Page 74 of Inside the Sun

And there he was. A seemingly insignificant guy. A stranger, yet a breath of fresh air. A small distraction I desperately needed.

And there was this strange electric touch! If I were silly, I could interpret it as a True Mate’s First Touch, but let’s be serious. We’re both alphas, and I’m a weird one at that…

The door creaks open.

Matteo appears in the frame.

"Dinner," he announces, flat as ever.

Ever since he snitched on me to Anzo, I haven’t given the bastard so much as a glance. Piece of shit. I follow him down the stairs to that cursed dining room, where we all sit like some zombie portrait.

But Anzo’s not here tonight. He doesn’t eat with us every time, probably too busy with shady business deals to keep the domestic ‘family dinner’ tradition super regular.

Instead, there’s someone else at the table.

Another man, an omega.

He looks… like a younger version of Anzo, like his fucking twin.

Same slicked-back black hair, though his is tied in a low ponytail, while Anzo wears his short. Same sharp suit, same cold, unreadable face. Another one of those blank, statuesque expressions everybody has around here.

They’re chatting about some real estate on the coast they’re thinking of buying, all business.

Then it becomes clear. I remember something I read on that blogThe Truth Only I Know: Anzo has five nephews. I already met the four from his brother Paolo. But there’s a fifth one. The only son of his older brother, Tito.

His name is Ennio, thirty-four, handles the Ferro family's real estate and construction investments. I remember the blog saying he’s illegitimate. Grew up with his dad’s side of the family—the guy was the husband of one of Ferro’s soldiers. However, Ennio was a cuckoo in the nest and was treated badly. So Anzo took him in as a teenager and groomed him to work for the ‘family’. Whatever the hell that euphemism even means.

Ennio gives off the typical here, detached energy. Similar to Anzo’s, but more corporate, formal. Like a CEO who doesn’t care if you live or die as long as the numbers line up.

He glances at me once, just once, with his completely black eyes, unreadable. Then back to talking with Rocco.

While I eat, without Anzo here, I can actually take a good look around. Luca’s staring at me. Not with hunger or hatred, just something… clinical. Like he's studying me.

What the fuck is that about? I haven’t really dealt with him much, and maybe that’s for the best. He’s a purple alpha, and those guys are messed up. I would know. My dealings with my brother, Storm, were always… intense!

Everyone else is just zoning out at their plates. Eliano and Mauro chew slowly, like zombies over a rat’s carcass. Though to be fair, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them wear any expression that isn’t screaming ‘severely depressed’.

Rocco and Ennio keep talking and talking. Still boring stuff. Market prices, state law, some new regulations in the construction department. Luca adds a word here and there.

I finish eating and stand up as soon as I can. I can’t take another minute at that table. It’s like eating in a morgue.

Yesterday, Anzo gave me the code to the garden doors, so I’m allowed to leave my damn prison now. But that also means I sometimes run into the other weirdos living here.

Once, I passed Mauro in the hallway. No reaction. He looked creepy, like a programmed android. Another time, I crossed the main room, what they call a ‘living room’, though it’s more like a cathedral-sized salon, and saw Eliano. No reaction too. The house of the dead, as I said.

I guess they both live here full-time? Strange. Shouldn’t Eliano be in college? He’s the right age for it. And Mauro’s clearly old enough to have moved out.

Sometimes I wonder if they’re prisoners too. I’ve only ever seen Luca and Rocco leave the fortress. Is it possible the other two brothers are locked in here permanently?

As of today, Matteo doesn't have to show up to escort me anymore, which is a huge relief. I can just use code.

When I get up and head toward the door, Summer stands up too and walks out. Naturally, we end up going down the hallway together.

I’m not sure if I should say anything, but once we’re out of earshot of anyone still in the banquet hall, something slips out of me before I can stop it:

"With your power, you could escape."

Wow. Way to subtly ease into the conversation.

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