Hearing his name tore open the wounds I’d tried so desperately to heal. “Noah hates me.”
“Doesn't matter. He’ll want you back, but I can’t let that happen.”
Apparently, the grapevine had neglected to share my dirty secret with this man. “No, he really won’t.”
“In you go.” Ignoring my protests, Matteo hoisted me into the van, and we sped off.
I had to think; had to figure out how to get out of the mess he’d put me in. “I’m expected at work this morning. They’ll be looking for me.”
“You’re not on the schedule because you’d planned on attending the wedding.”
How the fuck did he know that?
“You’ll be safer in our compound, where I can undo everything he’s done to you.”
“What has he done?” I asked, scared of the answer.
Matteo scoffed. “Taught you to like them, for one thing. You’re a Franco; the Costas are the enemy, Sara.”
“Please stop calling me that. My name is Sailor.”
“It’s Sara Franco, which just proves that I have to reverse their indoctrination of you. Given the chance, they’ll own the entire city within the next five years. I can’t let them have that much power.”
Was he even crazier than I assumed, and did that make him extremely dangerous, even to me? “Why have I never heard ofyou before? Why didn't you come get me when I was orphaned and alone in the police station?”
He studied his fingernails. “I wanted your father out of the picture, and you were just a hindrance to my agenda.”
My heart throbbed. “What do you mean?”
Finally, he looked at me. “I was the one who made the threats to the Costa women in Carmine’s name, knowing Benito wouldn't stand for it. Carmine was supposed to meet with me that night, but I canceled at the last minute so he’d be on the right road at the right time.”
All of it was actually Matteo’s fault? “Did you set up my mother, too, then?”
“Oh, no, that was purely a coincidence. Shame, really, because I planned on stepping into Carmine’s shoes in all areas.”
Sickness swirled through my belly. He thought that with my father gone, he’d take my mother as his? “Why did you want him gone?”
“Because, Sara, your father wouldn't acknowledge me as his family member, so I couldn't be an officially recognized associate in the organization. He left me no choice but to do what needed to be done.”
I had to lean forward and take deep breaths before I threw up all over the back of the van. All this time, I had never considered that the accident could be the result of such vile machinations from a blood relative.
“I was the one who had the idea for Robert to work for the Costas. He valiantly played the long con before finally getting the chance to take out that bitch Benito married. In my mind, though, it wasn't enough if the men were still breathing.”
So Noah’s mother died for revenge after he killed my mother. No wonder her death was extra traumatic for him.
God only knew what this man planned for me. I had to do something before it was too late. “You need to let me go, Matteo. I’m not with Noah, and they hate me for what I did.”
“What did you do?” he asked with narrowed eyes.
“I made a deal with the feds to take them down.”
“Good for you!” Despite the praise, he frowned. “Clearly, it didn't work, though.”
I clasped my hands together tightly. “They’re very tight-lipped.”
We turned down a long driveway that ended with security gates and high walls, and my stomach turned over again. Once we made it inside the compound, I was stuck with whatever game he was playing.
“Listen, I really don't want to live with you.” My breathing accelerated, and I had to work hard not to panic. “I don't know you. I have good enough security at home, and no one will bother me there.”
