow,” Sofia says.
Tullia hiccups over a sob, and my heart breaks for the obvious pain she’s in. “You don’t even care about him. He’s just someone to fuck in between court sessions.” She throws her napkin down. “I hate you and I’ll never forgive you for this.” She glances at us briefly. “I’m sorry for ruining dinner,” she sobs before running off.
Sofia jumps up and dashes after her. Fiero removes his hands from my waist, moving to get up.
“Don’t.” Zumo shakes his head. “I’ll go and sort this. Stay with your wife.” He rushes off in the direction his sisters went.
“You’re hiswife?”
My head jerks up at the familiar voice, but it’s been a long time since I’ve heard it. “Damiano?” I look at my ex in shock, instantly noting the uniform. “You work here?”
Fiero stiffens, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me in tight. He doesn’t disguise his glower as he stares at the younger man.
“Yeah. I just came on shift.”
Damiano has put on weight, and the muscles he worked so hard for senior year are clearly long gone. His hair is much longer than in high school too. It curls around his ears, unkempt and in dire need of a brush.
“I didn’t realize you were living in New York.”
“It, ah, was a recent development.” He scratches the back of his head, and I notice he’s not wearing his wedding ring. His gaze roams over me from head to toe. “You look beautiful.”
“Fuck off,” Fiero says in a lethally calm tone, eyeballing my ex. “You had your chance with Valentina, and you blew it. She’s my wife, and I don’t like the way you’re looking at her. If we were anywhere else, I’d blow your fucking head off.”
“I mean no disrespect.” He holds up his palms. “I just saw Val here, and I couldn’t believe it.”
“On your way,” Fiero says in a clipped tone.
“I didn’t know,” he blurts, fixing his brown eyes on me. I used to think his eyes were stunning, like melted chocolate, but they’re just a boring muddy brown. Looking at him now, I wonder what I ever saw in him. “Louis told me recently what really happened at the party that night. I’m so sorry, Val. I broke down when he told me what was done to you. I’m all choked up my father hurt you like that. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Fiero growls and his body is vibrating with anger. I land a hand on his thigh and squeeze, cautioning him to back down. I’ve waited a long time to say this to Damiano, and I don’t see why I should waste the opportunity. “You didn’t even give me a chance to explain,” I say, holding my head up high as I address my ex. “You believed it without question, and then you kissed Florentina in front of me. It wasn’t enough I’d lost my boyfriend. You had to take my best friend from me too.”
“I was a fool. I worshipped a monster who stole the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“I’m sure your wife would love to hear that,” I say. “Where is the backstabbing bitch anyway?” I’d like to know so I can avoid her. I have nothing nice to say to the girl who was my best friend from fourth grade.
“Living in England with her new Russian oligarch husband.” Bitterness laces through his tone. “She forced me to steal from my brother so I could give her the life she wanted. When Louis found out, he took everything and kicked me out of the state. I came here six months ago with nothing.”
Fiero laughs, and it’s a cruel taunting sound. “She ruined your life and then found a better option when you couldn’t fund her extravagant lifestyle anymore.”
Damiano’s hands clench into fists at his side. “She played me, but I guess it’s my own fault.”
“You got that right,” Fiero drawls. “If it’s any consolation, I bet she’s miserable with that old prick she married, and she’ll be traded in soon for a younger model. If you ask me, sounds like she did you a favor.”
“She aborted my baby before she ran off!” he hisses. “Excuse me if I don’t agree.”
“Watch your fucking mouth, boy.” Fiero drills him with a dark look. “Unless you want to be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life.”
“She’s a touchy subject,” he sheepishly says, immediately backing down.
I snort out a laugh.
Unbelievable.
