“I’m not mad about that, Dom,” Delilah said loud and clear. The entire room looked her way because, according to Izzy, she hadn’t said a word for days. “Dante’s right. I’m mad at him.”
“Of course you are,” Dom croaked. His eyes ping-ponged between us. “You should be mad at him for what he put you through.”
She cleared her throat, but I stopped her. “She’s mad because she thinks I kissed Izzy. That wasn’t what that was, Lilah. You know I wouldn’t let another woman’s mouth on my lips willingly. Not when you’re the girl I love.”
Mr. Hardy muted the television for this one.
Not that he had to. The sound faded away as I looked into my girl’s eyes—hazel sparkling under wet tears. Her chin trembled, and her hands shook. “If you love me, then you’ll know what I’m about to say is the truth.” She took a deep breath. “I think you should try to date Izzy.”
Izzy guffawed and tried to cut her off.
Lilah held up her hand and kept going. “Or someone else. Anyone but me. I can’t be with you.”
“Damn right,” Dom bellowed and then he shoved me. I glared at him but stepped back.
Lilah’s mom tried to jump in. “Oh goodness, Dom. Don’t fight! And, Delilah. You need rest, and then we can look at colleges. This is for the best—”
“Enough.” My voice cut through all the bullshit because that’s what this was. “Enough.”
Even Dom jumped when I said it that time.
“I’m only going to say this once because it’s not in my nature to repeat myself. I’m an Armanelli. I’ve named your daughter my Untouchable. What that means is no one will harm her or disrespect her unless they want to deal with the wrath of my whole family. It means I take care of her now. It means you all respect our wishes. Respectfully, Mrs. Hardy, she’s not going back to school unless she decides that’s what she wants.”
Her mother didn’t even argue. She was smiling at me like I was going to make her dreams come true. Mrs. Hardy wasn’t a dumb woman. She knew I would give her the grandbabies she’d always wanted. I only had to convince her daughter that it would be happening.
Dom’s face had turned red, and his fists were getting ready to swing again. “You can’t come in here and demand—”
“I love you, man. I love you like you're my only brother, but I’ve already put a man in a bucket of acid for harming your sister.”
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
“It’ll take some getting used to. You can start digesting the information now.” I shrugged and continued, “But if you think because she’s your baby sister I’m going to let you keep her from me, you got another thing coming.”
“You were my best friend.”
“I still am your best friend. You’re just going to have to get used to me being your brother-in-law too.”
“None of this is happening!” Delilah screeched. Her hands flew out beside her, and she stomped up to me to point in my face. “You don’t get to make these decisions, and I don’t want to be with you. I can’t fathom being with you! I want you out of this house this instant. You need to leave.”
“Little Lamb,” I murmured as I set down the flowers on the table near the couch and took my time looking around the family room. “You’re right. I do need to leave.”
With that, I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder. Dom stepped forward as Delilah yelled.
“You come near me, I promise you’ll regret it. And you know I’m good on my word.” We stared each other down. “You need to trust me. I’m your best friend.”
He pulled at his hair and sighed. “Nothing is fixed. And I won’t forgive your ass for a long time.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Delilah said over my shoulder. “You’re letting him kidnap me.”
Mr. Hardy turned the TV back on. “Hardly kidnapping when you know you want to go.”
With that, I took her to my car.
28
Get a Riding Lesson
Delilah
“I want to go home.” I had more fire in my blood and emotion pulsing through me than I’d had in days. I’d felt myself slipping, felt the guilt and the pain and the anxiety enveloping me even before the cruise ship.
It was like I could watch the weight of all my stupid problems pour in on me but couldn’t stop it, couldn’t patch the holes. They filled my boat and pulled me down, ready to sink me.