Page 119 of Matteo
“That’s him,” one of the college boys yelled.
“He attacked him unprovoked,” another shouted.
“That’s not technically true,” I said, shaking my head frantically.
“Put the gun down.” The police officer’s order echoed through the air. “Final warning.”
“Do what they say,” I breathed quietly to Matteo, scared to see him shot dead in front of me.
“Arianna, stop touching the bastard,” Gabriel said in a quiet tone. I blinked. I’d completely forgotten I was shielding Brian’s body. I pushed away from him and stood up, putting distance between us.
It was only then that Matteo lowered his weapon, his eyes never leaving me.
“A slight lover’s quarrel, officers. All good,” said Gabriel.
But the officers were already on Matteo, reading him his rights as they placed cuffs on his wrists while another officer rushed to Brian’s side to help him to his feet.
Francesca strode to me, looking disapprovingly at her handcuffed brother who didn’t seem perturbed at all.
“This isn’t going to end well,” she said, breezing to my side.
“I don’t imagine it will. Your brother’s in handcuffs.”
She shrugged, shooting me a pointed look. “He’ll be okay, I’m sure. Besides, he seems more concerned with staring you down.”
I opened my mouth to explain—to say what, I didn’t know—when the rest of the girls crowded around me. I returned my attention to Gabriel and Matteo, who were speaking in hushed tones.
“Did he think you were Hannah?” Anya asked.
Penelope rolled her eyes. “I sincerely doubt that.”
“Hannah shouldn’t have invited those guys in the first place,” Skye signed. “Clearly they don’t understand boundaries.”
“Agreed,” Amara grumbled.
The police officer led Brian over and I winced at the state of his bruised face.
“Hey.” He walked over to me, attempting a grimace of a smile. “Thanks for… you know.”
Matteo pushed against the police officer, his hands still cuffed in front of him, and got into Brian’s face, glaring at him. “Don’t ever,ever, talk to her again. Don’t even fucking look at her. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Mr. Vitale, are you threatening him?” the officer asked.
“Not at all, officer.” Gabriel played the diplomat while Matteo’s gaze, narrowed at the edges, found mine, hard and intimidating.
“Any man who touches this woman will answer to me.” Matteo’s voice was cold, but his gaze burned me hotter than the pits of hell. “And that’s a threat and a promise.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
MATTEO
It’d been a long day, and I knew it would be an even longer night.
Arianna’s statement that Brian started the fight combined with my father’s and Gabriel’s efforts had convinced the preppy college boy to drop all charges.
I was free to go.
Yet, the fury I felt at that prick who thought he could touch my woman still simmered under my skin. The way Ari looked in the bikini and fuck-me heels, laughing and smiling.At.Another.Man. Maybe I was sick, too possessive, but I didn’t want her smiling at anybody else. I wanted all her smiles, all her tears, and all her words to belong to me.
