Page 102 of Isabella

Enzo’s knee begins to bounce, and I can feel the nervousness wafting off him.

Bringing my attention back to Matteo, I say, “My dad and I don’t have the best relationship. We never have. That’s why he sent me to Sicily. He knew I was seeing someone and that she was distracting me from my duties to the family.”

Matteo and Enzo exchange a quick glance. “He knew you were seeing Isabella?” Matteo asks.

“No, he didn’t knowwhoI was seeing, just that there was someone I deemed more important in my life than my responsibilities as his heir. That didn’t settle well with him, and so he threatened me. He said if I didn’t get it together, he would get rid of the problem. I knew Isabella’s identity wasn’t compromised because my dad would’ve killed her had he known.”

Enzo’s elbow digs into the armrest as he braces his chin in his hand, still shaking that leg of his.

“That’s why I knew I had to do what I did,” I say. “I had to leave her so he wouldn’t figure out who I was seeing. Cutting Isabella completely out of my life was the only way to keep her safe. My dad was going to have my every move watched until he felt confident I wasn’t hiding anything from him.”

Running my hand over my mouth, I let out a sigh. “I don’t agree with how my dad runs the family, and I don’t have the same fucked-up morals he does.”

My heart begins to beat heavily in my chest, doing its best to pump the blood through my body. “I know how it feels to lose a parent. I would never wish that upon anyone, especially not the woman I love.”

Matteo’s stare bores into me as he repeats the word. “Love.” He’s silent for a few moments before saying, “You’re in love with my sister.”

“Yes, and she’s in love with me too.”

Matteo brings his attention to his brother and narrows his gaze on him. “Why are you so quiet over there?”

Enzo steals a glance at me before straightening his spine, sitting up taller in his seat. He clears his throat and says, “What do you mean?”

Oh shit.

“You should’ve had an outburst by now. You hate Niccolò just as much as I do, but he comes in here, proclaims his love for our sister, and you just sit there with your damn leg bouncing up and down?”

Matteo glances between the two of us before his eyes widen slightly and says, “Wait a fucking minute.”

Enzo holds up his hand to his brother as if he’s trying to calm the beast. “Teo…” He draws it out like he’s testing the waters.

Matteo’s nostrils flare and the vein on the side of his forehead has gotten substantially larger. “Enzo, please explain to me why thefuckyou aren’t as surprised by all of this as I am.”

“Okay, listen, Teo?—”

“Oh, I’m fucking listening.”

“First of all, I know what I’m about to say is going to piss you off, but I’m going to need you to not freak the fuck out about it.”

“Enzo…” he says in warning.

“I may or may not have known about these two frolicking around behind our backs a week or so ago.”

Matteo clenches his jaw, and I suddenly feel like I may not be the most hated person in the room.

He snaps his gaze to me, and the burning fire in his eyes is prominent before he slides it back to Enzo.

Strike that, still the most hated person in the room.

“How did you find out about them, and better question, why thehelldidn’t you tell me about it?”

With a tilt of his head, Enzo says, “I really don’t think you want me to answer that.”

“Enzo,” Matteo grunts out.

Holding his hands up to Matteo, he says, “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Enzo glances at me for a second, and I already know this will not end well. For either of us.

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