Page 68 of Masked Hearts

It feels horrible knowing I sat around the same table as my dick head uncle and had no idea that he was married, or that he was treating his wife so horribly.

“Everything. I’m really sorry, Valerie, we had no idea about any of, I swear. Or at least I didn’t. I can’t speak for my father.”

She rolls her eyes and chuckles. “Don’t worry about it, the fucker got his karma. But back to what you said, nothing happened between Antonio and I, so there’s no reason for you to feel awkward about speaking about him to us or being friends with us. I have no feelings for him,” she reassures me.

It’s not her feelings I’m worried about.

“Yeah, if anything, please overshare. My love life is so boring, I need to live through you two,” Natalia says.

I watch as Valerie shoots Natalia a look before her eyes soften, and she looks at me again.

“What?” I ask.

“Just don’t get too caught up in this life, Theá. We don’t want to see you getting hurt at the end of it.”

“But you should enjoy it while it lasts, just try to not get hurt in the process,” Nat adds with a wink. Valerie rolls her eyes, but laughs, nonetheless.

A girl maybe a few years younger than me knocks on the dressing room door and pops her head in.

“Hey, Amelia,” Natalia says.

“The sound guys are ready for you to do your sound check,” she says, and Nat nods.

“Be out in a sec.” She drinks some more water. “You guys are welcome to stay until I get back.”

“Nah, we’re going to head out. I want Theá to see this from the box to get the full experience.”

“All good, I hope you enjoy the concert. I’ll see you guys after.” Natalia walks over and hugs both of us.

I let my guard down. Maybe they both are being genuine. I can’t help but wonder how it’s so easy for them to just welcome me into friendship, as if we’ve known each other for years.

“Good luck, babe!” Val yells after Natalia as she walks out of the room.

“Let’s head back.” She beams at me and grabs my wrist, rushing to get back to the box in time.

When we arrive back at the hospitality suite, Antonio and Ambrose are joined by a female with long, light-brown hair.

Valerie slows down her steps and redirects us towards the bar. “We’re going to need this if she’s here.”

“Who is she?” I gaze back at the three of them. The woman is stunning, to say the least. Tall, perfectly proportioned, the ideal model type.

“That’s Leila. She’s a model who moves in the same circle as Sel, but they don’t get on, either. She’s been trying to snag a Vitale since their family’s business blew up. A groupie, of sorts. She tends to show up at very inconvenient times.”

“Interesting, I wonder why.” I raise a brow as her hand lands on Antonio’s shoulder.

“The same reason half of the female population does—they’re good-looking and rich. But I wouldn’t worry too much; the boys just about tolerate her. She’s the real problem. She never really knows how to take a hint or a blatant no as an answer.”

“Hmm, great.”

An uneasy feeling settles in my gut. She looks like the ideal type of woman any of the boys would love to be seen with. Any man would, so I’m surprised to know none of them have ever entertained it.

The bartender hands Valerie a Negroni Sbagliato and then passes me my Aperol Spritz. “Are you two beautiful ladies here alone?”

Valerie tenses up and my eyes shift between her and the bartender.

“Do you like this job?” I hear Ambrose’s voice boom, and both the bartender and I jump at his sudden appearance.

“Ye-yes, Mr. Vitale,” the bartender stutters out.

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