Page 145 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

I nod. “That’s me.”

“I thought everyone was joking when they said you were stunning.”

My face heats instantly.

“I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything less from Michael,” she says, laughing. “You do seem quite young, though.”

Oh, well fuck you too.

“I’m twenty-four,” I say.

She laughs. “Yep.”

Then she looks at Sarah. “I guess if you’re Sarah’s friend, that makes sense. I knew Sarah was closer to Luca’s age.”

I blink at her.

Sarah jumps in. “Carmela is Luca’s older sister. She and Michael are the same age.”

Amazing. Love that for her. I smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes, and I seriously consider walking away before I say something I can’t take back.

Chapter 50

Michael

Ikeep an eye on her while my cousins bullshit around me, tracking every movement without making it obvious. Bruno is loud as hell beside me, arguing with Tony over something that probably doesn’t matter while Eddie keeps cutting in just to make things worse. Someone hands me a beer. Somebody else starts asking me about a fight from years ago. I answer automatically when I have to, but my attention keeps drifting across the yard.

Katie stands near the food table with Sarah, making herself a plate while the noise of my family carries around them. My aunt’s backyard is packed shoulder to shoulder. Kids tear past the pool screaming at each other while music hums from the speakers near the patio. Every few seconds another burst of laughter cuts through the air from somewhere else in the yard. The tables are covered in trays of food that have already been picked through, and bottles of wine sit between stacks of paper plates and bowls of fruit.

Sarah says something to Katie, but whatever it is doesn’t seem to go over well. Katie goes quiet after that, focusing on the food in front of her instead of the conversation. Then Carmela walks over. My patience thins.

She leans against the other side of the table holding a wine glass, already wearing that smug expression that usually means she’s about to irritate somebody for fun.

I think the fuck not.

Katie notices me first when I reach the table. Some of the tension leaves her face. Carmela looks over next.

“Well, look who decided to show up,” she says. “Coming to save your girlfriend?”

“Screw you, Carmela.”

She smirks into her wine glass. “Isn’t that what she’s for?” She gestures toward Katie.

I step closer, lowering my voice enough that it doesn’t carry past the table.

“You don’t get to fucking talk about her that way. Not here. Not ever.”

Carmela’s smile falters for half a second before she covers it again. Around us, the party keeps going. Someone near the grill bursts into loud laughter while two kids run past the table dripping pool water everywhere. My aunt calls out at somebody from across the yard, followed by three different people answering her at once, but the space around us still feels tight.

“You understand me?” I ask.

Carmela holds my gaze before finally nodding once.

Then she forces a laugh. “You’re so dramatic. I’m joking.”

“Funny,” I say.

The silence afterward stretches awkwardly between us until Katie steps in.