The Carrero Solution (Carrero Book 3)

Jake slides his hand over mine and pulls it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles softly and pulling me toward him a little. He bridges the gap and pecks me softly on the cheek, whispering, “I love you,” as he pulls back. He senses the change in me that I’m feeling emotional; like always, he’s there to ground me. I can’t help but smile at him adoringly. Green eyes locked onto mine, so many messages translating in one tender look. My heart is rising a little that I have him, and she never will, not how she wants him.

I catch Marissa watching us with a glare of sheer hatred in her eye as the death grip on the fork she’s holding turns her knuckles white. It only strengthens that inner feeling of triumph, and I smile at her almost salaciously.

“So, I hear there’s some news you have for me, Jacob?” Giovanni cuts in smoothly across the chatter as the starter plates are slid before us by efficient house staff. I flicker up, catching both men’s eyes locked across the table, with no emotion or message on either face. They are acting like they always do, like two men in a standoff, trying to be polite. Try as I might, I have never understood how they can stand this relationship. Jake never seems to want to try to fix things, and Giovanni never seems to make an attempt, either.

“I have a couple of things I need to tell you, just not here right now.” Jake’s voice betrays a slight edge in his tone, and his father instantly smirks. The irritating Carrero smirk shows they are undeniably related despite their very different appearances, neither looking away, the air almost sizzling with tension. I catch a nervous flinch in the corner of Sylvana’s eye and feel a little uncomfortable.

Giovanni is one of the most unreadable people I have ever met. He gives no clue to what he’s thinking or feeling, ever. An amazing poker face and never seems to have any other moods apart from this one or yelling at staff. Even in his family’s presence, there is his usual air of authority and emotional distance. It’s a little chilling.

“Yes, later, when we don’t have guests,” Sylvana warns with a tone of authority and throws a smile at Marissa sitting to her right. It’s a reassuring smile. Giovanni is at the head of the table and doesn’t acknowledge Marissa at all. He doesn’t even look her way, keeping his dark eyes focused on me, and I begin to tremble.

“Emma? I hear congratulations are in order.” Giovanni raises an eyebrow at me, and I choke hard on the piece of broccoli I put in my mouth. My eyes dart around the faces at the table, and Jake tenses. The ripples of anger from him surging instantly because I’ve been put on the spot by a man who rarely acknowledged my presence the last time I was here. I can feel Jake’s whole body change like lightning.

“Ummm.” I falter. Stammering because I have no idea what to say.

“Jake told us you’re his VP now because you have a good business head and could do a lot of good in the future of our company.” Arrick cuts in with a knowing smile, and I get the same edgy tone from his voice that Jake has. I notice the same cool look he gives his father for the first time. Arrick is obviously the family mediator in this volatile relationship, moving in to diffuse whatever this is easily. I smile at him gratefully, warmed to him instantly.

“I’m undecided if that’s what I want anymore. I need to take some time to evaluate my career.” I return quickly. Jake seems happy with the answer, Arrick smiles encouragingly, and everyone sets about the food in front of them.

Jake relaxes and starts digging into his food with his fork. I can’t help but glance at Marissa directly across the table, and she’s watching him under her lashes as she digs into her food. The whole atmosphere is tense and weird, unlike the last time I was with these people. All that friendly, energetic chatter and cozy banter are severely lacking.

“Actually. No. I meant the fact that he’s buying you a house next door.” Giovanni drops the bombshell, and Marissa’s head almost snaps off with the speed she spins toward him. Jake stiffens. His fingers tighten around his glass mid-way to his mouth. Sylvana gapes at her husband in anger and throws him a look that can only mean she’s got some serious words for him when they’re alone.

“Why wouldn’t I? I intend to marry her one day, so of course, I’m going to buy us a house where we can raise a family and settle down.” Jake’s tone gives nothing away. I could almost kiss him when I see that bitch’s lower lip wobble. Jake is used to dealing with Giovanni and plays his part effortlessly, never giving his father a hint of being rattled. The constant power struggle between father and son that I have witnessed a million times at work.

I try to swallow down the ravioli I’ve jammed into my mouth, but the ability has deserted me. I gulp orange juice to dislodge the lump in my throat, trying to calm my pounding heart and clammy palms. This dinner is tense, and I just need to get through it before the dramatics with Marissa commence. I wish we had eaten upstairs after all.

