by Bethany-Kris
Theo flipped his brother-in-law the middle finger.
The baby might carry the Rossi name because of its father, but it was still half DeLuca, too. Family was everything. The only thing Theo knew to hold close. He learned that lesson the hard way.
CHAPTER TWO
Evelina poked her head into the living room entryway to find Alessa rifling through another bag of baby clothes with tags still attached. “Adriano drop that off earlier?”
Alessa glanced up, grinning. “Yeah.”
That was kind of cute. Adriano didn’t seem to be freaking out over the fact he would be a father in just a few short months. The two were prepared.
“But he just picked this up for me, he didn’t go crazy again,” Alessa informed.
Her voice was soft and quiet as she spoke. It wasn’t unusual. Alessa Trentini, soon to be a Conti when she married Adriano in a little over a month, wasn’t a loud person. She tended to stick to herself, keep a low profile, and was a pretty happy person even on her bad days.
“Oh?” Evelina asked.
“Abriella picked up some outfits, I guess.”
Oh.
“And Adriano had to play middle man and pick them up from someone, I take it?”
Alessa nodded. “She passed them off to Tommas and he gave Adriano a call.”
Evelina didn’t want to make Alessa sad by acknowledging the fact that Abriella wasn’t permitted to spend time with her sister. The two were close, but ever since the debacle Alessa and Adriano created with the pregnancy, Joel Trentini was pretending as if his youngest sister didn’t exist. Like he was trying to wipe away the shame.
There wasn’t very much to be ashamed about. It was a baby with young parents who needed support and love in this new stage of their lives. Besides, the pregnancy had done a lot for Joel. After all Joel had done to Evelina’s father, Riley, the guy should have been killed by the Outfit standards. Instead, to apologize for the wrongs Riley’s son had done with Joel’s sister, Joel was given a high position, respect for having the seat as the underboss to the Outfit, and more control than he needed.
Riley was asking for trouble doing that.
“If you see Abriella,” Alessa said, “tell her I said thanks.”
“You’ll see her tomorrow at the wedding,” Evelina replied. “Tell her then.”
“Joel will be there.”
“Don’t let him shame you into a corner like you’ve got a big scarlet letter painted on your forehead, Lissa.”
Alessa sighed and dropped the cute mint green sleeper set into the gift bag. “Listen, it’s not about Joel, it’s about Adriano. I don’t give a shit about my brother, but I don’t want to cause Adriano any problems by making a fuss. Abriella calls me when she can, sometimes we see each other here and there, and that’s fine. I also don’t want to cause problems for my sister. I know what Joel is like, Eve.”
“Yeah, you’ve told me.”
Joel was an asshole. A manipulative snake was more like it.
“So there you go. Until Joel feels like we’ve all paid enough for embarrassing him—”
Evelina barked out a laugh, interrupting Alessa. “He’s done enough of that for himself, babe.”
Even Alessa cracked a sly smile. “I know.”
“Anyway, I get it. I’ll pass the message on directly tomorrow, but you should really do it yourself. Screw Joel, he’ll probably be too busy raking in attention as the new underboss.”
Alessa snorted. “Yeah. Typical Joel.”
“Where is my brother?” Evelina asked.
“Work.”
Alessa didn’t offer anything else, and Evelina knew better than to press for more information. Adriano was secretive about his position and work in the Outfit. He tried his damnedest to keep it from coming home. Evelina had to admit, she was proud of her younger brother. Adriano hadn’t turned out like Riley Conti, after all. He was better than their father. A better man; a more loving, caring one.
“Is he going to be back anytime soon?” Evelina asked.
Alessa shrugged. “Tonight, maybe.”
“Do you want to come over to Lily’s with me so you’re not alone?”
“No, I’m good, thanks.” Alessa waved at the gift bags full of baby stuff. “Priorities, you know.”
“Well, at least you’ve got them figured out. The rest of us don’t have a fucking clue.”
