Page 49 of The One
“Will you be okay, Mariella?” Mateo asks gently.
I nod. “Of course, Sign—” At his raised eyebrow I stop.
Right, Icancall him by his first name. But it seems strange in front of Romeo and Giulia. So I just say, “Of course,” again.
His eyes linger on my cheek for a few seconds, his jaw clenching and working from side to side.
“Giulia, please look after Mariella for me,” he instructs, the edgy tone still in his voice.
Then he turns and leaves the kitchen, saying to Romeo, “Fill me in. What was so important to tell me that Antonio ignored Tiero’s orders?”
I don’t hear Romeo’s reply. They’re gone.
I miss Mateo instantly. That might have been the closest I’ll ever get to him, and, right or wrong, I savored it, despite the circumstances.
It’s never going to happen again. Father has to calm down eventually, and I’m sure Mateo will keep him away from me while I’m here. I should be relieved. And I am.
So why does the ice pack on my cheek suddenly feel so much colder?
And why does the future still loom over me like a dark, menacing shadow?
Chapter Seventeen
Mariella
“What happened to you?” Sofia immediately asks when I set down her tray on the table later that afternoon.
My hand moves automatically to my cheek. The pain’s dulled thanks to painkillers, but it’s still tender. Giulia has been fussing over me and at least the attention has been nice.
Unfortunately, the bruising is as obvious as a spotlight in a broom closet. The purple deepens by the hour, and no amount of makeup would hide it, so I didn’t bother trying.
“It looks worse than it is,” I assure Sofia as she steps closer to me, studying my face.
“Good to know, but that doesn’t explain what happened. And don’t tell me you ran into a door.”
I sigh, letting her pull me to the bed and push me down to sit.
“My father happened,” I reply, not really wanting to get into it.
Sofia’s face clouds over with concern as she settles beside me.
“Your father? Is he working here too?”
“No. I mean, yes.” I let out another sigh. “He works for the De Marcos, but not here in Rome. He came to see Mateo, supposedly. But really, he was looking for me.”
Sofia frowns, tilting her head. “I’m confused. Are you hiding from your father here? Who is he?”
I shake my head. I really shouldn’t tell Sofia anything. After all, she’s the enemy.
Well, her family is… was. But now there’s no one left but her, and she’s just a girl caught up in family business.
The need to talk to someone my own age is burning inside me. I haven’t been able to reach Isa, and everything that happened today is weighing on me.
“I’m Mariella,” I begin, realizing I’ve never introduced myself. “My father is Antonio Accardi.”
Sofia’s head jerks back. She was about to tuck a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear but stops mid-motion.
“You know him?” I ask, surprised.