“Well … seeing as you’ve already made a start with reproducing, I think it’s a great idea, especially so close to home.” This is obviously a remark to hurt me. Giovanni smiles toward him with an evil glint in his eyes. My heart rate quickens, and my stomach drops. I really do wonder why Giovanni hates me so much. Maybe he dislikes Jake looking to make a future with me. Giovanni obviously disproves Jake marrying his ex-PA.

Oh my God. Ground, please open and take me now.

“Yes. I’m sure when he gets weekend access to our child, a house here will be great, seeing as I intend to move back home for the first few years.” Marissa flutters her lashes, deviously throwing Jake a sexy smile, hiding nothing of her malicious jibe. All I can do is gawp at her and what she’s saying, the fact she intends to become a more permanent, closer thorn in my side by moving back here. Consumed with an inner rise of anger and heartbreak, dueling to get on top of one another. This is not how a new home is supposed to be received into our lives. I catch Jake frowning at her from the corner of my eye and know he’s thinking the same thing.

Marissa moving here was never part of the plan at all.

“Actually … I was talking about Emma’s baby.” Giovanni leans back with a wolfish grin and a satisfied glint in his eye. The clatter of cutlery as Marissa drops her fork and gapes at me with open-mouthed shock. I realize she’s not the only one, Arrick’s girlfriend is practically bug-eyed, gawping my way, and no one is holding cutlery now except me.

“Fuck’s sake….” Jake snaps, raising a hand to pinch his brow, his elbow hitting the table to hold his arm up. He knows the shit is about to hit the fan, and he’s waiting on it.

“Dad, you’re an asshole.” Arrick cuts in instantly, and Marissa erupts.

“What the actual fuck?! Since fucking when?!” She throws her napkin down on top of her food, glaring

at him, then me, focusing on one after the other with sheer fury across her pouted mouth. She doesn’t look quite so attractive now, and yet all I can do is lower my head and stare at my lap to try to control the surge of complete

tension running through me. Giovanni certainly knows how to ruin dinner.

“Arrick. Please take Gloria to the front room, and I’ll have your plates sent through … Giovanni. I suggest you go eat in your office!” Sylvana snaps, taking control, and stands up. She puts a hand on Marissa’s shoulder, sharply sitting her down since Marissa has risen from her seat in anger.

“How did you find out?” Jake glares at Giovanni furiously. The waves of rage can almost be seen rippling across the table. Everyone looks at the older man sitting smugly, sipping his glass of wine, as though he’s completely unaware of the scene he’s just caused.

“You underestimate me, Jacob. Two women at this table with a pregnancy glow and drinking fresh orange instead of my $2000 a bottle Chardonnay. You forget I’m a father who knows when a lady is carrying, and I’m fully aware you set up a viewing for the Wilson house. He’s my golfing partner, after all. I’m just disappointed that you felt you could tell your mother and brother, the only two who did not react to this news and yet still hadn’t told me.” He slides up, lifts his glass, and walks coolly toward the door while Jake visually throws daggers into his back. All I can think of is how keen-eyed Senior Carrero is. He is a smart cookie, after all. I can’t help but be a little impressed with his scarily keen observations.

I want the ground to open and devour me. The seething hatred emanating my way from Demon Bitch is making my skin prickle, and inner-Teen-Emma rage is looming inside. Arrick and his girlfriend are practically high-tailing it out of the room, and Sylvana glares at everyone with a sheer angry momma bear look. This is not how I envisioned this would go. I had no idea we’d even be telling Marissa about the baby just yet, so I guess, in a way, Giovanni has done us a favor.

“So, this is why you keep fucking stalling and pissing me about?!” Marissa spits with venom across the table as Sylvana moves toward her. I’m not sure what her intentions are, but the kind maternal expression is gone. Now she’s angry mamma ready to tackle a crazy pregnant woman down if she dares get up.

“Shut up, Marissa, and calm the fuck down.” Jake glares at her. I catch the simmering of something between them; fury on his part and possibly the same from her. I wonder if this was how the meetings in LA went in the past.

“Mamma. I think the three of us need to do this without you here.” Jake turns to Sylvana, and a flash of stubbornness flicks across her attractive face. She lifts her chin for a moment, narrows her gaze on him, and then sighs in defeat.

“Behave like adults. I’ll be dealing with your father.” She turns, walks around the table, and leaves, picking up Arrick and Gloria’s plates in passing, ushering the last of her house staff with her, including the poor girl who was caught like a deer in headlamps in the corner and pulling the door closed behind them.