Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

followed him downstairs.
Sybil lingered in the lobby, her expression worried. “I prepared minestrone.
It’s in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure if you were going to have dinner…” She trailed
off. She probably heard the fighting and saw Christian flee the house.
“We’re not hungry. Go home,” Cassio clipped.
Sybil sought my eyes. I smiled. “Thank you for making us dinner. Have a
lovely evening with your husband.”
She hesitated then grabbed her purse and coat before slipping out. Cassio
squeezed my hand and pulled me into the living area. A fire burned in the hearth
as it did every evening. Usually the sight warmed me from the inside, now it did
nothing to dissipate the cold feeling of dread. He released me to head for the
liquor cabinet. I sank down in one of the armchairs, stretching out my bare legs,
relishing in the warmth the fireplace put out. “Fix me a drink as well.”
Cassio made a low sound, voicing his displeasure, but after a couple of
minutes, he held out a tumbler with about an inch of amber liquid. I took it and
sipped at it.
Cassio sagged down on the armchair beside mine, rolling around the ice cube
in his glass. His eyes were on me. “I knew it would come to this. It couldn’t be
any other way. It had to end like this.”
“This isn’t the end of anything,” I said. “Not if you don’t let it. Do you want
to lose me?”
Cassio took a gulp then smiled bitterly. “Haven’t I already?”
“No, but you will if you don’t stop hiding the truth from me. What happened
today… I can’t get over it unless you tell me what made you act that way. Help
me understand.”
Cassio downed the rest of his drink. He stared into the flames and smiled
bitterly.
My phone rang, making me jump. Cassio’s expression darkened, but I picked
up. I didn’t have to check the screen to know who it was. “I’m fine, Christian.”
“I contacted a few of my loyal men in Baltimore. Dad won’t interfere, but I
will if you need me to. Just say it and I’ll free you of him.”
That was betrayal. Considering how bad things were in the Famiglia at the
moment, and how volatile Luca was, I couldn’t allow Christian to entertain these
ideas. “No. I’m fine, honestly. We can talk tomorrow.”
“Giulia—”
“Tomorrow.” I hung up. “That look needs explaining, Cassio.”
He raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t know what I was talking about. I didn’t
believe that for one second. His eyes practically burned with angry jealousy
when I talked to Christian. It was something I couldn’t even begin to
comprehend.
“How can you even consider that I’d have something with my own brother?”
Downing half of my drink, I got up and knelt before him, touching his clenched
fist resting on his thigh. He opened it so I could link our fingers. Behind the
anger and suspicion in his eyes lingered a deep pain and vulnerability. It was the