“But she can’t hide forever. You need to talk to her, Matteo. Find out her plans. Either she stands at your side, or she becomes a liability we can’t afford right now.”
What the fuck?
I swallowed hard.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
“Michele is right,” Nicco said, pinning me with a hard look. “You need to talk to her and find out her next move.”
“And if she won’t agree to stand at my side… what then?”
Nicco’s expression guttered, and I had my answer. Caitlin was either all in on our side, or she wasn’t.
Fuck.
“She’s a liability, Matt. Until this thing with DiMarco is over, Caitlin cannot be allowed to leave.”
“Right, yeah.” My throat was dry, my head spinning.
“And if DiMarco is getting into bed with the Lombardi?” Enzo asked the question we all dreaded.
Nicco inhaled a deep breath, his eyes devoid of emotion as he embodied his father and became the boss.
“Then we prepare to go to war.”
“Are you sure this is okay?” Bella asked from beside me. She’d barely sat still for the entire ride. It was the morning after the meeting with my cousins and uncles, and I couldn’t stay away from the cabin for a second longer.
“I thought you wanted to meet her.” I glanced at her.
“I do… I mean, any girl who has managed to catch your eye is a girl I want to meet. I need to make sure she passes the test.”
“The test?”
“Yeah.” She snickered, keeping her eyes focused on the scenery rolling by. “The ‘is she good enough for my brother’ test.”
“Jesus, Bella,” I murmured under my breath.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. But when Nicco and my uncles had suggested I talk to Caitlin, to try to find out what her plans were, my mind immediately went to all the reasons she had to leave. To walk away from me and never look back.
They wouldn’t allow that though. Caitlin knew too much, making her a risk they couldn’t afford. They wanted her to stay to protect our secrets, but I didn’t want that. I wanted her to stay because she chose me.
So I’d brought ammunition in the form of my gorgeous, compassionate, slightly over-protective sister.
Arabella charmed everyone she met, and I had no doubt Caitlin wouldn’t be able to resist her wiles. But it wasn’t only about me. I knew Cait had to be feeling lonely stuck out in the cabin. Having another girl around might help her relax for the conversation we could no longer avoid.
“Ready?” I said, pulling up outside the cabin.
“Hell yes. I want to meet my future sister-in-law.”
“What the—”
She exploded with laughter. “Oh God, you should see your face. I’m joking, Matt. But it’s good to know just how serious you are about her.”
You have no idea.
I ran a hand down my face, letting out a strained breath.
This was totally a bad idea.
But it was too late now.
Chapter 17
Caitlin
Luis answered the door and smiled. “Well, this is a surprise.”
My brows knitted as I watched him step aside and welcome Matteo, and a young girl who shared his eyes and smile. Her hair was darker though, falling over her shoulders like a waterfall, and she had a vulnerability about her.
Arabella.
This was his sister, Arabella.
“Hey.” Matteo dipped his head. “I thought you might appreciate some female company.”
“Hello, I’m Arabella, but you can call me Bella. Matteo’s told me all about you.”
“He has, has he?” I fought a smile.
“No.” She chuckled. “It’s like getting blood from a stone. But it’s really nice to finally meet you.”
I glanced between them, surprised at the slight flush to Matteo’s cheeks.
He’d told her about me?
“Don’t worry,” he said as if sensing my sudden discomfort. “I only told her the basics.”
Right, and what are those? I wanted to ask. But I rolled my lips together, unsure of what to say. I’d imagined what it would be like to meet his family and get to know those closest to him. But now his sister—his younger sister—was standing there, staring at me, and nothing about this felt right.
I couldn’t get to know his sister. What if I liked her? What if we hit it off? It would only be another tether tying me to him. To Verona. I didn’t need any more reasons to want to stay here.
Family, love… hope, those things made you weak. And I had no room for weakness, not if I was going to survive the coming weeks.
I’d spent my life running from my past. Trying to escape a family who only ever wanted to hurt me. To use and exploit me. I couldn’t risk being found out. No matter how much it meant to me that Matteo was there for me. That he and his family had taken me in and protected me.
“You’re very pretty,” Arabella said, breaking the tension between me and her brother. “I love your hair.”
“Thank you.” My fingers went to my curls, pushing them away from my face. “I—”
“What’s that?” Her eyes flicked to the puzzle laid out on the coffee table. With Matteo’s help, it was well over halfway completed now.
“Just something to pass the time,” I said.
“I like puzzles. Can I help?”
“Sure.” I motioned for her to go ahead and she sat down and began studying the pieces.
“I’ll get us all something to drink.”
“I’ll help,” I blurted out, following Matteo into the kitchen.
“Is this okay?” he asked quietly.
“I… you should have texted first.”
“Would you have said yes?” His brow lifted.
He had a point.
I wouldn’t have.
“Look. She’s harmless. She just wanted to meet the woman I—” Matteo stopped himself and my breath caught.
I didn’t think I’d ever wanted to hear words as much as I wanted to hear the ones trapped between his perfect lips.
Heat splashed inside me as I remembered how good it felt to kiss him, to have him kiss me.
“Caitlin?”
Blinking over at him, I shook the unwelcome thoughts out. “Sorry, it’s fine. She seems… sweet.”
“She is. But don’t be fooled by her charm. She has a way of getting under your skin and tricking you into revealing all your deepest, darkest secrets.”
I flinched at his words, and Matteo’s brow knitted. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I… beer?”
“Sure, one won’t hurt. Is there soda or juice for Bella?”
“Yes, I’ll be right over.” I dismissed him. I needed space. Room to quiet my beating heart.
Being around Matteo was like being close to the sun. You craved the warmth, the seductive feel of its rays, the addictive rush of endorphins. But if you stayed too long, got too close, you risked getting burned.
And I’d been burned one too many times before.
I grabbed their drinks and made my way over to them.