“Damn right she is,” I said proudly.
“Didn’t hear from you much.”
“Because I was on vacation, and the last thing I wanted to do was listen to your bullshit.” I didn’t get much time off, so I treasured it whenever it was possible. As the First Roman Emperor of the RomanRepublic, not only was all of Rome my responsibility, but the rest of the country too.
He gave a slight smirk. “Figured you were buried in pussy.”
I was definitely buried balls deep in one pussy in particular.
When I didn’t confirm it or deny it, he turned to me. “Don’t tell me you fucked around with Isabella again.”
“God no,” I blurted, regretting that idiotic decision even more now. Thegod of fortunahad been on my side that evening, keeping Aurelia inside the house so she wouldn’t have to witness the very complicated drama with my ex. An ex I hadn’t been involved with for almost a decade. And I had been stupid enough to think we could just fuck and that would be the end of it.
“She give you any shit?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
He slowly shook his head. “I fucking told you.”
“I know you did.” I fully admitted it. It was a mistake, and I should have listened to Rocco when he’d warned me not to give her any form of hope whatsoever.
“You could have any woman you want, but you decide to start shit.”
“She’d been married and divorced at that point. I thought it would be fine.”
“Still could have fucked literallyanyoneelse, Con.”
“She’s crazy good in the sack, all right?”
“Not good enough to justify the bullshit.”
“Whatever,” I said. “It’s done.” I stared down at the bottom of the coliseum, the sand pit that was illuminated by the golden glow that came from the lights overhead. “We got into it at my mother’s house. I brought someone to dinner, and she lost it.”
He slowly turned his head to look at me. “You brought a woman to your ma’s house?”
“Yeah.”
“To meet your family?”
“That wasn’t why I brought her, but yeah.”
He looked ahead at the pit again before he turned back to me. “Why are you acting like this isn’t a big deal?”
“I’m not acting like it’s not a big deal.”
“Whoa, whoa, then let’s back up here.” Rocco straightened in his chair and pivoted so he could face me better. “Who is she?”
Brick stepped out of the prisoner’s door, a smaller door that was away from the gate. “We’re ready.”
“Ten minutes!” Rocco shouted across the coliseum.
“What the fuck? Why?”
“Fuck off!” Rocco yelled back.
Brick flipped him off before he walked back through the door.
“Who is she?” Rocco asked. “She lives in Taormina?”
