I didn’t even hear him walk in. All my attention is fixed on him as my gaze goes down to his stomach. He’s put on a shirt, but the way he walks makes it obvious he’s still in pain.
“You should be in bed,” I scold.
“I’m fine, Kitten.”
His presence settles at my side as we take our seats. Elio sits across from me.
Breakfast is normal. Strangely so. Coffee is poured, plates are passed around. Valentina keeps up a steady stream of conversation that somehow manages to include everyone without forcing it. Raffaele interrupts constantly. Salvatore engages his wife while Elio only speaks when he has something worth saying.
Matteo barely speaks at all. But he does thread our fingers together underneath the table, swiping his thumb over my palm in a soothing motion.
“So, madam prosecutor,” Raffaele says at some point. “Should we be expecting the cops to knock down on our doors anytime soon?”
“I’m not sure,” I say. “I imagine you could do with a brief stint in jail.”
Everyone laughs at that while Raffaele glares.
“Jail would be horrible for my skin, little Lin. This pretty face needs protection.”
I simply roll my eyes. He’s ridiculous. And maybe it’s because I know he would never hurt me, but the more time I spend in his presence, the less scared of him I feel.
“Raf is right, Lindsay. We’ve let you into our home and you’ve taken a seat at our table,” Salvatore begins. “I’d like to know if you’ll drop the RICO case against my family.”
Matteo’s hand tightens against mine. “Sal,” he grits out.
“No, it’s fine,” I tell him before facing the head of the family. “You can rest assured, I have no interest in pursing a case against your family anymore. Besides, it was always going to be a losing game,” I say bitterly.
Something like approval flickers in Salvatore’s eyes. “Not sure you’ve lost anything, considering the person you’ve gained sitting at your side.”
Well, he’s right about that.
He nods once and conversation moves on. I can feel Matteo watching me, his intense gaze sucking all of my breath. I sneak a glance at him and there’s approval glittering in the depths of his irises.
There’s also possession and love, and I realize I can read each one of them astutely. I feel each emotion that shines across his face.
As the conversation continues around the table, I realize with a jolt that I don’t feel out of place here. With this family that’s the definition of everything that I used to despise.
Shock slides through my chest. Maybe what I’ve always needed was a family at my side.
And I know without a doubt the Vitales would burn the world down to protect one of their own.
I want exactly that for myself. For my baby. I want the man at my side and all the love he has to give me. I want to be with him and with Leo. And I want to love him and get lost in him.
Since I can’t say the words yet, I squeeze his hand and look at him hoping to convey it all without speaking.
You won, Matteo Vitale.
I fell in love with you. And now I never want to stop falling.
CHAPTER 25
Lindsay
Sometimes I play a little game in my head. The rules are simple.
I lay down on a bed, as still as I possibly can, squeezing my eyes shut and imagining I’m in a place somewhere far away. I play it for as long as possible to avoid whatever turmoil I might be facing.
It’s my favorite game to play.
