"Aurora?" I frown. "Who’s Aurora?"
"Don’t pretend you don’t know her," Christian snaps. "You tracked her down in London and threatened her family. It’s because of you that she returned to Sicily. It’s you who followed us to the Lodge in Cortina and shot at me."
"Did I get you?"
"No," he growls.
"Damn," I smirk, "so sorry; I’ll try better next time."
Christian takes a step forward and Michael slaps his arm in front of his chest.
"You’re hurt and disoriented." Michael frowns at me, “It’s normal, since you’ve just come out of a coma, but you are not doing yourself any favors by antagonizing us."
"Is that right?" I tilt my head, "I am not afraid of you guys."
"And you shouldn’t be," Michael agrees. "Like it or not, you are one of us. You are a Sovrano by blood. Not to mention you resemble a brother we lost who we dearly loved, so my preference is to not hurt you."
"You can try," I scoff. "I may resemble your brother, but I don’t consider myself one of you."
"Why else were you trying to hurt one of us?" Seb growls. "You must have known who we were. You sure knew about our movements. You knew we were at a family getaway when you came after Christian. Who put you up to that?" He narrows his gaze on me, "It’s time you came up with some answers."
"Even if I knew the answers," I hold up my hand, which doesn’t tremble this time, thank fuck, "I wouldn’t tell you."
"Wrong answer." Luca scowls at me. "You’re either a fool or you know something we don’t."
"And you don’t strike me as a fool," Massimo drawls. "So why don’t you tell us what you were after?"
"Because I don’t remember it?" I glare at their faces. And fuck, if I can ignore the resemblance to my features again. It’s disconcerting—this sense that they are my family overwhelms me. My head begins to hurt and I close my eyes, "Look, the more I push it, the less I am going to remember. It’s best I rest and get my strength back. That way, hopefully, my memories will resurface. Not that I am planning to share any of that with you—" Christian makes noise at the back of his throat. I grin without opening my eyes. "Unless you ask nicely, and maybe not even then."
The frustration that pours off of the guys makes me smile wider.I hold the cards here, assholes, and don’t forget it.
"Besides, once I am on my feet again, I could try to track back on my movements, and perhaps, that might jiggle something in my head?"
"Already on it," Luca states.
I open one eye. "What do you mean?"
"Got a couple of guys making enquiries about your whereabouts."
"N-i-c-e." I smirk. "Good to know, at least, one of you is thinking on your feet."
Luca’s features harden. His brow pinches. I can’t stop the chuckle that rips out of me. Ouch! Now my throat hurts, but fuck that. It’s worth it just to see another of my brother’s grow hot under the collar. And f-u-c-k, stop thinking of them as your family, asshole. You don’t do family, remember?
"Too bad you’re not on your feet," Massimo holds up his fist, "or I might have to knock some sense into you."
"You’ve got to stop taking this older brother thing so seriously." I yawn.
Massimo’s brow furrows, "Is this guy for real, or what? Maybe I should forget about the fact that he’s recovering from a bullet, which he did take for one of our own, and—"
"Hold on; back up." I scowl. "What do you mean ‘one of our own’? Are you talking about—"
"Theresa?" Adrian nods. "She is one of us."
"Is she related to you guys?" I scowl.
"No, she’s not related tous.” Seb gives me a pointed look. “She was Xander’s…" he hesitates, "friend. So, by default, she comes under our protection."
The breath I had not been aware I was holding rushes out. What the fuck? Why did the thought of her being with one of these jokers cause me such dread?