Page 7 of Chasing Hope

The door closes and before I can register what he said, I watch out his front windshield as Matteo strides toward the elevator, murder gleaming along his features as he steps inside.

Chapter 3

Matteo

MATTEO

bail me out if I get arrested?

ELLINGTON

always

as if you’d even have to ask

Ididn’t particularly think this through and that’s proven as I stop outside Evie’s apartment and realize I didn’t get a key from her. The only thing that was going through my mind like a broken record was,I’m going to fucking kill him.

Hard to think about anything else after seeing Evie so broken.

And so cryptic.

What did she mean they knew? Knew what? The reason she’s been avoiding everyone for close to a year?

I’ll just tell Ellington I did what I’m about to do because I knew he would want me to. I certainly can’t tell him it’s because his little sister has been the only woman to ever make my heart stop beating.

“What a shame about the key. I’ll just have tokick his door down.”

Stepping back, with the mental image of Evie downstairscrying, it feels almost easy to lift my leg and send it careening into the door. The sound it makes as it’s flung open, wood splintering and smashing into another object, is music to my ears.

Especially as a scream fills the living room.

My lip curls back in a sneer as I step inside and watch Felicity scramble up and off the couch, using a pillow to cover herself. Not like I’d look anyways. I don’t usually find women other than Evie attractive. It’s honestly a problem, one a therapist would no doubt love to pick at to understand.

“What the fuck?” Carter bellows, the veins in his neck throbbing.

“I see getting caught didn’t slow you down,” I say dryly, leaning against the doorframe, crossing my arms and not allowing a flicker of emotion pass over my face.

I know it can be menacing to appear angry, but it’s nowhere near as intimidating as a six-foot-five, stone-cold man.

The ice king.

I’ve been told all my life I’m heartless, grumpy, moody, a bastard. I’ve never admitted to anyone that I hate the labels, that I’m nothing of the sort. Grumpy, perhaps, but I’m not heartless. I’ve just had to protect my feelings, and the best way to do that is to not give a hint of the torment of emotions swirling through me.

I’ve never liked being told I’m intimidating until now.

I’d love nothing more than to watch Carter piss himself.

“Get the fuck out of my apartment,” Carter yells, running around the living room trying to cover up his tiny dick.

“No idea why any woman would ever throw away a longtime friendship over a dick that size but here we are.”

Carter’s jaw drops as Felicity gasps, genuinely looking offended. Taking a slow step toward me, something glitters out and dies in his gaze.

Gotcha, bastard.

“What the fuck did you just say to me?”

Squinting, I pretend to be searching as he slowly closes in on me. “Quick question before you come any closer, have you brushed your teeth today? Or did you forget because Evie wasn’t around to remind you?”