Alessa laughed. “It’s sad how right you are.”
Evelina recognized the cherry red Stingray parked in Lily Rossi’s driveway the second it came into view. Lily hadn’t said anything about her older brother Theo coming over. Riley had made it clear to Evelina that she was to steer clear of Theo at all costs. Her father hadn’t given much of a reason why, except to say that there had been some unresolved issues between the DeLucas and Contis after Riley became boss.
Regardless, Evelina didn’t mind following her father’s demand to keep a distance. While Riley’s temperament had gotten better over the last couple of months since he became boss, Evelina couldn’t shake the reminder that her father was not the man he appeared to be. She still refused to go back home because Riley wouldn’t allow her to go back to her dorm. So, she stayed with her brother. Her father conceded.
It didn’t change a thing to Evelina. Riley Conti could dress himself up all he wanted, but to Evelina, he was just a king wearing a stolen crown. How long would her father be able to last as the boss of the Outfit before someone else realized it, too?
Evelina parked her BMW beside the Stingray, got out, and pulled the garment bags from the back seat. She barely made it half way across the paved driveway before the home’s front door opened. Theo darkened the doorway with Damian Rossi. Neither man noticed Evelina standing just thirty feet away.
Theo DeLuca didn’t seem to age. Just like the day of Evelina’s eighteenth birthday when she’d accidentally stumbled on him and his brother’s argument, he still stood with an uncaring confidence that oozed with learned arrogance and cockiness. The man’s features were still as striking as ever with sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw and hair that looked like some female had been wrapping her hands in and pulling on the blond strands. The shadow of a smirk still kept the corner of Theo’s mouth twisted upward, even with the sadness darkening his brown gaze.
Evelina supposed the man had a lot to be sad for, now. His brother had been murdered and his uncle, too. Even his sister had been taken in a way what with her marriage to a Rossi. The Rossi family was closer to the DeLucas than the rest, but Lily was still settling into her new life.
Who did Theo have left? Himself. His crew, considering he was the head Capo with Dino DeLuca dead. The Outfit … maybe.
Evelina suspected Theo blamed the Outfit for a lot of what was happening to his family. Who wouldn’t? Maybe that was why her father demanded she stay away from him.
A grieving man was a dangerous man.
“You’ve got a guest, Ghost.”
Theo passed Evelina a look. His glance was almost dismissive in nature, like he had taken her in and then pushed the picture of her right back out again.
“Yeah, Lily and clothes, you know. The wedding,” Damian muttered. “I’d say see you tomorrow and all, but we both know you’re not going to be there.”
“Nope.”
With that, Theo tossed his hands in his pockets and turned away from the door to make his way down the front steps. His strides were smooth and quick, and he held his head low like he was looking around but no one could see his eyes. It made Evelina think that maybe Theo liked to have people wonder about him and never really know a thing.
But who was she to say?
“Eve,” Theo murmured as he passed.
Cordial. Polite.
Stressed.
Tense.
Evelina caught all that in her name coming out of his mouth. She also caught the sweep of his brown eyes looking her over again and the way his smirk deepened. She didn’t like how that one look seemed to slap her skin without him ever raising a hand.
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A memory bled into her mind with the slowness of syrup.
“You never gave me that call, princess,” Theo said.
Evelina pursed her lips, sipping on the wine in her glass as people milled around at her friend’s homecoming party. Lily DeLuca smiled and chatted with the guests, but she was pissed as hell. Evelina knew it. After all, who wanted to be married off like cattle to a man you didn’t know? Even if that man was a half decent one.
“Don’t call me that, Theo,” Evelina warned.
Theo chuckled. “Still sore about that?”
He called her a princess every damn chance he got. Yes, it bothered her.
“No, but I’m not one, so quit it.”
“What did I tell you, huh?” Theo asked, turning his shoulder to the wall so he could face her while she watched the crowd.
