“What?!” I hiss, trying to turn toward him, but Matteo pulls me back, not wanting anyone to see that something is wrong.
“Don’t,” he says. “Eyes are on us.”
I look around. No chaos. No screams. Just laughter. Music. Champagne.
Milo looks around, but my eyes are on Matteo who’s starting to sweat, his fingers tapping on my waist. His jaw is clenched as if he’s grinding his teeth to stop the pain.
“We need…we need to get out of here,” Matteo tells Milo, who is still looking around the hall.
Milo’s eyes lock with Matteo’s. “Do you know who?” he asks.
“No, we were dancing, talking, there were people around us, Irish, Russians. My money is on the Irish,” Matteo mutters.
Matteo grips me tighter.
“I need you to keep smiling, little lamb,” he says.
“But—”
“I swear to you it will be fine. Just smile until we’re through the door.”
He doesn’t let me go, even as Milo tells him he’s getting Marco and Rosa.
I’ve never felt less in control.
As we near the doors, Marco and Rosa appear beside us.
“Matteo—”
“Smile little lamb,” he whispers.
I would if he didn’t looks so fucked up right now.
“Milo, something is wrong?—”
“Yeah, he’s been fucking stabbed,” Milo snaps.
“No, like something else. He’s sweating to the point I can feel it on my hand.” I take my hand off his back so Milo can see.
“Shit,” he whispers and looks at Marco and they both shake their heads.
“You get him to the dorm, I’ll get Leo.” Marco walks away with Rosa next to him, and I look at Milo.
“He’s shaking, Milo,” I tell him, and he stands behind Matteo as the door closes behind us, and Milo power walks down the corridor.
“Matteo, fight this, and fucking help me get you back to the dorm,” Milo shouts at him, now that we’re out of sight of anyone seeing us.
My heart is pounding, and the first tear escapes my eyes. I've never seen Matteo lose anything, but tonight I’m scared, because I could see it on Marco’s and Milo’s faces. Something is wrong.
Chapter 41
Matteo
Ibarely make it down the corridor without staggering. Every breath I’m taking is burning my lungs. I took my eyes off the room for a minute, if that, and I’m now paying the fucking price. My body’s starting to feel too heavy for me to even keep myself standing.
The moment the heavy door slams shut behind us and we’re away from the crowd, I lose the careful mask I wore on the dance floor. Aoife’s still clinging to me like she thinks I’m leading, but I’m not. I’m just… holding on.
I can hear the music fading behind us, my arm slung over Milo’s shoulder, Aoife on the other side of me, trying hard to hold me up, but it’s not easy when I’m double the size of her.
