Page 24 of Little Deer
He just holds our stares, silent. Sofia gives us all warning looks, and then her lips pull up into a sly grin. “Multiple orgasms a night,” she tells Rori smugly. “Pretty sure the staff would kiss his feet if they knew. Makes me a bit more mellow.”
Anger and disgust war. I don’t need to fucking know that. Dante’s expression remains neutral, even as we all glare at him with promises of retribution. One of these days we’re going to beat the shit out of him. Nico’s UnderBoss or not.
“Sofia,” Aurelio chastizes.
Sofia shrugs. “She asked, I answered. We’re alladultshere.” The word adults is enunciated.
I glance at Lucy, who looks like she’s not sure if she should be worried or laugh. “Why is everyone upset at her answer exactly?” Lucy whispers to me finally.
“Because she’s our sister and he’s not good enough for her.”
She blinks and then she rolls her eyes at me. “So, what, you want her to be unhappy the rest of her life?”
“No, but she deserves someone who will treat her like a queen and not something disposable.”
She looks at Sofia and Dante and then shakes her head. “He’s got a hand on her back in silent support, and he’s subtly just handed her something off his plate that she wanted without herasking. He also isn’t fighting her battles for her, he’s letting her take the lead. You’re all blind if you can’t see that he worships her. If I were to guess, I’d say she’s the one that’s keeping him from committing fully. Probably with all of you here she’s torn with keeping you guys happy and him.”
That gives me pause. I turn my head, and I barely catch the way Dante strokes her back before he drops his hand. I also just catch the way Sofia shifts slightly into him, trusting him. Unease and understanding dawn, warring together in one uncomfortable sensation.
Have we been wrong? We all just assumed that he wasn’t serious about her for more than a fling. Sofia might not have mentioned him as a partner, but we all made it our jobs to keep tabs on her. Alessio was the first one to figure it out, though I’m still not sure how. Now, I’m wondering if I should be looking at this closer.
We’re not going to be here forever, and we can’t protect her if we’re across the sea.
“Yeah, see, that’s what happens when you let your testosterone overrule common sense,” Lucy lightly chides as she finishes her food. “You miss the clues that are right in front of your face. Even the ones you deliberately try to ignore.”
“Hmmm.” It’s the only concession I’m willing to give.
“Amara, could I get you to give me a quick trim today?” Urso suddenly asks, distracting everyone from the tension in the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sofia relax.
Shit. Lucy might be right. A small trickle of guilt stirs.
“Sure,” Amara replies with a smile. Lazaro shoots his brother a warning look, which Urso promptly ignores. “A few of the soldiers were wanting some trims too I think, but I’ll put you down first.”
“Like fuck,” Lazaro growls, jealousy making his eyes flash and expression darken.
Amara gives him a warning glare. “I’m not doing this again, you neanderthal.”
“Is it always like this?” Lucy asks me quietly as the two of them argue. I glance at Urso who looks pleased with himself, and Alessio grins at him knowingly. Bunch of shit disturbers.
“It’s a whole new dynamic for most of us. I imagine this will be the new normal. In case you haven’t noticed, we Italians are passionate people. Even if it’s with jealousy and anger.”
“Yeah, I’m noticing that.”
Soren lets out an angry sound, and we both look down to see him staring at us, eyes open and clear, his little hand swiping at the swaddle in his face. I smile at him. He’s a cute child. Eyes that are already starting to lighten to his mother’s hazel, a cute button nose, and round face. He makes another sound and Lucy scoots her chair back. Expertly, she undoes the swaddle to pull him free and into her arms, settling him into the crook of her arm at a high enough angle that he can look around. His little arms and legs kick with excitement and I grin.
“He’s adorable,” Rori grins, reaching out so his little hand can grip her finger tightly.
“He’s a really good baby,” Lucy says proudly. “The doctor said he’s really healthy and thriving. Other than waking me up every four hours to eat. That’s a bit of an adjustment.”
“He’s got a grip on him too,” Rori laughs. “Does he like to pull hair?”
“He’s not at that stage yet, but I imagine he will be.”
“Amara could cut your hair into one of those sexy bobs so he can’t grab it as easily,” Rori points out, which distracts Amara and Lazaro from their argument.
Before Amara can answer, the door opens and in walks Gia and Nico. Gia looks tired but a bit more alert, while Nico looks tall, dark, foreboding, and the second he sees Lucy and Soren, his eyes narrow suspiciously.
I give him a dark, warning look that he ignores. Gia also sees her and her eyes widen, before a quick sad flash, and a soft smile. Lucy looks at her sister carefully, but when her eyes move back to Nico, she tightens her grip on Soren, pulling him in closer to her protectively.
