Page 177

Even afterward, when we were lying there with the entire room looking like a Tarantino movie starring a woodchipper, he stayed.

With me.

I feel a small, uncomfortable jump behind my ribs.

Did he do that because of me?

Did he spend that entire time surrounded by something that according to his brother makes him lose his fucking mind and just push through because of me?

Suddenly, that’s the biggest question in my head. But I don’t think there’s any amount of vodka I could feed Cenzo that would help him read his brother’s mind.

But maybe we could circle back to that whole blood baptism thing?

I reach for the bottle and dump a huge amount into Cenzo’s glass.

“So, baptism in blood!” I laugh, shaking my head like I'm expecting a real doozy of a tale. “That has got to be a crazy story!”

Cenzo nods as he lifts his glass and takes a sip.

“C’mon,” I grin, prodding him. “It’s just me. Your favorite sister-in-law?”

Vincenzo grins at me as he sets the glass down and reaches across the table. It’s only because he’s wasted that I tolerate him patting my cheek.

“I like you, Bella.”

I sigh. “I like you⁠—”

“I mean, don’t get me wrong,” he slurs. “You’re a little fucking psychopath.”

I bristle, my hackles rising.

“But believe me when I say I happen to really, really get along with those.”

I sigh as a smile curls my mouth.

“So…yeah,” he shrugs. “You’re a little psycho. And, not gonna lie, you kinda freak me out sometimes…yeah…solid A-plus on the freaking people out bit. You’re crushing it. No notes.”

I laugh.

Cenzo drags a hand over his face and peers at me. “Can I say something else?”

“Of course.”

“Dude…” He blinks, shaking his head. “You can seriously drink.”

“How the fuck did you drink my six-foot-four, two-hundred-pound brother under the fucking table?”

I laugh quietly as I pull back from the kiss Damiano gave me when he walked in the door. Then I turn to follow his gaze from the half empty vodka bottle to where Cenzo is fast asleep and snoring on our couch.

I shrug. “It really wasn’t hard.”

He stares at me before I grin.

“Okay, it might have had something to do with me pouring mine out whenever he wasn’t looking.”

Damiano chuckles as he slides his hand around my waist and turns to me, his other hand reaching for my chin and lifting my face to his.

“So, what’d he spill?”