“I need to go handle some… business, if you’ll all excuse me,” Leo said. The way he said it, made it clear that wherever he was going, he wasn’t taking Faith with him.

No. No. No. Don’t leave me alone with these people. Especially not this woman. Caprice looked like she’d just as soon eat Faith alive than have a pleasant conversation with her. But all Faith could manage was an agreeable nod, too afraid to embarrass him or herself in front of his friends and family.

When he kissed her, she gave more of herself this time, melting against him, opening her mouth to him. She felt the change in his body, the surprise at her reaction, but he masked it for their audience. When he pulled away and went down the hallway, she chanced a look at Caprice to find the other woman glaring darts into her.

“I-I have to g-go do something, too,” Faith said, needing to get away and go somewhere where she could be alone, away from the endless cacophony.

* * *

Leo fought to keep control of himself as he made his way to the industrial kitchen. He’d hoped Vinny wouldn’t bring his cousin. Caprice was an old lover. It had been clear for years now that she’d never stop being hung up on him, despite how brief their relationship had been. Leo was always uncomfortable when she was around. She was the most manipulative, conniving, and aggressive female he’d ever encountered.

She was the kind of raging psychotic that a smart man didn’t fall asleep beside. The odds he’d wake up with his balls in a jar were not slim. Leo didn’t like leaving Faith alone with the viper, but he also didn’t want her around for what he wanted to say and who he wanted to say it to.

Traveling down the hallway, he found himself distracted by the kiss. It only made him want Faith, more. If she kept kissing him like that, he’d enslave her the moment his family was out the door. What could have gotten into her? He’d think it was the presence of a rival, except he was quite sure Faith wanted to remain in her wing unmolested, not duel for his affections.

When he reached the kitchen, his mother was making sauce for the spaghetti, her small dog yapping around her feet for attention. Good luck when there was cooking involved.

“I managed to get in here before they started the gravy. Taste this, Leo,” she said, holding her hand under the wooden spoon.

Leo dutifully opened his mouth to taste the sauce.

“Is it too much olive oil?”

“You know it’s perfect, Ma.”

She beamed. “Yes. I know. I just like to hear it.”

He didn’t beat around the bush. “Vinny brought Caprice. He didn’t mention he was bringing her. I could kill him.” Leo didn’t get to see Vinny much since he’d moved to Vegas. He hadn’t considered that he should make it clear he didn’t want Caprice there. Besides, she was Vinny’s cousin. It was hard to see how that conversation could go well.