Page 159 of Modern Romance June 2025 5-8

She went to sit at one of the smaller tables and was halfway through a mouthful of the—as advertised—divinepastry, when a ball hit her ankles. A little girl with a riot of dark brown hair and startlingly blue eyes careened towards her in a way that suggested she hadn’t long since learned to walk. And before she knew it, Ivy was embroiled in a game with three children, a puppy and a ball, so much so that she was completely unaware of Antonio approaching Micha after their encounter.

‘What the hell was that?’ Antonio growled into Micha’s ear, having stalked across the garden.

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ Micha replied, not even bothering to look at him as he picked up the espresso cup by its rim, with his thumb and forefinger. Antonio wanted to bat the thing out of his hand.

‘Don’t. Not today. Not now,’ Antonio demanded. ‘How do you know Ivy?’

Rage was pouring through his veins, thick, hot, heavy, sending him out of his mind. A distant part of him recognised that he was close to losing control. It whispered for restraint, but all he could think of was the insidious idea that Micha, Gio and Ivy had colluded somehow, for some nefarious purpose. That therehadbeen an ulterior motive all along. Even though he couldn’t see how anyone would gain from it, the thought had taken hold.

This couldn’t be happening. Not again.

Micha cast a look over Antonio’s shoulder. ‘You’re causing a scene.’

‘You thinkthisis causing a scene?’ he demanded, not bothering to lower his voice. ‘Keep it up, Micha, it’s just the beginning.’

‘And how would your mother feel about that?’ Micha chided.

‘Vaffanculo—’

‘Watch your language. There are children present.’

Outrage poured through Antonio. Micha had the gall to scoldhim?

Micha gestured for him to follow as he turned away from the family gathering over breakfast and towards one of the old barns on the property. The moment they were out of sight of the family, Antonio gripped Micha by the shirt and pushed him up against a building.

The only thing that stopped this from going further was the fact that Micha wasn’t fighting back. Not even pushing. No, instead, the bastard was laughing.

‘Calmati, Antonio. Seriously. What’s got into you?’

It was a damn good question. Antonio released his grip, stepping back in disgust, whether for himself or for Micha he didn’t know.

‘Tell me how you know her,’ he ordered.

‘What makes you think—?’

‘I saw you both talking. That wasn’t a “hi, nice to meet you” conversation.’

Micha looked at him, assessing, debating.

‘Just spit it out.’

‘Okay,’ Micha said, arms raised in surrender. ‘Are you sure you want to know?’

Antonio’s stomach turned. If Ivy was like everyone else, if she had somehow used him…betrayed him… Then, yes. He needed to know. For himself. For his sanity. When had she become so important to him, enough to make him so reckless as to physically assault someone? He couldn’t say. But the idea that she had wanted to use him—

‘Whatever it is you’re thinking, you’re wrong,’ Micha said, dusting his hands off each other. He looked out into the distance and pulled loose the tie at his throat. Then he shook his head. ‘Gio asked me to find her.’

‘When?’ The question shot out of him.

‘Last year.’

‘What? Why?’ Antonio demanded.

‘He wanted to pay her off to divorce you.’

‘What?’

Shock nearly buckled his knees. His mouth fell open with a thousand questions, but nothing came out.

---