When he didn’t respond, I nudged his knee with mine. “Did you hear what I said?”
Rolling his eyes, Rafe replied, “How could I not?”
My brows rose in surprise. “You're not going to give me shit about fantasizing about your future wife’s epic tatas?”
He snorted. “Why should I care?”
“Maybe because you punched me that time I kissed Kiara Delmonico under the mistletoe.”
“I was fucking her. Drea is nothing to me but an alliance.”
For the first time in my life, I wanted to punch Rafe right in the nose. Truthfully, I don’t know why his remarks about Drea bothered me. I mean, I’d seen the way he was with women in the past. I was the same way.
But Drea was different.
Trying to mask my feelings, I teasingly mused, “Damn. You’re cold.”
With a sigh, Rafe replied, “It’s just now that I’ve met her and Caruso, something doesn’t feel right.”
“You didn’t get to cop a feel. Trust me, buddy, everything feltfine.”
Glaring at me, he demanded, “Would you stop?”
“Fine. What doesn’t feel right?”
“Caruso blatantly lied to me about Drea’s obedience and submission. Even she admitted it.”
Inwardly, I chuckled. I’d barely had five minutes with Drea, but I knew Caruso had lied like a dog. While I understood his reasoning, Rafe still seemed clueless.
Clapping his back, I said, “Is that all? Seriously, Rafe, he was trying to sell you on her. You better believe Father did the same thing when he was luring in Carmine even though we both know Caterina doesn’t have an obedient or submissive bone in her body.”
Once again, the mention of Caterina caused my chest to clench.
Rafe sighed. “My worry is if he would lie about that, what else would he lie about?”
I furrowed my brows at him. “Do you think his family isn’t as strong as he’s potentially professing to Father?”
Easing back in his seat, Rafe shook his head. “No. The family is secure. Carusos’s oldest son, Antonio, is under contract to marry one of the Bianchi girls on his twenty-fifth birthday. If they weren’t who they say they were, there’s no way Dino would give away one of his daughters. Not to mention the fact, Drea’s uncle is the Don of the Caprese family. ”
“See. It’s all good.”
“I hope so.”
Thinking of my conversation with Audrianna, I sucked in a harsh breath. “There is one thing you could do to ensure that Edoardo knows you have his number.”
“What’s that?”
“Tell him you’ll overlook his insult of lying as long as he doesn’t lay another finger on Andrea.”
Rafe stared intently at me. “After your performance this afternoon, you still want to poke the bear?”
My eyes narrowed. “As your future bride, I would think you wouldn't just want to poke the bear. You’dannihilatehim.”
“You’re right, I do. That’s why I told Drea she had my word that once she signed the contract, he’d never lay another finger on her.”
Pride echoed through me at Rafe’s resolve. “I’m glad to hear it, brother.”
“You really like her, don’t you?” Rafe asked. Thankfully, there was no suspicion in his voice. Only curiosity.