Page 95 of Ruthless God

Matteo looked at me for a beat. “It’ll be fine, Luna. Massimo and Elio are wrapping up everything. I’m sure they will be set to fly home soon.”

“I hope so,” I said before I could stop myself.

Matteo didn’t say anything for a beat. Then, “Me too, little sister. Me too.”

I smiled at him before looking down at the menu.

23

LUNA

I didn’t thinkI would be able to take any naps during the day with Massimo gone, but I must be more tired than I thought.

He would be happy to know that. The thought of Massimo being happy with me shouldn’t make me feel this light, but it did. I couldn’t seem to get rid of that eager-to-please disposition from when I had been living at home. But Massimo wasn’t like my family. And I was hoping that would be a good thing.

I walked around the empty house. Though Elena and Lettie had made it their mission to avoid me in the house when they were still working here, I hadn’t realized just how empty anactualempty house was.

The only sounds came from me or the low humming of the airflow when the AC kicked on.

What was I supposed to do?

What did Gulia do with her day? I doubted she actually had a job, considering it was looked down upon in our world for the women to work, but I couldn’t imagine just staying here at this house, day in and day out, waiting for Massimo to come home.

The bell rang out, startling me from my thoughts. I looked around the empty kitchen.

The bell rang again, and even if I couldn’t see the person on the other side, I thought there was a note of impatience that had my heart dropping in fear, which was ridiculous. It wasn’t like anyone could just walk up to this house and ring the doorbell. It was in a gated community.

I didn’t think I had ever heard the bell since I lived here. I didn’t get any visitors, considering I didn’t know anyone here.

I walked over to the front door and peeked through the side window. A familiar man stood in front of the door. Marco.

Massimo’s cousin.

What was he doing here, showing up in the middle of the day? A bad feeling came over me, telling me I shouldn’t let him in when no one save for Luigi was home with me, and even then, I didn’t know where Luigi had wandered off to at the moment.

Marco turned to the side window then, his eyes catching mine. My heart raced, knowing I couldn’t get away by not opening the door for him now.

He would see that as a slight, and the last thing I wanted to do was cause contention between Massimo and any of his men.

I straightened and went to open the door.

We didn’t say anything.

The man was slightly above average build, with dark-brown hair, tan skin, and familiar brown eyes. He had Elio’s eyes.

“Hi,” he greeted with an easy smile.

“Hi,” I said back cautiously.

He laughed; there was something fake about the sound. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

I blinked.

“Massimo’s expecting me. Didn’t he tell you? Is he not home yet?” He shifted on his feet, giving off the vibe of restlessness that I didn’t like.

I hesitated. Surely, if Massimo was expecting company at the house, he would have told me. I knew that. And he would have been here.

But he was still in New York. Why would Massimo set up a meeting with his cousin at his house on this day?

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