Page 146 of My Big, Fat, Accidental Billionaire Husband

“Your brother?” I ask before I can stop myself.

His head snaps up, eyes narrowing. “What?”

“I saw Nico’s name on your phone.” I shrug. “Is this dinner about him? The resort concept he claims you stole?”

A muscle jumps in Dom’s jaw. “Let’s go inside.”

Ric opens my door, and the cool evening air hits my face. I step out, suddenly wishing I’d worn something with more armor than this cream silk blouse and charcoal skirt. Something with shoulder pads, maybe. Or an actual suit of medieval armor.

Dom places his hand on the small of my back as we enter the restaurant, a gesture that should feel intimate but instead feels perfunctory. Like he’s guiding a package to its destination.

Tomorrow this ends.

The thought lodges in my chest like a shard of glass.

The maître d’ recognizes Dom immediately, of course, and leads us toward the back of the restaurant. Not to the main dining room, but to a private space cordoned off from the rest of the establishment. No one else in the restaurant will see or hear anything that takes place in that room.

Perfect for a discreet business meeting.

Or a private execution.

Stop being so dramatic.

“Mr. Rossi,” the maître d’ says with a slight bow, “your guest has already arrived.”

Dom nods, his hand still at my back, guiding me forward. I note our security team taking positions nearby, one at the bar, one near the entrance to our private dining area.

We step into the private room, and I see him immediately. A man who looks like a funhouse mirror version of Dom. He’s slightly younger, has similar bone structure, but with a network of scars tracing one side of his face. His eyes, though, are nothing like Dom’s. Where Dom’s burn with intensity, this man’s glitter with something else. Something... I’d have to say, almost malevolent.

Dom freezes beside me. For a split second, I feel his hand tremble against my back.

He’s... afraid? The billionaire who isn’t scared of anyone?

The man stands, a smile spreading across his face. “So this is the bride! It’s good to finally meet you.”

What the actual fuck is happening right now?

“Tatiana,” Dom says, his voice strangely hollow, “this is my brother, Nico.”

I extend my hand automatically, years of professional training kicking in. “Nice to meet you.”

Nico takes my hand, but instead of shaking it, he brings it to his lips. “The pleasure is entirely mine.” His eyes never leave my face, even as he kisses my knuckles. “My brother has been keeping you all to himself.”

I retrieve my hand as politely as possible, fighting the urge to wipe it on my skirt.

Oh god. Something is very wrong here.

“I thought this was a business dinner,” I say, looking between the brothers.

“Oh, it is,” Nico replies, gesturing for us to sit. “Family business.”

Dom pulls out my chair, and I sink into it, hyperaware of the tension crackling between the brothers. This isn’t a normal family dinner. This is something else entirely.

A waiter appears, offering wine. I accept gratefully, suddenly desperate for alcohol.

“So, Tatiana,” Nico says once our glasses are filled, “Dom tells me you’ve been instrumental in the resort project.”

“I’ve helped where I could.”

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