Page 122 of Wicked Ruin

“Well, it’s not my surprise.” And I don’t fucking care if she likes it.

“What the fuck is it?”

I give her a tight smile. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

An unfamiliar car pulls up to the curb as Aunt Caitlin strides into the room. “Valentina, so glad you could make it. We have an exciting surprise for you tonight.”

Valentina goes stiff. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”

Aunt Caitlin smiles at her. “Your family has come. They said it’s been difficult to get in touch with you, and they are very eager to see you.” She smiles and gets Erin’s attention. “Erin, will you fetch me something from the pantry?” They walk out together.

Valentina blanches as her eyes go hard and cold.

Why is she so hesitant to see her family?

But Uncle Keenan and Seamus are already at the door, opening it and welcoming them in. “Valentina is just in the other room,” Keenan says brightly to the two men in suits. “How were your flights from America?”

“Excellent,” the younger one answers. “My father doesn’t speak English, sir, but I can translate.”

“Ah, of course. This way,” Uncle Keenan says.

Valentina turns her back to the door. It’s a strange response to your own family arriving—strange enough that I notice it, and something in me goes quiet and watchful.

“I need to use the ladies' room,” Valentina says. “I’ll be right back.” She starts to walk away, but I grab her arm.

“Eh, not so fast.” I tighten my grip. “If you tell me what it is you’re hiding, I might be merciful.”

“Fuck you.”

Keenan and Seamus come into the room, the two strangers with them. “Valentina, Declan, come here, please.”

He stands beside two men. The older one, silver-haired and fit, doesn't speak. Doesn't need to. He takes in the room with a slow sweep and frowns at Valentina’s back.

The younger one is about my age—dark-eyed, broad-shouldered, with warm olive skin and the kind of face that gets exactly what he wants. His jaw is sharp enough to cut glass, with a mouth that knows it, and his black hair is pushed back. He smiles when he enters, and the smile is genuine and disarming. The women in the room unabashedly stare.

God, the Italians.

Valentina hasn’t moved. The patriarch of the Esposito family narrows his eyes. “Valentina, dove sei stata?”

“Yes, sister, where have you been? And why not greet your father properly and introduce us to your betrothed?”

I’ve had enough of her bullshit. Whatever she’s hiding needs to end now. I take her hand and walk over.

“Declan McCarthy,” I say, my hand outstretched.

“Lorenzo Esposito, and my father—” But the older man is staring, and the younger one’s gone cold. “The fuck are you playing at, McCarthy?” he says, his hand immediately going to the waistband of his suit as Seamus instantly moves to block him.

What?

“Pull that out here, and we’re at war, Esposito.”

Valentina steps on my foot and yanks her hand out of mine. I reach for her, but Kyla gets to her first.

“Oh no, no,” she says. “Not so fast.” She grabs Valentina's thin arms and marches her forward. More accurately, she pushes her. “It is time we had a little chat, isn't it? How convenient that your family came just when we made a discovery. Didn't we, Bronwyn?”

“Let me go,” Valentina says.

The Espositos watch in cold silence.