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move in with him,” Angelo said, facing Vincent and crossing his arms.
    Vincent’s brows rose. “You got a ring?”
    I threw up my hands. “I don’t believe this! It’s the twenty-first century. Did you know that?”
    “The rules haven’t changed,” he said, crossing his arms, too. “He wants the milk, he’s got to buy the cow.”
    My gaze narrowed. “Did you just call me a cow? And for your information, I’m not a virgin! I’ve had sex. More than once!”
    Both Vincent and Angelo plugged their ears. Angelo hummed loudly.
    “You’re both ridiculous!” I scolded them. “I’m an adult. I can do what I want.”
    Vincent dropped his hands. “And you want to live with that guy? Really?”
    “Maybe. It’s my decision.”
    Angelo crossed his arms again. “You’ll break Dad’s heart.”
    “Oh, my God.” I rubbed my temples, fighting a growing headache. “You’re going to pull a guilt trip on me now? For what it’s worth, Jax wanted to sit down with you all and talk this out.”
    “So what?” Vincent scoffed. “We’re supposed to give him props?”
    “I do,” Angelo said unexpectedly. “Takes balls to face a girl’s brothers and family and say you want to live with her.”
    Vincent shook his head, his jaw hard. “If he wants you around that bad, he should put a ring on it.”
    “Before she knows what she’s getting into?”
    We all turned to find Jax standing in my bedroom doorway. He was dressed for work, looking dashing in a slate-gray suit, white shirt, and black tie. I realized he must’ve been on his way when he called me. Despite everything, I got a little thrill from that.
    “The security in this place is nonexistent,” he pointed out tightly. “Jesus. I just walked right in!”
    Vincent raised his fists. “I’ve got security for you, right here.”
    I snatched up my phone and my purse, and headed out. If everything was going to implode at home as well as work, I figured I might as well go to work.
    “Gia.” Jax caught my upper arm as I moved to pass him. “I’ve got this. Don’t stress.”
    “Easy for you to say,” I told him, my chin lifting. “You don’t have anything on the line.”
    His jaw tightened. “I love you. I’ve got everything on the line.”

4
    LEI WAS ON the phone when I got to work, pacing in her office while talking into a headset. She waved in greeting and offered a quick smile, which only made me feel worse about my news.
    Because she was busy, I went to my desk and started going through my voice mail, taking down messages for Lei and making notes to return calls that had come in for me. Usually being at work soothed me, but I was too edgy. My feet tapped restlessly beneath the table.
    “Gianna.”
    I looked toward Lei’s office and found her leaning against the doorjamb. She was dressed in crimson pants and a white silk shell, her black hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. She looked younger than her years, and delicate, but her dark eyes gave her away—Lei could be as delicate as a saber-toothed tiger.
    “How’s Chad?” she asked.
    Standing, I put my hands on the desk to anchor myself. “He’s very happy with the Mondego, and the plans, and the progress. He’s happy with the choices of David and Inez, too. But...he’s not so happy with me.”
    “Oh?” Her eyes widened. “What happened?”
    “Jackson Rutledge. More precisely, the fact that Jax has asked me to move in with him.”
    “I see.” She straightened. “Why don’t we talk in my office?”
    I followed her, feeling a bit like I was being called into the teacher’s office for a lecture.
    Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of Lei’s expansive office, Manhattan was laid out for viewing pleasure and awe. Glittering spires with architecture designed to impress overshadowed buildings that were centuries old. Wooden water towers on matchstick stilts were everywhere, features of the cityscape as distinctive and beloved as any other landmark. Blue rooftop pools and green terrace