“Did you know Isla had lunch with Rosa last week?”
Isla locked eyes with me just as my jaw twitched. It was as if she had sensed we were talking about her. She didn’t smile, nor did I.
“I didn’t know that.” I bit down on my back molars to keep from exploding in a fit of rage. Usually, Isla told me when she and my sister went out together. At least once a month they would meet for lunch. Sometimes they went shopping or to the movies. A couple of months ago, they’d planned Christmas together.
But they weren’tthatclose, were they?
Why in the hell didn’t she tell me? Why keep it a secret?
“Thought so. Don’t you guys communicate?” Roman sighed, swirling the crystal flute and watching the lights bounce off it.
“Apparently not,” I hissed. Isla didn’t look away as my secretary, Millie, talked animatedly to her. “What do you know, Roman?”
“She loves you.”
“I know she does.” I squeezed the glass in my hand and made a fist with my other. She shouldn’t love me, just as I shouldn’t…care about her.
“But…” Roman stopped to inhale a deep breath.
“But what?” The muscles in my neck coiled. I squeezed my fisted hand tighter as I waited for him to continue.
“She doesn’t like all the women throwing themselves at you. She told Rosa you let them flirt and hang on you.”
“She’s young. Overly emotional. She’ll get used to it.”
“Will she get used to it, though?”
“Those women mean nothing to me. You know it. I know it. She knows it.” Now was not the time to discuss my personal life. What was my brother doing? He knew better.
“Does she know it?” he asked.
“Cazzo!” I spat fuck out of my mouth in Italian. I’d had enough of this pointless topic. Nothing would ever change so everyone, including Isla, had better get used to it.
Of course, I had no right to be angry with anyone else but myself. Isla was turning twenty-two this summer. She was so young; fourteen years younger than me.
Sometimes even the most ruthless, heartless man could be brought to his knees when the right woman entered his life, age difference be damned.
Not only was Isla gorgeous and kind, but she was also a talented designer in her final year of college. Nothing had come easy for her, and her challenges had made her resilient and more mature than her peers. She reminded me of mymother in many ways, only a blonde version, which scared me most.
I nodded to myself.In time, she’ll learn to deal with women trying to get me to fuck them. She must trust me.
I’d told her a million times I wasn’t the cheating type, but my words had fallen on deaf ears. Her replies had never changed,Actions speak louder than words, Ciro.
“I didn’t mean to piss you off, but I’m worried for you, brother,” Roman said, sounding genuine as always.
“Don’t be. No matter what happens, I’ll be fine.”
“Not if you lose her.” His words hit me like a dark foreshadowing demon.
Before I could issue Roman a sarcastic reply, a man approachedmywoman. He seemed to introduce himself, took her hand and kissed the top. They shared a brief, seemingly innocent exchange.
Millie, my awkward assistant, swayed from side to side beside Isla and the gentleman. The movement was her nervous tic around handsome,eligiblebachelors.
But the man appeared to only have eyes formyIsla.
“Who’s the guy?” Roman asked in a protective tone. He cared about Isla as he did our little sister.
“I’m not sure.”