Evelina smiled, unable to hold it back. She couldn’t deny the fact she liked Theo’s attention. He was damned gorgeous, especially wearing a fitted suit that accentuated the fact he was in shape, tall, and every inch of him gave off dangerous vibes. He was tall, dark, and sexy and he fucking knew it. That was the worst part.
“You’re smiling,” Theo said smugly. “That means you like me.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Get tired of acting like a princess, yet?”
Evelina took another sip of wine and swallowed it down. “Have I called on you, yet?”
“I’m starting to think women like you need a little shove,” Theo said, grinning.
Oh, Christ.
Evelina could practically feel her father's eyes watching her from wherever he was in the room. Riley Conti was always keeping one eye on her, or he had someone else doing it.
“You’re going to get me in shit,” Evelina told Theo quietly.
“For having a conversation?”
“For flirting with me, Theo.”
Theo chuckled. “This isn’t flirting. However …”
Evelina eyed him from the side. “What?”
He took a step closer. Close enough for her to smell the fresh scent of his woodsy cologne. Theo’s tongue wet his bottom lip where his thumb was touching as he moved closer again. Her arm brushed his chest and she swore every muscle jumped under the simple touch. Evelina fought the hot shiver working its way down her spine as Theo reached up and dragged the pad of his thumb down her arm. He stopped at the inside crease of her elbow. She didn’t even realize it until he pressed his thumb into her skin again, but his digit was wet from his lips and he’d made a pathway on her arm. She felt almost sensitive under that caress. Because no doubt, it wasn’t innocent at all.
“Now this,” Theo whispered, “might be considered flirting.”
Evelina’s cheeks heated. “What game are you playing tonight, DeLuca?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not a conquest for you to take to bed, Theo.”
Theo cocked a brow. “I don’t chase after women, Eve.”
“Funny. That’s not what I hear.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t believe everything you hear,” he responded quietly.
Evelina felt his thumb sweep the inside crease of her elbow again.
“I don’t run after women,” Theo repeated. “They either come to me or they don’t. I don’t go pussy chasing every chance I can to add new names to my list.”
“Then what in the hell are you doing right now?” Evelina asked.
“Good question.”
“Excuse me?”
“There’s something about you, Eve. It makes me want to find out what it is.”
“Like a chase,” she said.
“Just like that.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Why are you still acting like a princess?” he asked back.
“You don’t know me at all, Theo, not if you think that.” Evelina searched through the crowd again, looking for her father. “You are going to get me in trouble.”
“Babe, I’m a terribly careful man. It’s my job to be careful. Otherwise, I’d be dead.”
Damn.
Evelina didn’t want to show how his words affected her, so she lowered her gaze to the wine in her glass. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
“Tuesday,” Theo said. “The thirtieth.”
“What about it?”
“Giselle. The ballet. Go with me.”
Evelina clenched the stem of her wine glass a little harder. There was no twinkle in his eye, no smirk left on his lips. Not a thing to suggest it was an option or a joke. In fact, Theo watched her like he was waiting for her to bolt.
She had news for him—she wasn’t a scared little doe. But she was terribly careful.
“You’re serious,” Evelina said, taking that in for a second.
“Very. Go with me.”
“I didn’t give you the call you wanted, Theo.”
“I’m giving you a shove, Eve.”
“Why me?” Evelina asked.
Theo shrugged. “I told you, there’s something about you I want to know.”
“That’s not a very good answer.”
“Then give me a better one.”
Evelina jerked back into the present at the sound of a car door slamming shut. She turned on her heel in just enough time to see Theo smirk as he revved his engine.
She was standing in front of his car and blocking his way from turning out as he couldn’t back out with her car blocking the turning section of the driveway. Evelina stared into the windshield, catching Theo’s eye. His face was passive, other than the cocky grin he wore, but a fire still glimmered in the darkness of his irises.
