Free Secret of the Wolf by Cynthia Garner

floor of the living room in the house he and Lily had once shared. The home to which Lily’s name had never been added to the deed. The plush cream carpet had been spattered with the blood from Tony’s broken nose, and Dante had walked out of the house with a hand that had hurt like hell.
    The pain had been worth it. Now, though, fear gnawed at him constantly, and frustration that he couldn’t do to the cancer what he’d done to her ex. He had to be crazy to think he was anywhere near being ready to get involved with a woman, especially Tori.
    God, the need to punch something made his hands ball up into fists. Where was Tony Fabrizio when he needed the bastard?
    “What’s brought that smile to your face?” Lily asked with a sidelong glance at him. “It looks like trouble.”
    He shrugged. “Just thinkin’ ’bout Tony.”
    “Uh-huh.” She gathered up the chopped celery and put it in a bowl, then reached for a red bell pepper. The look on her face told him she knew exactly what he was replaying in his mind, and her next words confirmed it. “You’re lucky he didn’t file assault charges against you.”
    She was probably right, but he wouldn’t change a thing. Tony had deserved much more than Dante had dished out. As far as he was concerned, the bastard was damned lucky all he’d ended up with was a broken schnoz. “We wouldn’t have had that little chat if he’d been a man and taken care of you.”
    “I do not need a man to take care of me!” Lily slammed the knife down and turned toward the refrigerator. As she yanked open the door, she added, “The only thing the men in my life have done is cause me heartache.”
    “Well, some of us are just tryin’ to help,” Dante murmured. He carried the burgers over to the counter and placed them on the electric grill.
    Lily sighed. She closed the refrigerator and walked over to him, rubbing her hand across his shoulder. “I know, Dante. And I appreciate it, I do. You’ve given me the chance to focus my attention on getting better without having to worry about paying bills or taking care of a home on my own. I just…” She pressed her lips together and walked to the other side of the kitchen island. She heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry. I realize I’m being defensive. But I hate this, having this enemy that’s eatin’ me from the inside out. The doctors say the cancer’s eradicated, but they won’t know if I’m in true remission for another couple of months.” When she looked at him her eyes shone with tears. “There’s just so much I want to do. I’m not ready to die.”
    “Hey, now, none of that.” Dante put the lid on the pan and turned to face her. “You’re not gonna die. You’re gonna live long enough to be a little old lady who gripes about her eccentric, doddering older brother.”
    A slight smile tilted one side of her mouth. “I do that now.”
    He brandished the spatula. “I’m neither eccentric nor doddering. Not yet.”
    “That’s a matter of opinion.” She gestured toward the dining room table. “What about all that crap?”
    Dante looked at the computer parts lying on the table. “What about it?”
    “It’s been on that table for over a month.”
    “I’m working on it.”
    She raised her eyebrows. “Really?” She looked at the table again. “Every piece is in the exact spot it was in on the Fourth of July and hasn’t been moved in five weeks.” She shot him a look. “Hasn’t even been dusted.”
    “So now you’re complaining about my housekeeping skills?”
    “Not at all.” Her smile became more of a smirk. “I can handle a little dust. Besides, I’m sure you have other strengths, brother dear.”
    “Hmph.” Dante was glad to see her smile, even if it was at his expense. He glanced at the table laden with a couple of hard drives, a motherboard, a quad-core processor, and a keyboard. “I’ve been busy.” He felt the need to defend himself.
    “I know.” She tossed the chopped bell pepper into the salad