Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
In addition to insomnia and chronic pain, his blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline can spike without warning.
It’s another reminder that he’ll live with the consequences of that day for the rest of his life.
The thought rips open the raw wound inside me that never really heals.
“Has he been stressed?” I ask.
I know the pain flares sometimes come out of nowhere, but they can also be triggered by other factors.
“Probably, but who knows?” Mariella sighs. “He’ll never tell anyone what’s going on with him. I swear the man is a vault.”
I think about what Romeo could be dealing with behind the scenes, but the truth is, I have no idea. He keeps his life private from everyone, including his family.
“Anyway, don’t worry too much,” Mariella says. “Rafe will be here as well, so I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
She pauses to check the time on her phone. “I have to run, but how do you feel about having the Aegis meeting here tomorrow?”
“That works for me.”
“Perfect. I’ll put the word out.”
After she leaves, I take a minute to collect myself before I venture back down the hall.
In the living room, I find Romeo sprawled across the lounge, his head leaned back against a cushion. Beppe is tucked inside his hoodie, just his face poking out the top.
He looks exhausted, and clearly Beppe knows something is off too.
“Hey, Gabs.” Rafe raises a brow at my all-black ensemble. “Finally decide to join the dark side?”
“Well, I can’t let the boys have all the fun.”
“Speaking of fun, what’s on the agenda tonight?” he asks. “Should we have a pillow fight and make friendship bracelets?”
“Will you shut the fuck up?” Romeo glares at him.
Rafe’s eyes sparkle mischievously. “What? You don’t have to participate. I bet Gabi would love to hang out with me. She knows I’m the fun one.”
“I just have to work on my project for a while, then I’m all yours for the night,” I tell him.
Romeo levels me with his gaze, and Rafe grins victoriously. I don’t know why he’s so bothered by it.
I’ve grown up with all the Vitale brothers, and everyone knows that Rafe and Michele are incurable flirts. They’re also the most social of the bunch, and they love to pull me out of my shell for a bit.
I can only assume Romeo is annoyed by this development because he doesn’t feel good.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Rafe says. “Nonna sent us with a couple of lasagnas for tonight. Veggie for you.”
“Oh, okay. That sounds good.”
“Six o’clock fine for dinner?” he asks.
“Yeah, that works.”
Romeo gives his brother one last look of contempt before he pulls his hood up over his head and closes his eyes. I leave Beppe with him and head to my workspace, checking my phone for the thousandth time.
There’s still nothing from Eros, and considering he’s been ghosting me, I doubt I’m going to hear from him today. But I send him a message, just to be safe.
BiteSizedGabi: Not sure it matters, but just wanted you to know there will be extra people staying here this week.
I stare at the message for a minute, waiting to see if he’ll actually read it this time. But he doesn’t. So I settle in and shift my focus to my project.
With the exception of Rafe propping up most of the conversation, dinner is filled with awkward silences. We eat together at the table, but Romeo looks even worse than he did earlier, and he doesn’t eat much.
I want to ask him if he needs anything, but I know that would probably only make him even crankier. The man isn’t known for accepting help, and he really doesn’t like it when people fuss over him.
As we all settle in on the lounge to watch a movie, I can’t help wondering why he’s not lying down in bed and getting some rest.
Rafe dims the lights, and I sit between the two men on the lounge. When the movie starts, and I see it’s Friday the 13th, it reminds me that Eros and I were supposed to attend Davenport Manor After Dark next weekend. Now, I’m not sure that will even happen.
I feel Romeo’s gaze on my face, and when I look at him, I swear he knows I’m thinking about something I shouldn’t. We linger in that staring contest for a beat too long, and it makes my chest feel weird.
I force my attention back to the movie, and usually, I love this one. But tonight I’m having trouble concentrating. Maybe it’s because Romeo is so close, or because things with Eros are so confusing right now. Either way, I feel out of sorts.
Halfway through the movie, Rafe falls asleep, leaving me and Romeo in stilted silence. I’m expecting him to ignore me, but instead, he waits until I’m engrossed in a scene to make his move.