“Why are you avoiding your brother?”
I swallow thickly and avert my gaze, looking over Matteo’s shoulder, not wanting to have this conversation. I can feel hiseyes on me, and a moment later, he slides onto the couch next to me and tips my face to look at him.
“Talk to me, Little Russo.”
I huff and jut my chin out of his hold. “I feel guilty. Okay? I texted him to see how he was doing, and he said that you’d helped him get into isolation and he was hanging in there. And I didn’t know what to say. I had done that to him.” I sniffle back my tears, and when he opens his mouth to argue, I reach out and cover his mouth.
“I know. Enrique would’ve done what he was going to do regardless, but had he not been able to manipulate me so effortlessly, he would’ve had to find another way to avenge his parents’ deaths. But because I let him in so easily, you and my brother ended up in jail. You’re still awaiting trial, even if you are out on bail, and my brother is in isolation so he doesn’t get beat up, thanks to Enrique, the man I married!”
By the time I stop to take a breath, tears are streaming down my face, and my entire body is shaking.
“I did this, and when he texts, asking how I’m doing, I don’t know what to say. Because I’m here, safe with you, while he’s in there, hoping nobody beats him to death before he gets out.”
“Nobody is going to beat him to death,” Matteo says, reaching out and tucking a wayward strand of hair that fell out of my ponytail behind my ear.
He swipes the fallen tears from under my eyes and smiles softly, and butterflies erupt in my belly. Matteo doesn’t smile often, but when he does, his features—normally edgy—turn almost boyish, and I get a glimpse of the softer side of him.
“I won’t say this all isn’t your fault—again—because you already know how I feel about that, but even if you want to blame yourself, you and I are Lorenzo’s only links to the outside world. He’s not going to resent you for telling him about your day. He’s going to live vicariously through you, and it’s going to remind him that his sister is out here, waiting for him to get out.”
“I couldn’t wait to move home and finally get to know him on a deeper level,” I choke out. “And now, everything is so messed up.”
“It will all get sorted,” he says. “But don’t push him away.”
His phone rings, and he pulls it out and stands. “I need to take this, but while I do, text your brother back. He’s worried about you.”
I nod in agreement and then grab my phone from the coffee table.
Me: Hey, I’m sorry I’ve been MIA. I feel guilty that you’re in there while I’m safely in Matteo’s place.
Lorenzo: Never feel guilty. I’m glad you’re safe. Is he being nice to you? I know he can be a grouch, but he’s a good guy.
I think about the last two weeks of self-defense lessons, working out, our nightly dinners, and watchingThe Vampire Diaries, and smile to myself.
Me: He’s not too bad.
“Got some good news,” Matteo says, stalking out of his office. “Charges against me have been dropped.”
“What? Really?” I jump up and throw my arms around him. “That’s amazing!”
“Thanks. I know your brother is still in there, but?—”
“But nothing. At this point, we take any good news we can get. You’re free!”
I hug him again, and he wraps his arms around me.
“This calls for a celebration.”
“Oh, yeah?” Matteo smirks. “What kind of celebration are we talking here? My favorite cookies andTVD?”
I bark out a laugh. “I love that you just referred to it asTVD. But I was thinking?—”
“That’s never a good thing,” Matteo deadpans.
“Oh hush!” I playfully smack his arm. “We should go out to dinner.”
Before I even finish my thought, he’s shaking his head. “You’re not supposed to leave.”
“C’mon,” I whine. “Between being kidnapped and hiding here, I’ve been cooped up for weeks. Besides, I’ll be with you, so I’ll be safe. Maybe it will lure Enrique out, and you can kill him.”
