“So,” she calls, “are you going to leave me hanging or tell me everything about this adoption situation?”
I give her the short version while Nate’s texts start lighting up my phone, asking if I’m okay.
“There’s one more thing. Mase doesn’t know yet. So don’t say anything at the table. We’re keeping it quiet for now. Until we know more.”
She pulls me into another hug after I wash my hands. “Okay. But I wish you had told me earlier. I’m going to look like a complete psycho at the table, all giddy and shit.”
“You’ll be fine. Let’s go.”
We walk back to our table, and the guys are huddled tightly around Leo’s phone and don’t notice us approaching.
Their expressions are caught somewhere between excited and furious.
Luckily, I have the height, so I lean over Leo’s shoulder and gasp out loud. “Oh my god. Who is that?”
Leo fumbles the phone in his hand, and it goes flying across the table. Addie snatches it mid-slide, and I rush to her side to confirm what I saw.
“Holy shit,” she breathes.
We both look up at the guys. Then down at the phone. Then back at them again in perfect, horrified sync.
“What is this?”
“Nothing. Stop snooping,” Leo snaps, already reaching to lock the screen.
I turn my furious expression toward Nate. He knows I hate being left out of the mix.
“What’s going on?”
The guys exchange a loaded glance at each other.
Nate blows out a long breath, and Mase looks defeated, too. Both are busted and know now they have to tell me.
“Let’s sit down,” Mase suggests.
The guys take their seats, only then do I take mine, and then Nate gestures for Leo’s phone.
“What I tell you right now does not leave this table.” He looks between Addie and me. “Ever.” Nate’s voice is more lethal than ever, so I know he means business.
Both Adelaide and I nod our heads. “We promise.”
Nate looks at me. “What you thought earlier about Matteo’s family wasn’t wrong.”
I think back and don’t recall what he’s talking about.
“What do—” My eyes widen. “Oh my god. Really?” Then I remember what he said and mock him. “Oh, you watch too many movies.”
“You must understand why I wanted to keep this from you, right? If anything ever gets out…”
“I’m not mad.”
“Hello, what’s going on?” Addie interjects.
I turn toward her, lowering my voice. “Do you remember Nate and Leo’s friend Matteo?”
“The hot Italian one? Of course I remember.”
“His family is part of the Mafia,” I whisper.
