Page 90 of The One
He’s exposed to that kind of danger every single day, and yet he doesn’t even flinch. I guess when you face death constantly, you grow numb to it, almost expect it.
But it also means every day could be his last.
The thought slams into me, and my throat tightens.
I can’t imagine a world without Mateo in it. Especially not now, after he let his guard down and shared a sliver of his true self with me.
“What will happen to me?” Sofia asks quietly out of the blue. “If Mateo had been shot, what would happen to me?”
I turn my head to look at her, caught off guard by her question.
“I’m scared, Mari. Scared I’ll die in this room.”
I want to reassure her, but I have no answers. No one has mentioned anything about her future, not even in passing.
“I don’t know what their plans are for you,” I admit softly, wishing I could say something more. “But I’m sure of one thing. They wouldn’t just leave you here to die. That’s not who they are.”
She chuckles without humor in it. “I suppose. They kept me alive this long when I’m no longer useful to them. With all of my family gone, I’m no leverage anymore.”
“I’m sure they’ll let you go eventually,” I say, forcing a smile. “And hey, at least in here you’re safe from flying bullets.”
“Signor De Marco was looking for you,cara mia,” Giulia says as I enter the kitchen a few minutes later.
“Oh? Does he want to see me? Should I go to his office?” The words spill out of me, and I’m sure I’ve given away how just the mention of his name makes my heart race.
Part of me can’t wait to see him again, but the other part dreads it.
How am I supposed to act around him now?
Will there still be that closeness we shared last night? Or does he regret opening up to me about his blood phobia? Perhaps he wants to see me to remind me not to tell anyone.
My palms go sweaty and my stomach performs jumping jacks. It’s nauseating.
Giulia glances up from her pots, her eyebrows raised, and a flush creeps over my cheeks. Great, now I probably look guilty.
“He said to tell you to change into workout clothes and meet him by the front door in…” She glances at the clock. “Twenty minutes.”
“Workout clothes? Does he want to go for a run?”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Mariella
I’m no good at running.
Damn, I should have taken up running when Ella did. Then I’d be fitter now.
Giulia’s forehead crinkles in an adorable frown as she watches me.
“He didn’t say anything about running,cara mia. Just go and get changed. He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
“Right. Okay. Umm, I better do that.” I force a quick smile and head toward my room, limbs tingling with nerves the entire way.
What is going on? Why gym clothes?
I only ever worked out with my sisters. The idea of Mateo watching me, of those intense, penetrating eyes taking in every move and imperfection, is unsettling. Just imagining it has me breaking into a light sweat.
I get changed quickly and stare at myself in the mirror. This outfit is way too revealing. I never had to worry about showing too much skin before, because we worked out in our home gym where no men were allowed.
