She swallowed. “I like Angelo. Very much. I promise you, you have nothing to worry about regarding my friendship with Elio. I care about him as a friend, and that’s it.”
“Hm.” I nodded. “He didn’t call you to tell you we might be coming?”
“When I saw the van, I called him, but he didn’t answer. I haven’t heard from him in like two days, but I always see him around when I FaceTime Angelo.”
“Do you usually let people push you over?”
She blinked. “Wh-what?”
“You let people step on you too often?”
She swallowed. “I, uh… I don’t know what you mean. I really don’t want to offend anyone and—”
“Yeah, I don’t really care.”
I liked that I was still in control of the situation.
Looking around to make sure no one was coming or listening in, I took a step toward her, and she inched back a bit. “I’ll make one thing clear,Gemma. He’s mine. And if this friendship thing rubs me the wrong way, in any way, shape, or form, we will be having a less cordial conversation. I’m going to set some boundaries. I don’t care if you call everyone your ‘love,’ you don’t call him that, and you don’t give him kisses, you don’t do any of that shit.”
She nodded. “Got it.”
I let my hand settle on her shoulder, and a smile curved on my lips. “Good talk.” I patted her shoulder, looking around as I stepped away from her. “Your choice of wallpaper is perfect. Aesthetic.”
Her throat worked. “Thank you.”
“Also, you shouldn’t just let people into your home like this… even if they’re friends of your friend. It’s not safe. Not everyone is who they say they are or who you think they are.”
She nodded. “Yeah, of course.”
I nodded once before turning and heading to the kitchen.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Zahra
When we left Gemma’s after being there for a couple of hours—hours of eating and listening to Gran Louisa bad-mouth her late husband nonstop, we went back to the compound, worked a little on the map, brought out some coordinates, and waited for confirmation before we decided to call it a day and leave the compound.
I leaned my head against the car window; eyes closed as I imagined the soft bed waiting for me back at our condo. I was tired, worn out from all the emotional and mental distress I’d gone through.
I opened my eyes when I felt Devil make a curve into the house’s small gate.
Milk was already fast asleep, her head on Dog’s shoulder. Upper’s eyes were closed, but I knew he wasn’t sleeping.
When the house appeared, I sat up straighter, stretching my limbs and suppressing a yawn.
“Elio,” Devil said, and my heart cut as I froze, spotting the figure leaning against a car right in front of the house. He raised his head as we approached, his gaze following us.
I frowned in confusion. “What the hell is he doing here?”
“Do you want me to stop here? Or should I head to the garage first?”
I took off my seat belt. “Stop here.”
Devil nodded, slowing down and stopping at the far end.
Elio didn’t move; he was still leaning on his car, watching us.
“We’ll be inside,” Devil said.
