Page 135 of Vicious Intentions
My turbulent thoughts are interrupted by the swing of my bedroom door.
“God, haven’t you had enough for one night?” I mumble, already knowing who’s entered the room.
I don’t need to open my eyes to know it’s Matteo. And it’s not because his rich, earthy cologne follows him everywhere he goes, or because my ears have already memorized the sound of his sure footsteps. No. It’s the way my body always goes on high alert the moment he’s within reach.
“I brought you these,” he says ever so softly.
My eyelids flutter open as I turn my head in his direction, only to find a stack of first-edition books now stacked neatly on the dresser.
“Can acapobe killed with a million papercuts? Shall I use the pages in those books and find out?”
“You could try,” he says with a smile, shoving his hands into his pockets.
God, I hate his smile. It makes him look softer. Kinder. But it’s just another one of his lies. Another useful tool he likes to pull out of his manipulation toolkit.
As he stands there, studying every inch of my face, I turn my gaze to the ceiling, depriving him of his favorite pastime.
“If you’re waiting for a thank you, then this will be a long night.” I sigh.
I still feel him studying me when he says, “I’m about to meet your father. Do you even know which one I’m talking about?” I don’t respond. “No matter,” he continues. “All three will be in attendance. I assume Marcello, too. Maybe even Jude. Possibly Stella.”
A flicker of fear rises in my chest at the thought of them being anywhere near Matteo. He may pretend to be something he’s not with me, but I doubt he’ll extend them the samecourtesy. Matteo won’t be kind or gentle. He’ll be aCosa Nostra capo. A nightmare incarnate.
Just the thought of my fathers and siblings being in danger has me pushing off the bed and standing straight to face my captor.
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask outright.
“Would you prefer I kept you clueless?” I shake my head.
No. I’ve been clueless for long enough.
“That’s what I thought,” he says, taking a step closer to me.
“Why are you meeting them?”
“To set my terms, why else?” he says, taking another step closer. “You look worried.”
“Wouldn’t you be?” I spit out.
Matteo shrugs unapologetically as he eats the remaining distance between us. When he gently hooks a finger under my chin and tilts my face up to his, it takes everything not to flinch away. It takes even more not to melt into him.
“What if I told you that you alone had the power to dictate the outcome of my conversation with your family tonight?”
“I don’t understand. How?”
He smiles at me, though I see a flicker of insecurity behind his eyes. It’s quick and fleeting, but I see it just the same.
“How, Matteo?” I repeat when he refuses to give me an answer.
“I can ensure no harm ever comes to them. I can make sure that whoever shows up for tonight’s meeting leaves unharmed. I won’t lay a single hand on them.”
“You would do that? For me?” He nods, and as much as I search his eyes for a lie, I don’t find one. Not a single trace. “Why would you do that? Wasn’t the whole point of kidnapping me to pick a fight with my father? To start a war?” When he doesn’t respond, misery lingering in his dark eyes, another possibility forms in my mind. “Or was this just about getting back at myfamily? To get even with the Outfit… because of what happened to your brother?”
“They killed my brother. I took their daughter. We’re nowhere near even.”
The cold way in which he says those words makes me miss the kinder side he puts on display for me.
“Don’t hurt them, Matteo. Please,” I beg, placing my palms on his chest.
