“What did you do now?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“Nothing!”
“Mhm.”
“Baby, I swear–”
I stormed up the stairs, every step echoing. “Did you know?!”
He looked annoyed now. “Know what?”
I didn’t stop until I was standing dead center in their little circle. “That he was going to marry me!”
The room went still. One of our friends muttered “What?” but I was too angry to even know who.
My pulse roared in my ears. “Mark my words, when I find that motherfucker, I’m going to put his head on a stick–”
“You think I wanted this?”
That voice. Low. Smooth. Infuriating.
It sent goosebumps down my arms.
I turned, and there he was. Matteo stepped out from behind one of those damn velvet curtains like he owned the place – which I guess he did since he not only owned the club, but the entire building – every inch of him calm, collected, untouchable. The lavender light hit the edge of his jaw, turning it sharp enough to cut glass.
My heart stuttered, but my rage didn’t falter. A bitter laugh escaped me. “Oh, I bet you just couldn’t wipe that stupid fucking smirk off your face when you found out!”
He gave me thatDiablolook – the one that always made people feel small. “Think you’re talking about yourself.”
My fists clenched. God, I wanted to slap him. He’d probably enjoy it.
“If you think this will be anything but a business partnership, you’re delusional.”
He leaned in slightly, just enough that I had to tilt my chin up to meet his eyes. “Relax,princesa,” he said softly, that mocking curve still on his lips. “I’m in my prime.”
I saw red.
Then, as if the universe wanted to humiliate me further, a voice floated in from behind him.
“Matteo?”
A woman appeared from behind the curtain – tall, gorgeous, confident. The kind of woman who I always thought he’d end up with. Latin, sensual, and with that cool Miami vibe I didn’t have.
“They’re about to bring out the bottles,” she said, smiling softly like she wasn’t walking into an emotional nuclear detonation.
Matteo exhaled, bored, like this whole thing was beneath him. Then he leaned in closer – just an inch, but it felt like a threat.
“We’ll talk.”
And just like that, he was gone. With her.
I stood there, fists at my sides, trying not to let the tremor in my hands show. The music started to fill the silence again, but it felt muffled, like I was underwater.
Zach frowned at me, still looking confused. “I thought your father didn’t care about marriage?”
Trevor raised a brow. “You not going for the Underboss title anymore?”
I forced myself to take a breath. “Gìovanni was right. The other families won’t accept it. No matter how much profit I bring in.”
