Page 48 of Matteo
“Sure, I promise.”
She glanced around, although there was nobody else here. The girls were out shopping, and probably wreaking havoc at the stores.
“I asked Matteo to put out a widespread hands-off law around campus,” she whispered. “Anyone who dared to touch you or me”—she paused for a moment, eyes sharp—“would have to answer to him. Of course, so did our brothers, but remember when you got those tickets to see the season premiere ofBridgertonon Broadway? And you took that guy… Whatever his name was. Well…” She inched closer to me, her voice taking ona scheming edge. “Apparently, Matteo sent him to the hospital, and ever since…”
My breath whooshed out as I stared at my sister. “But I’ve been on dates since…”
“But none of them ever kissed you, did they?” She gave me a pointed look.
“Why would you demand that Matteo put a widespread hands-off on me, Hannah?” Her explanation felt off. Wrong. It made no sense that she’d ask Matteo for something like that. First, she was very much not afraid to go after anyone herself. And secondly, she was always nagging me about getting laid.
“You’re too sensitive.” Hannah's justification made no sense. “Besides, Matteo never confirmed he followed through and I couldn’t assume. I got my confirmation when I joined the Legacies. Some idiot was blabbing about it, not realizing who I was beneath all my makeup.”
You don’t think I’d let anyone touch what’s mine, Ari…
So Matteo wasn’t joking, but he left out one small detail. He had the same “hands-off” law for my sister. What was he doing? Weighing who the better option was?
Yet, even as those questions rolled through my mind, I knew it wasn’t how Matteo rolled. He wasn’t the deceitful kind. Yes, there were some red flags, but compared to the other Legacies, he was a saint.
“How are you having sex, then?” I asked.
She smiled smugly. “I know how to get around those idiot boys.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, tell me about it.”
She grinned. “Hey, didn’t Dad always tell us to work smarter, not harder?”
“True, true,” I snickered.
Both our phones chimed at that moment and I was about to reach for it when a commotion in the room next door stole my attention.
Gianna strolled in, smiling like she’d just uncovered the world’s best-kept secret, wearing a hot-pink miniskirt and white tank top that revealed her belly button piercing.
Hannah whistled her approval. “Get it, girl.”
I shook my head. “No, don’t get it. If Dad or our brothers see you in that getup, they’ll lose their shit.”
Gianna waved her hand nonchalantly. “That’s exactly why I ensured our brothers weren’t on campus. And don’t worry about Dad.”
Hannah laughed. I grimaced.
“Somehow I have a feeling there was no babysitting going on here while I was gone,” I muttered, except I wasn’t even sure who I was reprimanding.
My sisters shared a glance and alert shot through me. Hannah’s next words confirmed the reason to be suspicious.
“Gianna and I came to a mutual agreement.”
“What kind of agreement? The kind that will get you both killed?” I argued, pinning them both with a glare. “What are you two up to?”
“Nothing. Just getting a little taste of freedom,” Gianna stated, taking a seat between us and throwing herself on her back. “If they continue to smother me, I’m going to lose my mind.”
“They’re doing it to protect you.” My gaze fell on the burn scar on her neck, a reminder of my own rebellion. “You didn’t see how they all fell apart. Mom, Dad…”Me.
My voice cracked, unable to find the words.
My sisters wrapped me in an embrace from their respective sides.
“You have to stop blaming yourself,” Gianna murmured in my ear. “I promise you, it’s not your fault. And I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
