Page 126 of Masked Hearts

His eyes shut, and he laughs. “Of course.”

“What?”

“Kaia is Ambrose’s ex-girlfriend and a family friend,” he says, and a broad smile spreads on his face. “I really owe Mattia my life.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask as confusion takes over me. Everything I thought I knew is starting to feel more and more like a lie.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but all I know is I think my brothers had a hand in all of this. Much like yours did.”

“That’s just the thing,” I start. “If both of them had this plan, how did you end up with Kylian and my father capturing you? How did they know we left? Pierre said something about the receptionist of the building, but I don’t buy it,” I say as the drinks arrive.

His eyes meet mine, and he runs a hand through his curls before he grabs one of my hands on the table. “They texted me from Valerie’s number, pretending to be her and claiming someone had kidnapped Ambrose, that they were coming for her next. Then they called me from her number, too, and told me I needed to pay for constantly disobeying them.”

“I swear I didn’t know what they had planned. I know it probably looks like I did, but I swear I would never—”

“I know,tesoro.It was Eleanor,” he says.

I freeze before I burst out laughing. “What? No? Eleanor would never she…” I trail off as realisation sets in. “Thatfucking bitch,” I whisper the end.

“I swear when she was calling, I just thought she was a concerned friend, not a rat for my dad.” I pull my hand back and drop my head into my hands.

“You don’t have to say it. I know,” he reassures me.

“Were they…you know…together?” I can’t bring myself to say it, too repulsed by the thought of it.

When I peek out from behind my hands, Antonio is offering me a sad smile.

Pieces start falling into place so quickly. Pieces I didn’t even realise were out of place. Every single time I got into trouble for something, it had been something I also told Eleanor about.

“It doesn’t matter, all that matters is you're alive. We’re alive and together,” he says.

I can’t bring myself to agree. The only emotion I feel right now is overwhelming guilt. This is all my fault; everything is my fault.

“What did they do to you?” I ask.

“That doesn’t matter, Theá.” He sighs.

“Yes it does. Tell me.”

“No,” he says firmly. “You’ll just think it’s your fault. I’m fine. I’m the one who owes you an apology for leaving you. I need you to understand that I might’ve left for her, but every single second after I left, I regretted leaving you. I’ve spent the last couple of months praying for a chance to see you again.”

My mouth falls open, stunned by his apology. The anger slowly dissipates as I stare into his pale eyes, noticing just how tired he looks. “I accept your apology, Antonio, but please tell me what they did to you,” I beg. He shut his eyes quickly before staring at his hands.

“Two broken ribs, four more fractured. One punctured my lung, and if I was with him any longer, I would’ve died. My nose was broken to the point they had to reconstruct it, a fracture in my cheek, and I was in an induced coma for a week.”

A gasp leaves my lips as tears fill my eyes, hearing how much of a beating he took all because of me. Every single ounce of pain he felt was because of me. I did this.

“Theá, listen to me. This is not your fault. It’s mine. I could’ve handled the entire situation better. I will live with this regret for the rest of my life, because I know I made you feel exactly how he made you feel all those years. It’s not your fault.”

“Yes it is. I don’t deserve this, I don’t deserve you. Or any of this. I especially don’t deserve your forgiveness and trust after what I did. I’m so sorry.”

“Theá, please stop apologising. We both made mistakes, okay?”

“I just need you to know I’m sorry for it. I never meant for you to get caught in the crossfire of it all.”

“Why can’t you see that none of this was your fault? I knew what I was getting myself into when I booked that trip. There was always a chance that they would find out. I can’t blame you for what your friend or brother did. I’m the one who should've known better. You didn’t deserve to wake up to an empty bed when I left in the middle of the night for another woman, after I promised I’d always put you first.”

“She’s one of your best friends, and you thought they had your brother, too. I’ve had more than enough time to realise that’s where the concern stemmed from. You would’ve done it for any of them.”

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