Page 87 of Matteo

“This is new,” he remarks. “Brunch, and on a Saturday. Crazy.”

“Say that again. Wonder what he wants.” But I have a feeling I know what this is about. We have Knight family dinners in the evenings, and they've always been on a weekday, after work. No one in their right mind would give their weekends up for that. And whenever we have a Knight family dinner, there's always a business reason for it.

Rio wipes the towel over his face. “You should have heard Dex. The dude was pissed.”

I’d expect nothing less from him. I doubt anyone's happy about this. Even if the old man is ill.

Not even Zach.

We all assumed that because he's ill, the family dinners would be suspended for a while. We experienced a false sense of relief in thinking that we had a break from being summoned to the penthouse like employees instead of sons. But no. Even sick, the old man is still running the show, and we're the puppets dancing to his tune.

“We should leave together. I’ll drive,” offers Rio, head leaning forward as sweat drips down his face and body.

“Good idea.” There’s safety in numbers.

***

Rio, Enzo and I take the elevator to the penthouse.

“Can't wait to get this over with.” Rio leans back against the elevator wall. “I had plans to take Raquel out tonight.”

Enzo grins. “You mean your fiancée?”

Rio rolls his eyes. “Haven't proposed yet.”

“Yet?” Enzo and I say at the same time.

Rio ignores us.

“I booked a table at that little Italian place she likes in Tribeca.”

Enzo whistles. “Look at you.”

There's a beat of silence as Enzo and I stare at him.

“What?” Rio asks.

“You've changed,” Enzo says.

“It's disturbing,” I agree.

“Both of you can go to hell. I love her.”

“We know.” Enzo and I say it at the same time again just as the elevator dings, and the doors slide open.

“Tell Raquel we said hello,” Enzo says as we step out.

Rio mutters something in Italian that sounds distinctly uncomplimentary.

“What are you up to?” Enzo asks me.

I hesitate to answer. I was thinking of calling Elizabeth to see how she was. And planning to go somewhere with her. Of getting uninterrupted time together so that we could get to know one another better.

But I don’t tell him that. I’m not stupid.

He’d never stop ribbing me about wanting to get together with my employee. Though Jett has done it, and things have worked out for him. I shrug. “I can think of a hundred better things to do.”

“It's brunch. It shouldn't drag on. We've all got things to do.” Rio sighs loudly. This event sounds like torture, not something to enjoy.