Page 56 of Matteo
Gabriel and Nikola walked in front of us, three black sports bikes waiting for their owners. I knew it was the preferred method of transport when the Legacies went after their enemies.
My attention was on Nikola’s tattoos, a canvas of inked stories spreading from his shoulders down to his waist. As if he felt my eyes on his back, Nikola glanced behind him and caught me red-handed. “I knew you couldn’t resist me, little Morrelli.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I’m actually sizing you for a shirt.” Feeling stupidly brave by Matteo’s presence, I added with a sweet smile, “I can lend you some money, with interest of course, so you can complete your wardrobe.”
A heartbeat of silence followed and then laughter rang out.
Gabriel tilted his head in his friend’s direction. “She toldyou, mofo.”
Nikola shrugged, pulling out a cigarette from somewhere.
“Little thief is feeling brave with her boyfriend around.”Boyfriend.Damn, why did that make me grin like a fool?
I squared my shoulders and pinned him with my most serious look. “And there’s nothing little about the way I wiped you clean when we were kids.”
Nikola snickered.
“As if you could repeat it.” I raised my brow and his expression sombered. He knew I could do it blindfolded. After all, I had done it a few times after Nikola’s father upgraded theirsafe. He was just tired of replacing it and called me a one-off thief he invited into his home.
“Oh, I so could.” I tilted my head, watching him. “And since you don’t believe me, I’ll take that as a challenge and prove you wrong.”
“It wasn’t a challenge, so don’t you fucking try and steal from me, Arianna.”
I grinned. “Only if you ask me nicely.”
“Whatever… please. Happy?”
“Ecstatic.”
He rolled his eyes. “Anyhow, moving on. About time you two got together. It’s no wonder Matteo threw himself into the hellfire.”
“Shut up, fool,” Gabriel gritted.
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” I demanded.
There was a pregnant pause that seemed to last decades before Nikola apparently thought “fuck it” and continued. “How do you think you got out of that shitshow all those years ago without a single mark on you?”
“Shitshow?” I repeated slowly.
“Gianna’s kidnapping. Who do you think pulled you out of the fire?” Nikola pipped.
My smile froze, images of Gianna and I surrounded by fire and soaked in blood invading my mind. Nikola and Gabriel were arguing, but their voices faded into the background as I slowly turned to face Matteo.
“You?” I rasped. “It was you?”
He shrugged. “I was helping with the search. When your family, Pa, and I arrived at the scene of your accident, he could only save one of you. So I made up his mind for him. I went for you and he dove in for Gianna.”
My heart drummed in my chest. “Why can’t I remember?”
“It was chaotic. Gianna and you passed out in the midst of it all.”
I didn’t want to imagine Matteo engulfed in flames just to save me.
“Don’t go there, Ari,” he murmured, both of us making our way to his bike. “It’s ancient history.”
I nodded slowly. “I better get home and get ready. I have a math class at eight.”
