Page 123 of Matteo

He lifts his glass, getting ready to take a sip. “It’s not easy being a Knight.”

“I agree.”

We toast to that.

He takes a long sip, sits back, his shoulders relaxing. “You can walk away, Matteo; that’s what I’m saying. I feel like I’m putting it all on you, and I hate that. We all have free will, right?”

I remember Elizabeth’s words to me. She thinks family is good, and she thinks blood is thicker than water. At least, she did. I don’t know how much of that opinion of hers has changed now that she knows the truth about the Knight family.

But I am my father’s son, and while he wronged Mama, Zach has lost his mother to suicide. And what he recently found out has probably had a big bearing on his decision.

What worries me is that there’s so much we don’t know about him. I dread to think what further investigation would uncover about this man’s abhorrent private affairs.

I don’t want to know.

But I am torn. “I’m going to see my mom. I need her wisdom,” I tell him, because for the life of me, this whole topic of giving a kidney is fucking with my head.

Zach nods. “It’s not easy. I couldn’t sleep properly for days, but having Maya …” He pauses, his gaze shifting to the table, a smile on his lips. “Having her around makes everything easier to deal with.”

I’m beginning to find that out for myself.

***

MATTEO

How is it that we’re going on vacation together already? We leave for Europe in a few days’ time, and I find myself looking forward to it. To leaving all the work and personal stress behind.

Every time I look out of my office and see Elizabeth with her back to me, my insides heat up. All I want is to kiss her and wrap my arms around her. Sometimes, it unnerves me, feeling this happy, and then doubts start to creep in. Like I’m expecting something bad to happen.

The truth is, Elizabeth Raven has affected me in a way I’m not prepared for.

Most evenings she stays over at my place.

We’re still planning the trip, but she’s getting restless because I told her I’ll take care of the flights. I told her I can get good deals because I have a lot of air miles. She believed me.

She’s taking care of the hotel in Dubrovnik, because this is where the wedding is taking place. I’ve traveled a lot, but I’ve never been to Croatia, so I’m looking forward to it, but what I’m looking forward to most of all is having time to ourselves. It’ll be for just a few days, but I’m determined to make the most of it. The day after we land, her friend has a pre-wedding event, followed by the wedding the next day. The day after, we’ve made plans to explore the city.

It’s all so rushed and so last minute, but I’m secretly thrilled that she asked me to be her plus one.

We leave work together later one evening and head to my apartment, but to my complete shock, we run into Rio and Enzo. On this occasion our timing sucks so much and I freeze. Because the last thing I need is for them to know Elizabeth and I are together.

We stare at one another in uncomfortable silence, then I'm forced to make introductions, because it would be odd not to.

“Uh …” We exchange looks, my brothers and me, and I’m not sure how to introduce her. “This is Elizabeth.”

“Elizabeth.” Rio reaches for her hand, which she is then forced to offer. The smooth talking charmer.

“Hey.” Enzo nods at her. “Nice to see you again.” His hands are firmly entrenched in his trouser pockets.

“I've heard a lot about you.” Rio's cocky smile makes me want to shake it off his face.

The lying toad. “I don't know what he's talking about,” I say to Elizabeth. “He's just being a typical big brother, trying to get me all riled up.”

“Nice to meet you.” Elizabeth is polite and civil.

“When are you leaving?” Rio asks. I casually texted them last weekend to tell them I was going to visit Mama.

“This weekend,” Enzo announces, like he's proud he remembered the details. “I should be able to come. I'm waiting for confirmation that I can move my meetings to next month.”