Page 100 of Matteo
“I rather think it’s something else that’s making your head spin,” I bit out, but then immediately eased my sharp tone with a smile. It wasn’t my twin’s fault I was green with jealousy.
“Are you happy for me, sister?” Hannah questioned, falling into me. I hugged her tight, that familiar sense of belonging washing over me. She was my twin, my other half. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—be the one to break her heart. “My two favorite people in the world. Matteo and Arianna.”
The foul taste of guilt was heavy on my tongue.
“And what the fuck are our brothers and me?” Gianna spat. “Chopped liver?”
“Well…” Hannah smiled drunkenly, but then as if she forgot about her and our brothers, she turned to look at me. “You like him too, don’t you? I can’t have you two not like each other.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat, but before I could think of an answer, Uncle Luca showed up.
“Hey, kiddo.” He pulled me into a hug. “Glad you’re back. Your dad wants to talk to you in Luciano’s office.”
“Umm, I have to take my bags upstairs.”
“I got them,” Hannah slurred, shoving me in the direction of the office. “Go give our dad your blessing.”
With a grimace, I turned around and came face-to-face with Skye’s compassionate eyes. “Good luck. That room is like a ticking time bomb.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Thanks. Any chance you have a gun?”
Her eyes fell to my shirt, then darted behind me to my brothers’ shirts. “Probably best that you go without it. If they piss you off, rob them blind afterward.”
She winked and then disappeared into the crowd.
I puffed out my chest, squared my shoulders, and nodded once. “Let’s go.”
The scene awaiting me in the office would scare a normal girl.
Lucky for me, I was far from normal.
I’d grown up around these men, and much like my own dad, they’d always been there for me and my siblings.
“So we’re doing this with all your mates as witnesses, Dad?”
Sasha Nikolaev broke the tension. Sort of. “I’m here as your future something-in-law.”
My brows furrowed and I glared at Dad. “I swear to God, if you arranged?—”
“I didn’t,” he assured me quickly. “I promised all three of you I’d give you a choice.”
“Nikola is Arianna’s choice, isn’t he?” Sasha egged on, smiling. “You can call me Uncle Sasha, just like you did when you were a kid. Come sit with your uncle, kiddo.” He paused, his own brows furrowing. “Well, that sounded a bit wrong.”
“Something’s seriously wrong with you,” Uncle Luca muttered. “You’re losing your touch, dude. Instead of being funny and annoying, you sound perverted and twisted.”
Sasha’s face turned somber.
“Yeah, I didn’t like the sound of it either.” Dad and I sighed, pinching our noses, and Sasha’s face lit up as he wagged a finger between our identical expressions. “Well, would you look at that! Like father, like daughter. So damn cute.” Dad gave him a look like he wanted to kill him. “Come in, kiddo, and forget the first half of the conversation. I’ll just be your uncle-in-law.”
“Over my dead body,” Dad muttered.
“Arrangeable,” Sasha deadpanned while I glanced over my shoulder, eyeing the exit longingly.
“No sense in running,” Uncle Luca said, winking discreetly. “Ignore those old fuckers, and don’t worry, I got your back.”
“Uh-huh.”
I walked deeper into the room and took a seat in an empty chair, then crossed my legs.