Maybe he hadn’t quite forgiven her for flaking out of that date a while back. She hadn’t meant to, but her father demanded she go to the Rossi restaurant for dinner. And then her mother was murdered in a drive-by shooting the same day.
“Hey,” Evelina mouthed.
She didn’t want Theo to think she was ignoring him. He’d never really asked her why she cancelled that date, but she figured he knew what with her mother’s death and everything. It wasn’t a secret that she had been at the dinner, too.
A ghost of a smile graced Theo’s mouth before it disappeared. The coldness was back in a blink, hardening his handsome features. Evelina couldn’t help but notice how Theo seemed older than his twenty-seven years sitting there in his car, watching her.
“Move,” Theo mouthed. “Now.”
Evelina tipped her chin up, defiant. She didn’t know why, but Theo always irked her in that way. He made her want to push back. There wasn’t a lot of people who could get under her skin like Theo had. It was too bad that she never got the chance to explore it.
Theo revved his car again, the engine roaring loud enough to make Evelina cringe.
She moved.
“Did you see Theo outside?” Lily asked.
Evelina cleared her throat and tossed the garment bags over the bottom of the bed. “Yeah, but he didn’t say much.”
Lily frowned and passed a look toward the doorway of the bedroom. Evelina followed her friend’s stare to find Damian standing there, but he walked away. He didn’t say a word to his wife or Evelina before he went, either.
Evelina liked her cousin, as far as that went. Damian was a pretty easy-going but quiet man. He didn’t like to make a fuss and he adored his new bride. That much was evident. But there was also a darker side to Damian Rossi, one that a lot of people didn’t get to see.
“What’s up with him?” Evelina asked Lily.
“Damian?”
“Yeah.”
Lily shrugged and pawed through the garment bags, taking her time to unzip each one and peer inside. “Theo’s visit put him on edge, I think.”
“He’s your brother, Lily.”
“I’m aware.”
“Damian should get used to him being around.”
Lily laughed, standing straight to face Evelina. “It’s not that he doesn’t like Theo. Friends since they were kids, rememb
er?”
“I know.”
“Damian is worried that his friend is going to do something crazy because of all the crap he’s been put through these last few months,” Lily said.
“Oh.” Evelina sighed. “My father?”
“Partly, but there’s other stuff, too. I think, anyway. With Theo, it’s hard to tell. Sometimes you think he doesn’t know a thing about anything around him and then other times, he opens his mouth and shocks you silent with what he’s learned. I just …”
“What?” Evelina pressed.
“This isn’t Theo. That quiet, cold person. It’s not Theo. He’s happy and loud. He’s a charmer through and through.”
“That he is.”
Lily raised a single brow high. “And how do you know?”
Shit.
Evelina grabbed the first bag she could reach and opened it up, wanting to try and distract her friend from delving too deep into her statement. “I’m just saying, Lily. We all know Theo likes his women.”
“Actually, I think my brother likes to let people believe what they want to believe. Is that to say he’s a saint? No, but he’s never been a big personal sharer, either.”
“Maybe,” Evelina agreed.
Leave it alone, Lily, Evelina begged silently.
Lily sighed softly, grabbing a bag for herself. “And how are you doing?”
“Fine.”
“You sure?” Lily asked.
“Yep.”
“Your father is marrying a woman only a couple of years older than you tomorrow, Eve.”
Barely even that, actually. Evelina forced back her scowl and opinion of Courtney, her father’s new and very young fiancée, and pulled the black dress out of the bag. It looked nice and appropriate.
“Oh, my God,” Lily said, laughing. “Please tell me you didn’t bring all black dresses to choose from to wear tomorrow.”
Well, Evelina considered it. Black was fitting. Tomorrow felt like a funeral instead of a wedding.
“I don’t like her,” Evelina murmured, never taking her eyes off the dress.
“Courtney?”
“Who else?”
Lily tugged on the dress, drawing in Evelina’s attention. “She’s young.”
