Page 68 of Matteo
Inhaling, I sighed at the feel of her soft body and our scents mixing together. I could stay like this forever with her and I’d die a happy man.
“Did I—” She tilted her face, looking at me. “Are you okay?”
She smiled, her cheeks flushed. “Never better. You?”
I slid out of her slowly, careful not to hurt her, and pressed my forehead against hers.
“Never better,” I echoed. “I love you, Arianna Carter Morrelli, and there’s nothing that will keep me from you now.”
She let out a soft chuckle. “Is that a threat?”
“Mmm,” I murmured, rolling over and tucking her into my side. I was floating ten feet above, weightless, untouchable.
If only I knew then how badly I’d soon fuck up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
ARIANNA
Hannah and I were sprawled on the bottom bunk. She was scrolling through her apps while I studied positions, motions, and the properties of celestial objects, avoiding the physics textbooks that required my attention.
I convinced myself as long as I wasn’t slacking, I could spend a bit more time with black holes and asteroids.
Anya was with her brother, Amara had gone home to spend time with her family, Gianna and Francesca were nowhere to be found—probably shopping, and Penelope was out with a new guy. She hoped a lunch date would change her luck when it came to boys—something about daylight proving to be safer and whatnot.
“Want to watchTrue Blood?” Hannah asked in a bored tone.
“Yeah, why not.” My answer was immediate. We grew up watching TV series with our mom, and our recent favorite was this old vampire show. I loved it, switching my favorite between a certain blond vampire, and dark-haired werewolf. In addition, it was a perfect reason to defer physics for another day.
“Don’t sound too excited,” she teased. She wore a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt that saidI’ll call you daddy if youcall me babyin bold red letters. “Are you sure you shouldn’t be studying?”
My eyes widened as I studied my sister who’d flopped onto her back and pulled a fleece blanket over her. “Are you trying to be a good influence?”
“Tryingbeing the keyword,” she muttered, her words muffled.
She reached for the remote and searched through options, pressing play on season two. The automatic shutters blocked all the outside light and Hannah flicked the lights off, leaving us in a dark room with the only light flashing from the TV screen despite it being only noon. Hannah seemed off, like something was bothering her.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned, sneaking under the blanket with her and wrapping my arms around her. “Don’t tell me nothing. I know you too well.”
“I’m not sure.” Her voice was quiet, conflicting. “Do you agree that human traffickers need to be punished?”
I hesitated, unsure where this was going.
“I think so,” I finally responded. “But I don’t like you getting involved.”
She sighed. “I felt like it would make me closer with him, you know. Not sure it’s working though.”
I focused on the TV screen, my chest tightening. I didn’t know what to say, although something had to be said. Gathering the courage and hating myself for being the one to hurt her, I shifted so I could face her.
“Hannah?” I said softly, grabbing her hand.
“Kyran messaged me,” she said suddenly without looking at me, and I frowned in confusion.
“Uncle Kyran?”
“He’s not really our uncle,” she grumbled. We called him uncle—well, Hannah called himhot daddy—but he wasn’t related to us. “But yes, him.”
“Why would he message you?”
