Page 4 of Matteo
“I do.” They weren’t permitted on campus, but I kept them secure in my Range Rover’s built-in safe for emergencies like this. “And I think one of your shirts is still in the back seat.” I gave him an impatient once-over. “Put it on.”
He rolled his eyes. “Is that a requirement to rescue the girls?”
Nikola, who’d been working on his postgraduate studies, had this thing for going around shirtless or wearing muscle shirts, and while I didn’t give a shit what he did while on this campus, it would draw unwanted attention at Yale.
“Yes,” I gritted.
“Fine, fine.” His expression sombered, but there was a hint of excitement in his voice. The guy could be restless to the point of stirring trouble, much like his uncle Sasha.
“Let’s just stick to fucking him up before he gets anywhere near my sister and Ari,” I muttered, pressing the unlock button on my fob.
Hannah appeared as I was pulling the driver’s side door open, her face deathly pale.
“Must have gotten the same alert,” Nikola echoed my thoughts, making his way to the other side of the car.
“Are you going to Yale?” she puffed out, and I noticed the flush on her cheeks and throat. She must’ve run here. I nodded and buckled myself in as Nikola slid into the passenger seat. Before I could shut my door, she added, “I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not,” I clipped.
“My sister is there too.”
Arianna Carter Morrelli.
The girl who, on my eighth birthday, kicked me in the balls and then broke my nose. The girl who could be so fucking sweet that I forgave her before our parents came rushing over at the sound of the commotion. As a thank-you for not ratting her out, she baked me cookies—Nutella, of course—and ate them with me, dipping them into ice cream while we watchedThe Polar Express.
In fucking October.
“I can’t have you hysterical,” I growled. “Stay here.”
But she was already opening the back door and sliding in. “I’m coming whether you like it or not, Matt.”
I fucking hated that nickname. The moment I came up with a nickname for Ari, Hannah had started calling me Matt. I've resented her for it ever since.
“Go sit tight with Penelope, Amara, and Skye,” I barked, hoping she’d take my advice and sit this one out with her dorm suitemates. “I can’t afford to have you distracting us with your theatrics while we handle this.”
She jutted her chin. “I’ll follow you in my own vehicle otherwise, and you know damn well my driving skills are… not as sophisticated as yours.”
Nikola shot me an exasperated look before glaring at Hannah over his shoulder.
“Just drive. This one’s like a mosquito. You can swat at her with all you got, but you’ll be no closer to getting rid of her.”
I swallowed my retort and slammed my door, my tires screeching as I sped from the parking lot. In the rearview, I caught Hannah flipping Nikola off.
“I don’t want you attracting attention when we get there, Hannah.” While Arianna was the sensible one, this twin had a flavor of theatrics to her personality. It drove me fucking nuts. “Why are you on D’Arc campus anyhow? You’re not taking any classes.”
She shrugged, pressing her lips tightly. I knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t spill.
A car cut me off as I turned at the intersection, and I pounded on the steering wheel, blasting the horn at the asshole.
“Learn how to drive, fucker!” Nikola yelled out the window.
“Nikola, hack into Yale’s cameras,” I barked, interrupting his glaring at the other vehicle. He fished out his phone and got right to work while I wished the Morrelli twins were here.
As if she’d heard my thoughts, Hannah chimed in, “I could ask my brothers to?—”
“No,” I cut her off, although her twin brothers were some of the best hackers we knew. “Besides, if I got a text, so did they.”Probably.
She pushed a frustrated hand through her hair, turning it into a wild mess.
