Of course he didn’t listen. I never listen either, but that’s beside the point. Still, he just came out and told my brother? I hadn’t really gone over the repercussions of how Antonio would handle this. Gilly is his second in command and his most trusted confidant. What if he sees it as a sign of disrespect and disloyalty? What will happen to Gilly? My stomach turns at the thought of him getting hurt or worse.

“I told you to get dressed quickly,” Angelica points out. My heart starts to race.

“Is it that bad?” Fuck. I’m so stupid. I wanted him to pick me over my brother. I should have thought about what that might mean for Gilly. How my brother might handle that. I don’t wait for Angelica to respond. I take off at a dead sprint down the hallway and toward my brother's office.

I can hear Angelica and Bianca calling my name, but I don’t stop. My only focus is getting to Gilly. I need to know he’s okay. I burst through my brother's office doors, not bothering to knock. I’m already in trouble.

“Antonio!” I scream when I see he’s got his hand wrapped around Gilly’s neck. Butcher stands off to the side unmoving. Gilly doesn’t try to fight my brother.

“Carina.” Both Gilly and my brother say my name at the same time.

“Don’t either of you say this isn’t my business.” I rush over and grab my brother’s arm.

“Don’t, Carina. It’s his right to be angry.” I ignore him and keep trying to pull on my brother's unmovable arm. I knew he was strong, but this is ridiculous.

“It’s my fault. I seduced him.” I’m getting more pissed by the second.

“That’s probably not going to help,” I hear Butcher say.

“Shut it,” I snap at him. “Antonio,” I plead with my brother. “He picked me.” I tug on his arm.

“Is that true, Gilly? Do you pick her? Is she where your allegiance lies?”

“I pick her the same as either of you would pick your wives.” My brother's expression turns even harder at Gilly’s response.

“You’d kill me?” Antonio challenges.

“I’d kill anyone if it came down to it for her,” Gilly says without missing a beat. My eyes fill with tears. My brother releases his hold on Gilly, but neither of them move. I do. I wrap myself around Gilly’s arm.

“Maybe he should have come to you first, but I needed–”

“Him to pick you,” my brother finishes for me. “I’d say welcome to the family, but you’re already family.” he smirks. The tension bleeds out of the room.

“You jerk.” I shove at my brother’s chest. He actually takes a step back.

“Ribelle.” Gilly tucks me into his side so I can’t go for my brother again.