Page 49 of Matteo
I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. “I know, but if we hadn’t snuck out?—”
Her hand covered my lips. “Then it would have happened at some other time. They’d been watching and following us for months, sister. It was just a matter of time.”
“But they got toyou. You were only fourteen, Gianna.” They should have never had a chance to get their hands on her.
“Arianna’s right,” Hannah grumbled, hiding the tremor in her hands as she wrapped her arms around herself. “That night… I almost ruined our family.”
“No, Hannah,” I shook my head. “I let go of her, and they got her. If I’d held on to her?—”
“Stop it, you two,” Gianna chimed in. Her expression was light, but no mask could hide the ghosts lurking in her eyes. “I’m here. I survived, and I learned to take care of myself.” She kissed me on the cheek, then cupped my face. Her bottom lip trembled, but there was determination in her—strength—that no number of ghosts could hide. “Besides, you came for me.”
My eyes flitted to the consequence of not listening to Dad.
“A lot of good that did,” I murmured.
She sat up, brushing her fingers over the scar. “Did you ever wonder why I refused the plastic surgery?”
I shook my head.
“Because I wanted everyone in this fucked-up mafia world we were born into to know I’ll never go down without a fight.”
“You mean it,” I whispered, seeing my sister as a grown, badass woman for the first time. She usually played the part of an innocent mafia princess, but it occurred to me now that it was all a front. Judging by the strength shining in her eyes, my baby sister might be the strongest one of us all.
“I do,” she declared. “And I won’t allow myself to be held back byanybody.”
“Okay, but you will let us know if you ever need us.” When she didn’t reply, I pinned her with my most stern look. “Promise me, Gianna,” I insisted.
“I promise.” She smiled softly, reverting back to her sweet, bubbly self. “But only if you stop feeling guilty about the kidnapping. Extinguish that shit from your mind and soul. Don’t think we haven’t noticed your nightmares.”
The worst thing about being close with your family: it was almost impossible to keep secrets. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I sat up and brought my knees to my chest.
“I’ll work on it,” I vowed.
Gianna jumped out of bed and padded to her snack cabinet. She opened it, reached for something, and whirled around with a jar in hand.
“Who’s in the mood for Nutella?”
Hannah and I rolled out of bed.
“Nobody sane ever says no to Nutella,” I mused, snatching the stash out of her hands. “I’ll share, but control yourselves, girls.”
“God help a man who ever attempts to steal your Nutella.” Hannah gave an evil laugh. “She’ll be the one to slash the man’s cock and feed it to him.”
Gianna’s body shook and I pinned her with a stare. “Are you laughing?”
“No—” Then she folded over, holding her belly, and burst out laughing. “I’m just picturing a man with a cock stuffed in his Nutella-filled mouth.”
“You two are sick.” Rolling my eyes, I pushed them away. “I love you, but something is seriously wrong with you.”
“Fix us a snack, then, Nutella girl.”
The unintentional nickname had me thinking about Matteo, and I turned to hide my flush. I’d been sharing my Nutella cookies and snacks with him ever since I broke his nose.
Except, nobody knew that.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
