I've seen the darkness flash in his eyes when he gets aroused or irritated, but it's often controlled. I shudder to think what would happen if it were unleashed.
“I bet they’re running through town like chickens searching for you," a voice cuts into my thoughts. I open my eyes to find that Bruno has moved closer, waving the gun like it's an extension of his arm. There is an evil gleam in his eyes when he leans forward and, using the hand with the whiskey bottle, tugs down my gag. “They will never find you in time!”
“Please, Bruno. I don’t want to get hurt–”
"Then you should have thought twice before you married that thieving bastard!"
“The marriage was arranged by my father,” I argue. “You know that—”
“Oh shut the fuck up!” he rages, waving his arms around. I wince, half terrified that he’ll accidentally shoot me before he gets around to doing it on purpose. He's drunk and unsteady on his feet. And clearly not in his right mind either. "I've seen the way you look at him."
His words bring me pause. “What?”
“That’s the thing about being the invisible brother. You see everything,” he storms, stopping in front of me. “I’ve seen the way you look at that bastard. Like the stars and moon revolve around his head—it’s disgusting.”
I wince when he spits on the floor, but his words give me something to think about, and I find myself wondering if Matteo has seen it too.
Does he know?
God, I should have sent that text. If only so he’s comforted by my death.
“Matteo will never forgive you if you hurt me,” I say, meeting Bruno’s eyes directly. It’s probably a terrible idea to taunt a madman, but it’s clear begging won’t do me any good either. “He’ll find you and make you pay for so much as harming a hair on my head.”
He laughs, a loud, ugly sound that echoes through the warehouse. "If he's so great, I would like to see him try."
Just then, a crash tears through the silence as something breaks through one of the warehouse front windows. Bruno spins toward the noise with his gun raised just as another crash sounds in the opposite direction. The warehouse’s back doorexplodes inward, and a figure, silhouetted against the fading light, bursts into the room.
I only get a second to recognize Matteo before the world explodes around me. Gunshots rip through the air, cracking sharply against the concrete walls. Someone yells, deep and guttural. Maybe it’s Bruno…maybe it’s me.
I flinch and turn away, every muscle in my body coiling in terror. I close my eyes tightly at the sound of gunshots, but it fades as fast as it started. There is a moment of silence before I feel warm, familiar hands touching my face and shoulders.
“Sofia,” the gruff voice has me opening my eyes to meet beautiful dark ones. There is a murderous look on Matteo’s face. Crouched in front of me, I see something else underneath the anger. Fear. Panic. “Sei ferita,tesoro mio? Tell me if you’re hurt.”
“I’m fine,” I whisper, nuzzling his hand when he cups my chin. “He didn’t hurt me. The ropes…”
“Fuck, right,” he growls, rounding the chair. He curses when the ropes fall away and gently takes my wrists to inspect the extent of the injury. My heart tugs in my chest when he brings my reddened wrists to his lips. When he lifts those eyes to mine, they’re dark. Dangerous.
My arms are around him the second he frees my wrists, pushing into him and kissing him like my life depends on it. I don't care that we have an audience. Seconds ago, I wasn't sure I would get to see his handsome face…to kiss him.
Matteo kisses me with just as much fervor, and when we break apart, I am panting. My heart races with need for a man I never wanted to marry, but now, he’s my entire life.
“Matteo?”
I turn around and, for the first time, take in the people in the warehouse with us. All of Matteo's brothers are here, along with a dozen other men I have never met before, two of whom are holding Bruno. There is a red stain on his shoulder, but he’s still alive, if the pained and murderous look he's giving Matteo is anything to go by.
"What do we do with him?"
Matteo doesn’t say a word. Instead, he trades looks with Nicolo, who nods in turn. The understanding between them is clear—this will be handled. Bruno will face consequences for his actions, but not here. Not in front of me. Before I can ask what will happen to him, Matteo scoops me into his arms like I weigh nothing. I grip his shoulder as he carries me out to one of the two black SUVs parked outside the warehouse.
He unlocks the back door and gently places me in the backseat, my eyes widening when he climbs in after me. He shuts the door behind us, and then his hand is on my waist, pulling me onto his lap. He’s hard, his cock pushing against my inner thighs.
“Matteo—”
His mouth slams down on mine, silencing whatever words I was about to say and wiping all rational thoughts from my mind. He runs his hands up and down my back as he kisses me with the desperation of a drowning man. His right hand circles to the front, stroking my breasts, squeezing and rubbing over my blouse. My nipples pebble painfully behind my bra, and I moan into the kiss as a rush of wetness floods my sex. We’re both panting when we break apart, and I moan when his mouth skates down the side of my neck, licking a path up my throat and biting my earlobe. My pussy clenches in response, heat rocking my core.
Tesoro mio, he groans, making my heart race as he licks a path up my throat, biting my earlobe. “I need you,” he says hoarsely into my ear. “I need you so fucking much, baby. I can’t help it.”
“You have me,” I whimper, running my hands around his neck to his nape, threading my fingers through his hair. “Take me.”
