The Morellis being in Esmea didn't sit well with Gael. Just the thought of them being anywhere near Mayne City already made his blood boil. Among the five other families, the Morellis were the ones they had always been in a constant war with for decades. They would take every chance they get to destroy the De Luca family. That would mean any weakness shouldn't be out in the open. 

He couldn't let them near Angela. They'd have to go through his dead body first before they even think about touching her.

As if Giovanni had invaded his mind, the man took a sip of his coffee and asked, "Who's in Parklane? Your girl?"

Gael didn't answer. He didn't need to tell Giovanni about Angela. So he ignored the question and stared at his own cup of coffee, the tip of his middle finger tracing the rim absentmindedly.

Seeing as his nephew wouldn't tell him who was in Parklane, Giovanni shook his head and began his nagging. "Haven't you played enough already?"

"I'm not playing."

"Is she the same woman I saw here that day?"

Giovanni scoffed at Gael who was trying to keep any details about her girl from him. Gael could feel his uncle's eyes piercing right through him as if he was studying him, observing him, dissecting him. "First time I've rendered you speechless, my dear nephew. Cosa c'è che non va?" (What's wrong?)

"Nothing's wrong, Gio. Just leave it. There's nothing to see there," Gael bit out.

Folding his arms across his chest, his muscles strained in his sleeves. Giovanni wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the tail of the dragon showing just below the fold. They were about the same height, only Gael was more built than Giovanni. They definitely had the De Luca genes—defined jawline, sharp nose, tanned skin, intense eyes—though Gael's were grey while Giovanni's were green. They could pass as brothers as their age gap wasn't that big.

Giovanni leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "I know you. I've known you for years. You have no problems leaving women after you've quenched your thirst. Well, except for dear Becca—she was a crazy one." He laughed. "That woman was gonna be the death of me. How is she by the way?"

Thankful that the other was deviating from the topic, Gael finished his cup and placed it in the sink. He answered with his back facing his uncle, "Last time I saw her was about a week ago. She said hi. Told me you owe her a crate of wine."

A hearty laugh came out of Giovanni as he tossed his head back laughing. He looked so carefree whenever he was like this.

Gael dried his hands with a kitchen towel after washing the cup, turning to face his uncle again but staying by the counter. "Why the hell do you owe her wine?"

"That's our little secret. None of your concern." Giovanni sipped his coffee again. "Anyway, Becca wasn't meant for you. We all knew that. She's lovely, but she couldn't handle you. She couldn't handle us. I knew she was only passing by… You liked her, but didn't love her—"

"What's your point?" Gael was now annoyed. He narrowed his eyes, not liking where this was leading to. What he had with Becca happened a long time ago. Why did he have to bring her up?

"I'm just curious about this woman you're sleeping with. Just how good is she in bed that you even made a little camp here?" Giovanni spread his hands and waved the house.

Gael looked away, trying to suppress his irritation. He disliked talking about Angela with him—not that Giovanni would ever harm her, but because he knew why they were having this conversation, and he didn't like the reminder. Furthermore, Angela wasn't an object. He cursed under his breath.

"I'm not sleeping with her—not that it's any of your concern." Gael sighed when he saw his uncle raise a brow at his answer, seemingly surprised at the revelation. 

Giovanni straightened his back, amusement lighting his face. "My, my. Now, that's interesting. You've been here for weeks. You flew out here as soon as you got cleared by the doctor, and you're telling me you're not even fûcking?"

When Gael did not answer, a teasing smirk danced on Giovanni's face as he added, "Not only are you abstaining from hard liquor and cigarettes, you're also practicing celibacy? How long has it been since your last lay? Have you gone… Did getting shot give you some dîck problems?" He glanced at the other's nether region.

Gael muttered incoherent curses under his breath and nodded at the cup in front of his uncle. "Are you done?" He raised his voice. It pissed him off. 

"You didn't answer my question." Giovanni appeared unperturbed.

"My cock is fine, stronzo." (asshole) 

Giovanni shrugged. He got up from his chair and whipped out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Taking out one stick, he lit it up as he walked towards the kitchen door and opened it. "If that's the case, then why aren't you tapping that? If I remember correctly from that day I saw her, she's pretty. Not your usual—but she's a beauty."

Gael's jaw popped, and he glared at the other. He loved his uncle, but he felt bitter when Giovanni talked about how beautiful Angela was. Gael felt possessive when it came to Angela. A burning sensation filled his chest whenever a man—not her family—looked at her. 'She's mine. You can't look at her,' he thought.

The two exchanged stares for a minute, then Giovanni raised his chin as if he realized something. He took a long drag from his stick, holding it between his thumb and forefinger. A small chuckle punctuated his thoughts, and smoke drifted out of his mouth. "Ah... You actually like her, don't you?"

For Gael, that wasn't a question anymore. He was well aware of the fact that he liked Angela—maybe even more—but he didn't let his mind go there. What he felt didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was there to protect her. He rubbed his nape, sensing an impending headache coming up. When was this man going to leave?

Seeing the change in Gael's expression. Giovanni shook his head. "Well, I'll be damned. You're in deep shit, brother." He stuck the cigarette between his lips and went to grab a glass and a bottle of vodka from the cupboard. After pouring himself a shot, he tossed it back—the action made him look a little bit worried. "You need to cut your ties before you get in knee-deep. This won't end well for either of you." 

"Trust me. I know that." Gael ran a tired hand down his face. The thought of cutting Angela off his life was just too hard to swallow. He couldn't even imagine a life without her—he refused to put the picture in his mind. His chest tightened, and his jaw ticked just as his hands clenched.

And if what Giovanni said wasn't already enough, he faced Gael with a serious expression on his face. "This woman is going to ruin you. Or you'll ruin her—whoever does it first."