Page 91 of Sinner's Vows

“First, I’m going to end the fucker in the room next door.”

“Good. Vincenzo Trapani has outstayed his welcome,” Matteo says with an approving nod. “And then? You’re off to Italy?”

“As soon as the jet is ready, we’re leaving.”

“You know Steph is taking Gigi and Carla tomorrow.”

“I’m not waiting. The jet can fly back for them. Let’s put some miles on that money drain.”

Matteo chuckles, but it’s dry. “I don’t like you going alone. Take Luca with you.”

I knew he’d say something like this. But here’s the thing: I don’t want any of my brothers with me on this mission. I want to be alone with Ariana because who knows what’s going to happen in Italy, and I need time to let go, not a fucking audience.

The thought twists my gut, but I keep my poker face in check. “Not a good idea. Let’s not have our identical twins prance around the Cosa Nostra’s hideouts in Italy.”

“Benedict, then,” he counters.

“He’s working on the back end.” In fact, I know it’s still early, but he hasn’t come back to me with results on Ariana’s fingerprints yet.

“Holy fuck.” Matteo leans back in his seat, and from the glint in his eyes, it’s clear the espresso has kicked in. “You want to be alone with her.”

Jesus. Am I so fucking easy to read? I bite down on my jaw as his expression turns from realization to something I can’t place. Is thatsmugness?

“You’re fucking smitten,” he murmurs, and raises his cup in a mock toast.

Am I?Smitten?

“Who wants to be alone with whom?”

We both look up at where Tasha, in a silky white robe, pads closer. She’s barefoot and sneaked up on us. Bet she learned a thing or two from Matteo when it comes to that.

“Sorry,” she says, sleep still thick in her voice. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

“It’s okay, kitten.” Matteo hugs his wife to him. “Nicky just came over to let me know he’s taking Ariana back to Italy today.”

“What?” She eases back from his embrace to look him in the eye, and then back at me. “So soon? How’s her bullet wound doing? I haven’t had time to check in on her. We haven’t even had time to talk…to get to know each other.”

And that’s probably for the better.

“We’re trying to figure out where Gabriella is,” Matteo says. “She knows someone who might know, and we don’t want to waste time.”

“Yes, I get that, but really, I’d hoped—with Gigi and Carla?—”

Matteo’s hand slides down from her side to just below her hip, where he gives her a forgive-me squeeze on the butt. “She’ll be back.”

He doesn’t look anybody in the eye when he says that, and prickles of premonition spread underneath my skin. He still has plans for Ariana with this Petrov fuck-up. Over my dead body will I hand her over to the fucking Bratva.

When Matteo stands, Tasha shifts to make space for him, and when he tilts her head up to kiss her, I have to look away, jealousy biting around in my insides. A burden? Neither Tashanor Gigi are burdens. The change in Matteo and Steph attest to that. Fuck, talk about a mind shift that snuck up on me. I’d do anything to be the exact opposite of what the Don was. In fact, I’ll welcome the burden of keeping these women safe with open arms just to give him one finalfuck you.

“Go back to bed, kitten, I’ll bring you a coffee. We have some business to wrap up.”

Tasha shoots me a reprimanding glance, then rolls her eyes at Matteo. I almost choke on my last sip of espresso at the audacity she has to do just that and how he’s taking it so meekly. Hook, line, and sinker. Matteo is a fucking goner for this woman.

It’s quiet between us as we wait for their bedroom door to close on the second floor, and in this time, Matteo studies me.

“You have security lined up on that side?”

“Yep. I already set everything in motion this morning. I’m using the same team we used for your trip.” And I know some of the men personally, so I’m not worried at all.

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