“He’s destroying everything our parents built, one deal at a time. Our family will be ruined.”
Confused, I leaned forward. “And you think talking to me will change that? He was your friend, Gio. If you can’t fix it, why do you think I can?”
For the space of several seconds, my brother stared at me. It was the kind of look that told me he knew the truth about Lily’s conception.
I’d never told anyone who had knocked me up, not even my brother, but that look made me uncomfortable.
“I’m really sorry, Gio, but I don’t know what I can do. My life is here now. I have people who depend on me.”
He cut me off with a snarl. “I am depending on you, Sophia. You’re my last resort. I need you to come home.”
Jumping to my feet, I shook my head. “There’s nothing I can do—“
“At least meet with him.”
I searched his face. There was no sign that he was lying, but it felt like he was keeping something from me. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
“Matteo has agreed to see me?” My voice shook and my heart beat so hard that I was sure the whole neighborhood would be able to hear it.
After all this time, Matteo wanted to see me? What did that mean? Or did it mean anything at all?
The real question was, did I want to see him? Six years ago, I would have given anything to see his face every day for the rest of my life, but now?
He had betrayed my family and me in the worst possible way, and it had broken me. Could I face him again?
“He’s agreed to, yes. I think he wants to see you for himself before he agrees to anything else.”
“Anything else?” My eyebrows shot up.
Clearly, my brother was up to something. He was older than me, but I’d always been able to tell when he wasn’t being truthful, and he wasn’t right now.
“What aren’t you telling me, Gio?”
He remained stonily silent.
“Gio, if you want me to talk to him, then I need to know everything.”
Was I really considering this? It was crazy. But Gio was the only family I had left, and if I could help him, then I had to do it.
“I need this alliance, Sophia.”
My heart slammed to a halt. An alliance? Did Gio just say that out loud, or had I misheard him?
Throwing my head back, I laughed. “You’re talking about marriage. Jesus Christ, Gio, you can’t be serious?”
Nothing. He just stared at me.
“This plan is crazy, Gio. I can’t leave here. This is my home, and even if I could, hell would have to freeze over before Matteo agreed to take me as his wife.”
My laughter filled the room, loud and sarcastic. The entire time, my brother remained silent.
It was ludicrous.
Except he didn’t look like it was a joke at all. I swallowed down the laughter. “You can’t be serious, Gio. You want me to marry Matteo Romano?
Chapter Two
Matteo
