Page 59 of Matteo
The conversation continued on and on, but I was no longer paying attention. Instead, I got up and made my way to Gianna and Francesca.
“Okay, how about I kick this guy out before you two kill him and we have an even bigger problem on our hands?” I offered, careful not to set off my sister’s demons.
Francesca shrugged, but thankfully my baby sister still had a bit of reason because she shoved the idiot toward the door.
“Thank the saints my sister showed up,” she spat. “Tell anyone about this and you’ll regret it.”
There was no need to escort the guy out because he was already running—straight into a hard chest that appeared at the doorway.
“Bump into me again and I’ll set your corpse on fire,” Nikola growled as he grabbed him by the nape. I winced even though the threat wasn’t aimed at me.
The smell of flesh was a hard thing to erase from one’s mind, but Nikola wouldn’t have known about that. Only my family and the Vitales would have details of that night.
“What’s your deal, man?” The guy looked like he was about to piss himself despite his brave but foolish words. “It’s just a party.”
Nikola shoved him down the hallway. “Run and never come back.”
“And this is how you scare those fuckers,” Francesca purred. “We have to step up our game, Gia.”
My eyebrows shot up. How much had these two had to drink exactly?
“Be good,” I told my sister and Francesca. “And ease up on the alcohol. Give water a try.” To my surprise, both picked up a bottle and took a sip while I made my way toward Nikola. “You have a shirt on, that’s an improvement. Although, it’s supposed to be buttoned up, not used as a cape.”
Those pale blue eyes that could be so unnerving locked on me, and just as I thought maybe I’d offended him, he grinned. “Maybe I’m a superhero.”
I rolled my eyes. “More like a villain.”
“Supervillain,” he corrected me. “Everything about me is super.”
“I see.” His ego was definitely inflated. “Why are you here?”
“No reason.” His attention shifted to Skye.
“Sure,” I retorted, sarcasm lacing my voice. “Where’s Matteo?”
His glacier gaze returned to me.
“If you two start using me to pass love notes, I’m going to murder you both.” He handed me a piece of paper. “Keep your goddamned phone on you, woman.”
I unfolded the piece of paper.
Planetarium. 10:30 PM.
I looked down at my outfit, debating whether I should change. I was wearing a peach-colored linen Valentino dress and sandals, but it was already ten twenty-five and the planetarium was fifteen minutes away.
“Don’t change,” Nikola grumbled as if he’d read my mind. I lifted my head to find him rolling his eyes. “The only thing he won’t like is that the designer’s name is Valentino.”
“How do you know that?”
“You forget who my aunt is.” Tatiana Nikolaev was known for her love of designer labels. The woman had impeccable taste. “She rubbed off on me. Unfortunately.” He tried to sound grumpy, but there was unmistakable affection in his tone. “By the way, next time you give Matteo the names of fictional characters to murder, give me a warning.”
I gave him a blank look. “Huh?”
“Eric Northman and Simon Basset?” Realization sunk in. “What a disappointment not to be able to kill them. Irecommended murdering the actors who played them, but Matteo wouldn’t go for it.”
I grinned.
“Nikola, you need serious help.” One more fleeting glance toward Skye and I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening between the two. “If the girls ask, tell them I’ll be right back.”
