I freeze mid-sip.
Matteo catches it immediately. “What? You afraid I’ll embarrass you?”
My jaw flexes. “You’re a walking embarrassment.”
“Aw.” He clinks his glass against mine again. “You love me. You do remember he was my friend first, right?”
“Fuck off. And I don’t love you.”
“You do.”
I push past him, heading for the exit. “Get in the car.”
Matteo follows.
The drive to Cyrus’s doesn’t take that long.
Matteo talks the whole way. Trying to figure out the shit with Boston. I let him fill the silence because if he doesn’t, my mind drifts to Victoria.
When I’m busy, I’m able to distract myself, but now that I’m not actively torturing or doing a deal, she’s all I can think about.
Her mouth.
Her eyes.
The way she looks at me, like she hates me and wants me in the same breath.
I focus on the road, on the snow, on anything but the fact that I’m not with her.
Luckily for me, Cyrus Reed’s mansion appears in the distance.
Warm light glows behind the huge glass windows as I pull up the driveway, passing the security gate that’s opened for us.
Matteo whistles low. “I’ll never get over how nice this place is.”
“Well, he does collect power and money,” I respond, pulling into the circular drive.
Matteo grins. “That he does.”
I cut the engine and glance at him. “Don’t lose all your money, like last time. Your dad will kill me.”
Matteo laughs as we step out into the cold. Snow crunches under our shoes with each step we take until we are finally inside.
Inside, we are instantly met with the smell of smoke and expensive liquor.
Cyrus stands in the main lounge, a glass of scotch in hand, sleeves rolled up. His gaze slides to me before flicking to Matteo.
“Matteo, fucking finally.” He looks over at me next. “Lorenzo.”
“That’s it? Where’s my love?” I joke.
“I see you every week, idiot.”
Matteo laughs at Cyrus’s words.
Cyrus’s attention swings back to me. His eyes drag over my face. Then he lifts his glass. “You look like you’ve been chewing glass.”
“Dinner.” I walk past him toward the bar. “My favorite meal.”
