Dad looks to Leticia. I try to see what he sees, but my eyes get caught on the bruises forming on her arm. Then the red mark on her face. Rage seers through me, and I want to pull her to me and look her over more thoroughly. I want to catalog her injuries and then cut the body parts off Gregorio that he hurt on Leticia so he might have an inkling of the pain I’m in.
“It seems she’s already banged and bruised up quite a bit. I can’t in good faith say you’re caring for her well.” Dad leverages. “I think it’s in our best interest that she remains here and we deal with Steffano directly.”
“Don’t be stupid.” Gregorio postures.
The front door opens, and Gregorio’s goons raisetheir weapons.
Valor joins our standoff, eyebrow cocked in surprise, but he doesn’t move for his weapon.
“Do you plan on letting Berto come in, or is he supposed to stand out in the cold and keep guard?” Valor huffs with a laugh, clearly unaware of what he’s walking into. “It’s below zero. Even I’m cold out there.”
No one says anything, and Valor looks back over his shoulder. “Berto, quit being a dumbass and get in here.”
A few seconds later, Berto trips coming in the door behind Valor.
“As I was saying.” Dad takes control of the conversation. “Leticia is married to my son. She’s part of a deal you struck with Steffano, and he left her in your care. That care is arguably not sufficient. She’ll remain here with us until Steffano can be reached for a better negotiation.”
“So your son can defile her more? I think not.” Gregorio turns to Berto. “Get your sister in the car.”
Berto stands frozen in place.
Surely he didn’t actually freeze to death.My wolf scents the air.
It takes a good thirty seconds before Berto shakes his head. “This is between the Cavanaghs and Steffano. You shouldn’t have brought her here to start with, but they have more claim on her than we do. If we called the arbiters, what would they tell us?”
“To quit squabbling since we’re in a truce and deal with it like adults,” Valor deadpans, walking over to the coatrack to hang his coat. “I for one don’t want to give them any opportunity to say either side is not withstanding the truce.”
“They were married before the truce.” Gregorio brings up that detail again.
Such a smart idea.My wolf praises me for it.
“So you really had no right to marry Leticia off to begin with, then.” Berto glares at his father. “I told you it was a bad idea to marry her to Steffano.”
Whose side is he on?I raise my eyebrows at Valor, who shrugs.
Gregorio makes a big deal out of reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. It’s afternoon, making it nearly nine o’clock in Italy, but it doesn’t seem to bother Gregorio as he announces, “I’ll just call Steffano now.”
“Great idea.” Mom sighs. She gently touches Leticia’s shoulder as she turns. “I’m going to make coffee. Join me?”
50
LETICIA
WHAT IS REAL?
I’m shaking.Maybe it’s just my hands, but it feels like my whole body. I’m barely holding it together. My arm hurts, the world feels like it’s ending, and I can’t seem to draw a deep breath. But showing weakness isn’t an option. Not in front of Dad.
Betty takes me into the kitchen and starts pulling coffee mugs from the cupboard before she stops, sighs, and turns to face me.
She pulls me into her arms, gently wrapping me up into a hug like Royal did when I was thrown at him. Betty speaks softly. “It’ll be okay.”
Her hug feels so much more comforting than any I’ve ever received from my own mom. I let the tears fall that I’d held back. She squeezes me a bit and then, when I’m ready, let’s go.
Betty wipes away my tears and gives me a partial smile, but it’s a calculating look.
“Do you need something for your head and arm?” she asks, stepping toward the cabinet where I’d seen some medications.
I shake my head, not wanting to seem weak. But with the movement, something in my neck aches, and I gasp.
