Page 28 of Lovely Venom

“Yeah, but it’s so worth it.” Lucia eyes the men dreamily. “You and Angelo make the cutest babies.”

All our gazes land on Angelo, who’s currently using Antonella as an overhead press while she giggles hysterically.

“We really do, don’t we?” Abella smiles.

My eyes inadvertently drift to Cristian, who’s bench pressing enough weight to equal at least two of me. It’s a little disorienting, though I refuse to examine why. The men use the gym on the island frequently, so it’s not like I haven’t seen it before. But maybe it was easier not to notice the sheer amount of muscle and strength he possessed before he carted me around last night.

“I have to say I’m a little disappointed that one of them is holding out on us.” Lucia gives Cristian a sidelong glance. “Why is he always wearing a shirt now?”

“Why don’t you go ask him to take it off, you little perv,” Serafina teases her.

“I can’t help it. I’m ovulating, okay? And the man is so freaking hot, it’s hard not to stare. I mean, look at that bulge in his pants.”

My gaze drifts down the length of his body, and I catch myself checking out what is undoubtedly a large piece of equipment. I’m not surprised, considering what Abella and Gabi have told us about their husbands. It must be a Vitale trait. But why I’m thinking about it, I have no clue.

I really need to stop, but my eyes don’t get the memo. When Cristian racks the weights and lifts his gaze to mine, a rush of heat washes over me.

The air seems to pulse with static as tension radiates between us. His expression doesn’t change, but it feels like something has shifted as he stares at me a beat longer than normal.

Maybe it’s my imagination, or maybe I’m ovulating too.

“This is my life’s curse.” Mariella sighs.

“What, having hot brothers?” Abella jokes.

“Yes.”

“Well, to be fair, you were blessed with the good genetics too,” Gabi observes.

“For real.” Serafina fans herself. “You’re so hot men are willing to risk literal death just to ask you out.”

Everyone laughs, but it isn’t a lie. Mariella has a naturally bronze goddess-like complexion, obsidian-dark eyes, and long raven hair. She’s feminine, mysterious, and also a little terrifying when you see her with a weapon.

“Don’t worry, Tesoro.” Nonna Vitale arrives with a tray of lemonade. “You’ll all be married soon.”

“You say that with such certainty.” Mariella peers up at her. “What happens if I stay single forever?”

“No, no, no.” Nonna shakes her head as she passes a glass to each of us. “I pray to la Madonna. The Vitale fate will kiss you.”

“What’s the Vitale fate?” Lucia asks.

“One true love,” Gabi answers, a shy smile on her face. “I can attest it’s true.”

“See.” Nonna shrugs.

“Okay, then who’s next?” Mariella challenges her.

Nonna glances over at the men, her gaze swinging between Rafe and Michele as she considers them for a moment. Then Antonella stumbles, and Cristian catches her before she hits the ground. The near miss startles her, and she starts to tear up, but after a few words of murmured Italian from her uncle, she’s smiling again.

“You can’t seriously be thinking of him?” Mariella snorts. “The man has never even brought a woman home.”

“Ask Romeo if I know these things,” Nonna says smugly.

“I’ll give you that one,” Mariella concedes. “But only because you knew he was in love with Gabi before the rest of us did. Cristian’s a different story, though.”

“Why?” Serafina asks. “Isn’t it expected that he’ll marry?”

“Yes.” Mariella’s tone softens. “But marriage and love are two different things. He saw how losing our mother destroyed our father, and I don’t think he wants any part of something like that.”