“I promise, you’re never going to have to give your gaming or the business up for me. I’ll make it all work. You can have both. I am asking for a few sacrifices, but your gaming and business are not among them.”
“Okay, I think I can handle that.”
“We have a deal?”
She gives me that smile I love and pushes her glasses up her nose. I hope my first daughter looks like her, glasses and all. A little version of who I’m sure will be the cool auntie.
Lizzy is hard on herself. However, it’s hard not to love and want to protect her. She’s perfect for Dante. I can’t stop thinking about that.
“Deal. Anything else I need to know?”
“Yes, this is between us. Jace is the only other person who knows. You have a problem, you come to me, no matter what department you’re in.”
“Got it. I sign here?”
“Yes.”
I look up as Jace and my fiancée walk in. I almost break into a face-splitting smile until I remember myself. I lift my glass and take a sip.
“Oh, there she is. My sister just walked in. Look, Jace is coming in with her. Talk about perfect timing.”
Nyla and Jace stop at the table at the same time. Ny looks up at him and raises a brow, playing the part perfectly. I stand and smooth my tie down.
“Ny, this is my friend Gio, and this is Jace, his assistant.”
Jace reaches out a hand and Ny takes it. She then turns to me. I hold my hand out, but instead of shaking hers, I lift it to my lips. She gives me a smug smile.
“It’s nice to meet you. Your sister talks a lot about you.”
“She’s the best,” Lizzy gushes.
Ny takes a seat and reaches for her napkin to place in her lap. That’s when I notice her bare ring finger. Steam is probably coming from my ears.
I look pointedly at her hand. She bites her lip and turns away to speak to Lizzy. I’m fuming. I don’t hear shit and don’t bother to say another word to Ny either.
I pull out my wallet and wave over the waiter. I hand him my card and turn to Lizzy.
“I need to go. I’ll see you first thing tomorrow. Thanks for doing this for me.”
“No, thank you.” She frowns. “Aw, you have to go? You didn’t get to have lunch.”
I stand and lean in to kiss her cheek. “I’ll grab something on the way. Call me later. We’ll make plans for the weekend. I heard about a pop-up bookstore. It will be my treat.”
I love the way her eyes light up like her big brother just promised her the world. I can’t help kissing her forehead. I turn to Nyla and nod before I leave without another word.
Nyla
“What was that about?” Lizzy says as she watches Gio leave.
I don’t know how to feel. I know he’s angry, but I’m still stuck on watching him with Lizzy. He does care about her.
I’ve never seen him like that with anyone before. It’s like he lets his guard down just for her. I can tell he truly sees her as a friend.
It almost brings tears to my eyes. He knew my sister needed a friend and he gave her something he hadn’t given in a long time. Jace and I don’t get that Gio. Honestly, while grateful I’m a tiny bit jealous.
“He’s intense,” I say as I pull myself from my thoughts.
“I wonder what’s bugging him. I wanted you guys to hit it off. I would love for you two to become friends.”
I shrug. I can’t tell her that her best friend is a Capo and I’m the trainer of his assassins and he’s my fiancé. Or that the reason he’s so pissed is because I’m not wearing my engagement ring. It’s bad enough he’s going to be pissed when he finds out it came up missing at the Dollhouse training facility.
Ming has been hot for the last two days. Holly is ready to bust everyone’s ass. I’ve been pissed but I’m trying not to blame the whole for something one person has done.
I’m working on my temper. I lost a year and three months with the men I love because of my temper. I’m trying to live in the moment and not my rage.
I plan to tell Gio, but he is not working on his temper so let him be mad at me. The alternative will be me having to start from scratch training a new class of dolls.
“Did you see all my new subscribers? You have a ton too. I have a good feeling about this.”
I turn my attention back to Lizzy as she changes the subject. More puppet master shit. Gio knows I’m restless to have something of my own. He also knows I love to game as much as Lizzy does. He planted the bug in her ear about this new business of ours, putting my degrees and skills to work.