Page 117 of Vicious Behaviors
“Problem?” I ask flatly, meeting the gaze of a couple bold enough to gawk at us. They blanch at the sternness in my voice and hardened features and quickly scurry off, unwilling to test my temper.
“You’d think these people had never seen a kiss before,” Izzie whispers, her cheeks still flushed from the chaste kiss.
“I don’t care about them. Just you.”
Izzie’s honey-brown gaze melts into liquid gold at my words, and staring back is all I can do to prevent dragging her upstairs right now. My cock stirs, eager to claim the heat simmering in her eyes, but I promised her I’d be the dutiful boyfriend tonight, so the thought of making her scream my name will have to wait. At least until after I’ve properly introduced her to my parents, that is.
“Are you ready to meet my parents?” I ask, needing to get this show on the road for more selfish reasons.
“If I said no, would you hold it against me?” she teases with a shy smile.
“They’ll love you,” I coo, brushing my knuckles along her cheek. “How could they not?”
“I hope so,” she mutters, chewing her bottom lip, and halting the nervous tic when she catches herself doing it. “Okay. I’m ready. Let’s do this.” She says it as if she were strapping on armor, readying herself for battle.
I lace my fingers through hers and guide her toward the front of the room, where my parents are locked in small talk with the governor and his wife. We’re still a few feet away when my mother notices us, her eyes immediately dropping to our joined hands.
“Apologies, Governor. Do excuse us,” she says smoothly. “I see my son and his date have arrived.” My father follows her lead, dismissing the couple as they step aside to wait for us.
“Hi, Mom. Father.” I greet them with a genuine smile for my mother and the usual curt nod for my father. “I’d like you to meet—”
“Isobel Graham,” my mother cuts in, radiant. “How lovely to finally put a name to the face.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Romano. Mr. Romano.” Izzie’s tone is polite, though her sharp eyes flick to my father. “I’ve heard quite a lot about you.”
I nearly snort. Yeah, I’ll bet she has. I bet the Bureau has a whole cabinet dedicated to my father’s sins. Then again, they probably have one for me, too.
“Unlike my wife,” my father says coolly, “it seems I’m at a disadvantage, Miss Graham. I wasn’t even aware my son was dating anyone.” His gaze slices through me, cold and assessing. Still, I hold steady, keeping my facial features completely expressionless, just as he taught me.
“Izzie, please,” she corrects softly, squeezing my arm as if to anchor herself.
“Well, I, for one, am thrilled, Izzie.” My mother savors her name, her smile brightening like a goddamn Christmas tree. “Both my girls have been singing your praises for weeks now. And from what Carmine DeLuca’s told me, you’ve charmed everyone at his gym as well. How fortunate you also managed to catch my son’s eye.”
Part of me wishes she’d keep her cool instead of going into full mom mode in front of everyone. The other part is relieved she’s so obviously delighted to meet Izzie.
“I must admit that wasn’t always the case,” Izzie says with a playful grin, looking up at me. “There was a time Marcello didn’t particularly care for me very much. I don’t want to throw the word hate around, but I definitely didn’t make the best impression on him at first.”
If only she knew how close I came to killing her back then. And how badly I wish she wouldn’t remind me.
“Oh, I doubt that. Though sometimes it does take men a minute to recognize what they truly feel for a woman. Isn’t that right, dear?” My mother nudges my father playfully.
“There was never a question you were the woman for me,Tesoro.” My father lifts her hand and presses a kiss to her knuckles. She melts at his words, while Izzie watches in quiet awe at their loving dynamic.
My parents have been in love longer than I’ve been alive, and still, they never miss a chance to show it. Watching them now, is it any wonder the rumors about my mother also being in a secret relationship with Gio and Dom never stuck? How could they, when she and Vincent are forever besotted with each other in plain sight? Little do they know that my mom’s heart beats for all three men. And all three would die for her without question or hesitation.
“I don’t want to be a terrible host,” my father continues, pulling my attention to him, “but may I steal Marcello for a moment? I’d like to run something by him.”
“Of course,” Izzie says, reluctantly slipping her hand from my arm.
“I won’t be long,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head before following my father toward a quiet corner of the room.
“I’m rarely surprised,” he begins, eyes sweeping the black-tie crowd. “But you bringing yournonno’snew training instructor to your sister’s birthday party… Well, color me surprised. The only time Miss Graham was mentioned under this very roof, if I recall, you weren’t particularly keen on her working for your grandfather. And yet here she is, on your arm. A bold move, inviting anormalto an affair like this.”
“No bolder than inviting the governor. Or the district attorney. Or is… that the state senator over there I see?” I counter, eyeing Senator Davis in the cheerful crowd.
“Fair point.” His smile is faint but genuine. “Still, bringing a woman we’ve never met into our home suggests you two are far from casual. You forget that I’m your father. I know you, son. You wouldn’t introduce Miss Graham to your mother unless this relationship carried real weight. Am I wrong?”
“Her name is Izzie,” I remind him. “And no, you’re not wrong.”
