Page 36 of Unworthy Ties
Felix laughed, but it sounded hollow. “Come on, Gabriella. I’ve known my brother my entire life. That wasn’t a goodbye kiss. That was a warning.”
The elevator opened to the private garage where Felix’s black Audi was parked. He walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for me, his movements fluid with the practiced grace of a man used to charming women. I slid into the leather seat, inhaling the scent of expensive cologne and new car.
“Maybe it was both,” I said, fastening my seatbelt as Felix slid into the driver’s seat. The engine purred to life, a gentler sound than I expected from such a powerful machine.
Felix’s laugh was more genuine this time. “Fair enough.”
We drove in comfortable silence for a while; the cityscape blurring past us. I turned to watch Felix’s profile against the morning light—noting how different he looked from his brother. Where Rocco was all sharp angles and contained violence, Felix possessed an easy elegance that made everything seem effortless.
“So,” Felix said, navigating through downtown traffic with easy confidence, “what kind of dress are we hunting for today?”
“Something that will make your brother speechless,” I replied with a small smile, surprised by my own boldness.
Felix chuckled, his eyes remaining fixed on the road. “That’s a tall order. Rocco’s never been one for words, but I’d pay good money to see him actually speechless.”
As the car slowed to a stop in front of a high-end boutique, Felix turned off the engine and glanced over at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Let’s give it a shot then,” he said with a grin, stepping out of the car and holding the door open for me. I followed suit, the anticipation of the day ahead tingling in the air around us.
Inside the store, a wave of luxurious fabrics and dazzling designs greeted us. Felix’s eyes lit up with excitement as we started browsing through the racks, his easy elegance shining through as he effortlessly pulled out a few options for me to try on.
As I twirled in front of the mirror in a stunning gown that seemed to shimmer with its own magic, Felix’s expression was filled with genuine admiration—not the hungry desire I’d once craved from him, but something warmer. Pride, maybe. The kind of look a brother might give his sister.
With a soft smile, I turned to face Felix, the morning light filtering through the windows and casting a warm glow around us.
“Thank you for today,” I said, my voice filled with sincerity. “For everything.”
Felix’s gaze met mine, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us before he simply nodded, his serene confidence never wavering.
“Anytime,” he replied, his tone gentle yet firm. “Anytime.”
Chapter 18
Gabriella
Fiorella and I were finally able to meet up after months of being apart. And I hated to admit it, but I missed my little sister. I teared up when I saw her waving at me from the car, for once finding her goth look endearing rather than obnoxious.
I just wish she had chosen a different activity.
“Why do you like these places? I feel like I’m going to get bedbugs,” I said, shrinking away from the aisles of clothing.
They were packed too closely together, each garment having a history that I didn’t want to imagine. But Fiorella was already diving in, her black-painted fingernails flipping through hangers with practiced expertise.
“That’s the whole point!” She grinned, the silver stud in her lip catching the fluorescent light.
Not only was the clothing questionable, but I felt out of place, to say the least. I was dressed in clothing that cost more thanthe monthly rent on the building, and my bodyguards weren’t exactly discreet.
I gingerly touched a piece of clothing that might have once been white, now faded to an uncertain beige. “The whole point is potential disease transmission?”
“No, silly,” Fiorella laughed, holding up a vintage band t-shirt with genuine excitement. “The point is stories! Look at this—someone wore this to concerts, made memories in it. Every piece here has lived a life.”
Despite myself, I found her enthusiasm infectious. She pulled out a flowing emerald dress that actually looked stunning, the fabric catching the light in unexpected ways.
“Try this on,” she insisted, thrusting it toward me.
I checked the tag and crinkled my nose. “It looks like it came from a department store.”
“You’ve always been such a snob, you know that?”
