“Got it,” I say. “You’re really taking this big brother thing to the next level, huh?”
“Shut up. I’m not kidding, Teo. I will kill you.”
I chuckle. “Jesus. This is serious. You haven’t called me Teo in years.”
“Just as soon as her shift is over, get over here,” he says, his voice laced with annoyance.
“Okay, Dad.” I grumble back.
“Asshole.”
Before I can respond, he hangs up.
The rest of the shift, I sit on my phone, watching the redhead I can’t get out of my head work and help people. Whoever pushed her to become a nurse doesn’t matter. She clearly loves this job. Every time I glance up, I catch her in motion. She is focused, attentive, and putting care into everything she does, from the food she prepares to the way she listens and takes notes when with patients.
As soon as her shift ends, she walks over to me while I’m half asleep. Before either of us say anything, a huge yawn slips out of me.
“Yeah, I’m driving us back to your apartment.”
“We’re not going to my place. Your brother wants us at his place.”
“Uh—okay. Did he say why?”
“Nope,” I lie.
We walk to the car in silence. I am so exhausted I let her drive. Before we even make it out of the parking lot, I’m out cold, slipping into one of the best dreams of my life.
If everything goes the way it’s supposed to, that dream will come true soon.
SEVENTEEN
VANESSA
Well. That was one fucking way to drop a bomb on me.
I’m sitting in Gino’s office while he lays it out, clear as day, what I am supposed to do as his sister—marry his best friend. You’d think a brother would hate the idea, shut it down immediately. Not mine. He’s completely on board.
“I know, I know,” he says, reading my face like it’s screamingwhat the fuckinstead ofyes, absolutely.“Dad made the deal when you were sixteen. We can’t back out now.”
“He’s your best friend, and Dad’s dead,” I argue. “Can’t you just say no? Or wait? Or at least let me get to know him more?” I’m careful not to give away the fact that I already fucked him.
“Listen,” he says, leaning forward. “This is for your protection. I don’t know how it got out so fast, but my phone hasn’t stopped ringing. Different people, all wanting to marry you.”
“Why?” I ask, frustrated.
“It’s normal in this life.”
“Then why aren’t you married?” I quip.
“Don’t worry about me,” he smirks.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, and all I can think about is this horrible plan—this deal Dad made. The more I turn it over in my head, the clearer it becomes. It was on my sixteenth birthday when he told me to get a degree and move to New York to work for him.
My thoughts spiral. How long has everyone known about this except me?
Mateo sits in the room with us, quiet, unreadable. Judging by the way he hasn’t said a word, I’m guessing he knows—or at least has a damn good idea.
“So let me get this straight,” I say. “This deal was made, and none of you are questioning it? How long have you two known about it?”
