Page 37 of Various Intentions
“Just one punch?”
Matteo shrugged.
“Oh my God, Matteo.” I put a shaking hand to my forehead. I didn’t give a damn about Zarah’s husband, but I didn’t want Matteo to get into trouble.
“Zarah’s pregnant,” he said.
Chapter Six
“What? Jesus.” I took that in. “Is it his?”
Matteo looked at me like I was from another planet. “Yes.”
I held up my hand to apologize in silence for the question.
Vincent watched the exchange, his face appearing paler by the second. He chewed his lip.
“Is she…don’t get mad, but…is she going to keep it?” I asked, my eyes down, my voice hushed.
Matteo sighed. “She doesn’t know yet.”
I nodded, then sat down, not sure what to say. Matteo took the seat next to me.
“I thought you were going to be late,” I said.
“I don’t care anymore,” Matteo replied.
I nodded again. “Well, what the fuck are we going to do, Matteo?”
“This has nothing to do with you and Vincent. It’smymess.”
I couldn’t contain my outrage. I glared at Matteo. “It’sourmess! We are partners—you and Vincent and me. We are a family. And Zarah’s part of this family. This affects all of us.”
“But you shouldn’t have to deal withanyof this.”
I shifted in my seat, the anger receding as quickly as it had gathered. I stared at the table, then my eyes landed on Matteo’s beat-up knuckles. The blood had scabbed and the cuts didn’t look too bad.
Still…
I reached out and took his hand, smoothing my thumb over the unbroken skin near the cuts. “You could have been hurt,” I said, my voice shaky. “He could have had a gun. Matteo. I—”
He squeezed my fingers. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Vincent wrapped his hand around ours, careful not to touch the sore spots on Matteo’s knuckles.
“What if he presses charges?” I said, the fear sitting like a lump in my stomach. “Did he defend himself?”
The corner of Matteo’s mouth quirked but then he sobered. “He tried.”
“Oh fuck. You didn’t maim him, did you?” I was pretty sure Matteo would never be that cruel, even to a lowlife who had mistreated his daughter. Then again, I’d assumed Matteo had no family of his own before us, and I’d been wrong about that.
“No, Nic, I’m not an animal. I just wanted him to know what would happen if he ever came near Zarah again…or the baby, which he doesn’t even know about and hopefully won’t find out about.” He squeezed my hand, hard. “Thank you. And I’m sorry.”
“Never mind. Where is Zarah now? Is she somewhere safe?”
“Yes. She’s at a friend’s place. A friend who owns a rotty and a pit bull.”
“Oh. That’s good.” I glanced at Vincent. “Maybeweshould get a pit bull.”
