Page 92 of Hostile Secret
I shrug casually. “I have a family thing.”
Fabian narrows his dark eyes. “Who organizes a family thing on the same date as your school prom?”
“It was arranged before I left Miami. The date for this event is important.”
“Maybe I should have a chat with your brother and get you out of it.”
“I don’t need a guy to speak for me.” I roll my eyes at him and watch his lip dent between his teeth. “If I wanted to get out of it, I would. But family comes first.”
“What’s your brother’s name? My father might know him,” he asks blandly, as if his family knows everyone. “Ana said he works in security. We’ve used a couple of firms over the years.”
I inwardly recoil at his question, considering how best to say the bare minimum without coming across evasive. I’d like us to be friends rather than blend into the walls at Thornhill. Surely, we could have a platonic, no touching friendship.
“Oh, yeah?” I switch the questions to him. “Why do you guys need security? What’s your father into?”
“He’s a billionaire, India. What’s the guy not into should be the question.” When he laughs, his eyes linger on the thin strap slipping off my shoulder.
Reaching over, he plucks it between his fingers and carefully repositions it in place. Tingles rush over me when he skims my flesh, and deceitful goosebumps shower me with a visible reaction to his touch. I’m not turned on. Far from it. But like Ana said, what girl wouldn’t appreciate the attention of a Thornhill god?
His pupils flare and somewhere in the darkness of my life, I wonder if Ana’s right. It wouldn't be a chore to have this guy's lips on mine. Instinctively, I know it wouldn’t be anything like the highs I hit when Giovanni kisses me.
Fabian leans into the side of my face. “We don’t need to go to prom to have a good time,” he murmurs, husky and intimate so no one else can hear.
“How about a drink?” I straighten my spine and push forward in the seat to break away from him.
“India?” Ana calls out my name to get my attention.
She props her hands on her hips and scowls at me. “The doorman just let your brother into my house. Are you seriously leaving again?”
My throat goes dry.
“Why is your brother here?” Fabian asks, right behind me when I jump up from the couch and hurry into the kitchen.
“Are you sure he said he was my brother?” I look at Ana and then to the doorway leading to the entrance hall. “Did he actually say that?”
“Who else would be here to take you home?”
My feet stick to the tiles and my heart leaps when I helplessly watch Giovanni storm in from the hallway. His eyes are shaded by a black baseball cap and a pair of loose joggers hug his hips where a tight black t-shirt is tucked in.
Instantly, his sharp eyes pinpoint mine. Expensive sneakers mute his steps as he prowls into the room, stopping directly in front of me.
“Is something wrong?” I say nervously, noting his hands are empty, which means his gun is thankfully still holstered.
“Damn, girl. No wonder you didn’t want us to meet your brother.” Ana’s voice is dripping in awe, the desire in her tone making me uneasy.
No one else speaks as he stares at me, his green gaze devilishly dark. There’s a blip in time where everyone around us vanishes. His obvious temper almost fades and in the brief moment we share, I witness something raw and possessive pass behind his eyes.
He runs his tongue over his upper teeth and checks the position of everyone in the room. When our gazes snag again, he masks whatever violent act his murderous nature considers fitting.
“I didn’t know they’d be here. I promise…” I whisper, setting my hand on his chest to try and push him into the hall for privacy.
Not moving, he swallows slowly and glances at the palm pressed to his thumping heart. He rolls back his shoulders and straightens as if his nuclear tendencies have found calmness amid a thunderstorm.
The coarse dark hair on his cheeks moves as his jaw clenches and every inch of his dominating height is taut and rigid.
He inhales slowly through his nostrils, his long inky lashes blinking at me. Giovanni is a merciless god of death who hides his humanity from the world. A monster who is capable of terrible cruelty and heartwarming kindness. I’ve seen it flourish in his eyes when he’s with Leo––and me.
Yet the harrowing expression on his gorgeous face confuses me. Those vivid eyes of his aren’t projecting anger. They’re filled with something far more complex––jealousy.
