Page 57 of Days Of Valentino

“This is not a date, Luca,” Mom tells Dad.

“Thank god! The last thing I want to see is you two on a date,” I chime in.

“What are you doing here? Where’s my grandson?” Pops asks me.

“Good to see you too. I’m here because you can’t stop yourself from getting shot,” I tell him.

“Where’s Sebastian?” he repeats.

“Aleeka is bringing him in from the car.” Ever since my son turned up, he’s become the favorite person in my family. It’s been an adjustment, not being the sole focus of my parents’ attention anymore. But I’m thrilled that they love Sebastian the way they do.

“All right, take these antibiotics.” The doc hands a packet of pills to my dad, and my mom quickly snatches them out of his grip.

“I’ll make sure he listens, Doc,” she says.

“Well, since you’re alive and all, I’m going back upstairs,” I tell my dad.

“Get me my grandson,” he calls after me.

“Yeah, I’ll do that,” I groan, having no intention of bringing Sebastian down here.

By the time I get upstairs, I find the girls sitting on the floor while Sebastian is curled up on Josie’s lap.

I lean down and pick up my son before holding him to my chest. “Where’s Dante?”

Josie looks up at me, that same guilt from earlier written all over her face. “He’s still asleep.”

I frown. “What do you meanhe’s asleep?” It’s very unlike my cousin to let Josie out of his sight.

“I slipped some sleeping pills into his drink,” she whispers.

“You drugged him?”

“I made him go to sleep so I could sneak out without him stopping me,” she attempts to clarify.

“So you drugged him. Oh shit, I can’t wait for him to wake up and find out what went down. Grab the popcorn, babe. This is going to be entertaining,” I tell Aleeka.

“He’ll understand,” Josie insists.Yeah, I don’t think he will be as understanding as she hopes.

“Sure he will.” I laugh as I walk towards the kitchen. I really do want some popcorn for the shitshow that’s about to take place in my uncle’s house.

Episode Twenty-Seven

Fuck.My head pounds like I’m hungover, except I know I didn’t drink. Actually, I don’t really remember what I was doing.

I sit up and it takes a minute for my eyes to focus. I’m in Josie’s bed. But she’s not here with me. My mouth is dry as fuck and my stomach is all kinds of twisted.

What the hell happened? And where the fuck is Josie?Shit.

Dread takes over and has me jumping out of bed. I rush over to the door and yank it open. Stopping dead in my tracks when I practically run into my cousin. “Orlando?” I ask.

What the fuck is he doing here? And why is he smiling like a kid on Christmas?

“Oh, good, you’re awake. I’ve been waiting,” he says.

“Waiting for what? Where’s Josie?” My eyes dart behind him.

“For that. That’s what I’m waiting for.” Orlando smirks before yelling out, “Josie, he’s awake!”

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