Leticia rolls her eyes before leveling me with a flat gaze. “The only thing different here are the two of you.”
“Manners, all of you,” Antonella chides softly over the lip of her cup before she takes a drink.
Kerrianne giggles, her cocoa sloshing. “Different isn’t a bad word.”
“Oh, in this case, it most definitely is. They’re using it as an insult.” Antonella groans. She squares herself to Kerrianne. “And it’s not one we’d repeat at school because?”
“Insults are bad and meant to hurt people. Even if we think they’re funny, it could hurt,” Kerrianne recites like she’s said this before.
I lean over to Valor and use my cup to shield my mouth. “The fuck are they teaching the kids at the school?”
With a shrug and a shake of his head, Valor sits back down on the sofa. “I don’t know, but maybe I should take some classes.”
I snort, trying not to lose my shit at that notion.
Which is fine because Kerrianne huffs, her sassy attitude coming back out. “You can’t come to class. You’d never fit at my desk. Your legs are too long.”
“Excellent logic.” Leticia nods and takes another sip. Her phone rings, and she groans as she answers it. “Berto, for the last time. Mind your own business and not mine.”
I freeze looking at her. That seems so out of character from all the times she’s talked to Berto and her dad, but maybe, with Antonella at her side, she feels more in control? Something?
“What is your problem?” Berto huffs from his end of the line.
Being farther away from her than I was on the porch yesterday, I can barely make him out.
“I’m calling to let you know an SUV is on it’s way out for you. Send me your location so I can update their directions. Your timewith the Cavanaghs is over. Dad brokered a deal. You’re to be married to Steffano Bianchi.” Berto informs her, like it’s just a casual phone call and not a life-changing event. “Get your shit together, you’ve got to pack for Italy.”
Steffano Bianchi is a trash human. He used to broker arms through us for his guards at their mining operations, but when we found out he wasn’t just protecting the mines with those guns, we cut off his supply. There are hundreds of pages of reasons not to work with the guy. But most pertinent at the moment is that Leticia would be the third Mrs. Steffano Bianchi.
Antonella must hear Berto, too, because she taps Kerrianne’s leg, and Kerrianne scrambles out of the way, coming over to sit with Valor.
When Antonella holds her hand out, Leticia hesitantly gives her the phone.
Antonella’s voice is glacial as she rumbles, “Berto. You did not just say that.”
Leticia has gone ghost white. She leans forward and sets her mug on the table.
“That’s the second most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said.” Antonella is on the verge of growling.
I set my cup down and move toward her. Placing a hand on either arm, I try to steady her, demonstrating breathing. With new wolves being as volatile as they are, the last thing we need is her shifting in the living room on a phone call.
Antonella follows my lead, taking a few steadying breaths, and the growl fades out of her voice. “I’m not letting that happen.” She hangs up, raising her gaze to Leticia before repeating herself. “Leticia. I’m not letting that happen.”
Threat of Antonella going rogue dissipated, I move away from Antonella, putting myself closer to Leticia. The problem now is that Leticia’s dropped the act. She’s no longer putting on a show by pretending to hate me. Her eyes are full to the brim with dread, and the lack of fire in her threatens to snuff out some of my own.
“Don’t be silly.” Leticia gives the most pained smile I’ve ever witnessed as she takes her phone back. “Look how well it worked out for you. Aside from, like, maybe the last week, arrangedmarriage can work quite well. It’s time anyway. I shouldn’t be putting it off.”
“I’ll figure you a way out of this.” Antonella shakes her head.
“You’ve got enough on your plate. I know the man Berto is talking about. I’ll keep his house in order and dinner warm and on the table. Nothing I don’t do now,” Leticia says and returns her attention to her phone, probably doing as Berto asked and sending him her location.
But it’s all false bravado; she’s terrified, and the acidic scent of fear is wafting off her.
We’re all silent — Kerrianne hugging Valor, Antonella and Leticia having a silent conversation, and me trying to calculate all the ways I can make Steffano Bianchi disappear.
Don’t forget poison, acid bath, and that one mercenary who feeds his victims to bears.My wolf is so very helpful.
But Leticia doesn’t let us dwell on it. “Sorry for the interruption. Now, where were we? Talking about putting a Christmas tree up in here? With such high ceilings, surely we could get one at least a respectable height. Maybe ten feet?”
