Should I?
He looks down at me with half-mast eyes, begging, “Please.”
And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t do anything to me. My heart squeezes, wishing to give in so badly, but all this man has done is trap me in his web of lies. I sigh and avert my gaze.
“I promise I’ll make it worth your while,” he says. “Please give me a chance.”
I bite my lip, then gently turn to face him again. “Fine, but this better be worth it.”
He smiles as his hand slowly lowers from my wrist to my hand. When he laces his fingers through mine, my core heats. “That’s my girl.”
And for some reason, butterflies just fluttered throughout my belly.
I let him take me away, out the front door, and to his expensive car parked in the garage. He lets me sit in the passenger’s seat while he crawls behind the wheel. This is the first time I’ve actually sat beside him instead of behind him.
His driver swiftly runs up to him and mutters something through the closed window, so Matteo rolls it down. “Sir, I can drive for you.”
“No need, Brian, I’m taking her out myself this time for some privacy.” Matteo adds a smile. “Feel free to take some time off until we return.”
“Thank you, sir,” Brian says.
Matteo rolls up the window again and gently drives away, across the path through the sprawling front yard, toward the gates that surround his property, and the road beyond.
I can’t believe we’re out of the mansion again.
Just like that, I’m right back where I was when I ran away from him. Only this time, he’s right there beside me, throwing glances every once in a while, like he’s checking ifI’m still okay. But I’m not ready to face him yet or the anger still boiling beneath the surface because of his inability to understand that he can’t just lock me up like a puppet. It has severe emotional consequences for both of us, so I turn my head and look out the window instead, admiring the beautiful landscape.
When the car finally comes to a stop after a long drive, and Matteo steps out, I’m too stunned to speak … because we’re at an actual cemetery.
What the hell?
He circles the car and opens my door like a real gentleman, then holds out his hand until I finally take it after eyeing him up and down. There’s a devious smile on his face, and I don’t understand.
“Why are we here?” I ask.
He brings his finger to his mouth like it’s some big secret, and he whispers, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
I don’t get it, but I sure as hell hope for his sake that it’ll become very clear to me soon, because otherwise I’m definitely never leaving my room again.
Matteo guides me toward the gate and into the posh-looking cemetery. We walk along the pebble path lined with graves until we reach a stone marked with a certain name. Viviana De Silva, age fifty-seven, with a date of death of just a few weeks ago.
Oh my God.
Is this his mother’s grave?
I look at him, but he’s already averted his gaze and sniffsas he brings his hand to his face and wipes away a few tears. He lets go of me and kneels in front of her grave, touching the stone like he’s attempting to touch her even though she’s already long gone. Something about that breaks my heart.
“Mi manchi,” he says, and it tears me apart because I know he’s speaking to his mother, who is no longer here because of the Agostinis.
“I … I’m sorry,” I mutter, not knowing what else to say.
He sighs. “This is the only place where I can come and rest my mind, where my men don’t have to flank me twenty-four seven to keep me safe.”
I can totally understand.
“But I brought you here for a different reason.”
He pats her grave again, but then a familiar voice behind me makes me turn my head.
