Chapter 89. Love Lives

Riccardo POV

“Now, this is going to be fun,” I say softly….just loud enough for all three of them to hear.

Three heads snap toward me at once.

Elena’s fork clatters against her plate.

Nico actually jerks in his chair.

And Vincenzo…predictably….darken his eyes, watching me like a predator watching a prey.

“Riccardo.” His voice is low, sharp, controlled. “Where the hell have you been?”

I keep walking toward them, slow, steady, refusing to show even a flicker of the chaos inside me.

Elena watches me with wide eyes, startled, nervous, pink creeping up her throat.

God, that pink…

I try not to look too long.

Nico face morphs into a worried one, arms crossing over his chest as he studies me.

“You disappeared all night. Which is weird even for you,” he says.

I stop beside the table and meet both of their stares evenly.

“I’m fine.”

The answer is clipped. Too clipped. Vincenzo notices immediately.