understood what it meant to be mafioso. We all did.
“What’s going on with you?”
“Me?” His brows knitted.
“Yeah, something’s off with you lately.” Now that I thought about it, he’d been off since the semester started. But I’d been too distracted by a honey-eyed angel to give it much thought.
Until now.
“Nothing’s up.” He sat forward, leaning on his fists.
“You can’t kid a kidder, Matt. Spill.”
“I met someone.”
“You met someone? What the fuck? When did you...?” I was confused. Matteo didn’t date. None of us did.
At least, I hadn’t, pre-Arianne.
“Remember that job we did over the summer, up in Providence?”
“Zander’s club?”
He nodded. Zander DiMarco ran a chain of clubs in and around Providence, Verona County, and Pawtucket. Dominion provided him with protection in return for a good chunk of change. We’d been up there over the summer to collect pizzo and the fucker had caused a scene. So much so, my father handed future collections to Uncle Michele and his guys instead.
“I’m not sure I’m following...” I said. It had been weeks ago, and he’d not said a single word about it.
“I stayed in Providence that night. There was a storm, remember?” I nodded, it had been a big one. “Well, I ran into this girl. One thing led to another and we...”
“You hooked up with some girl in Providence and never mentioned it?”
He paled. “It sounds completely stupid, but we had this connection. It was… Nic, it was amazing. But she ghosted me.”
“No shit.” I rubbed my jaw. “You really liked her?”
“She was... fuck, we just clicked. And the sex, I swear I died and went to Heaven. But I got the impression she wasn’t telling me the whole story and you know I wasn’t entirely truthful with her.”
“So why are you telling me now?”
“Because I guess I thought you’d understand. Because I look at you and Arianne and I want that. I really fucking want that.”
“You should call her.”
“I already told you, she blocked my number.”
“Well then, you should drive up there and go see her.”
“Nah, man. I can’t...”
“Why the fuck not?”
“It could never work. I’m here, she’s in Providence. It was just one night.”
But it wasn’t. I saw it in his eyes, the slight downturn of his mouth.
Matteo had it bad, and I’d been too self-absorbed to notice.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.” He raked a hand through his dirty blond hair. “I didn’t tell you and you’re not a mind reader. Besides, you’ve been a little preoccupied.”
Still, it didn’t ease the guilt snaking through me.
“Look at us.” I sank back in the chair.
“Yeah, who’d have thought it.” He chuckled but it came out strangled. “I know the Family comes first, Nic... but family is important too. I know Uncle Vin gave you a hard time in there, but it’s only because he doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand what it’s like.”
Did Matteo?
Could he?
Most of the time, I didn’t even understand what Arianne and I shared.
“I’m not sure he’ll ever understand,” I admitted.
Matteo gave me a sympathetic nod. “Then I guess, you’ll just have to make him.”
Chapter 14
Arianne
“Tristan?” I rushed to the side of his bed, hardly able to fight the tears pooling in my eyes.
Tristan was awake.
“Hey, Cous,” he smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I’m so happy you’re awake.” Grabbing his hand, I squeezed it. “God, Tristan, I—”
“There she is.”
My spine stiffened at the sound of Scott’s voice. “I didn’t realize you were here,” I clipped out.
“Don’t sweat it, baby.” He roped his arm around my shoulder with complete ownership. “We can tell Tristan the good news now you’re here.”
My cousin frowned.
“Go on,” Scott chuckled, “tell him.”
I met his insistence with silence. I would never utter those words.
“We’re engaged,” he practically sang the words.
“Shit, Ari, for real?” Tristan grinned. “I knew he was going to pop the question, but I didn’t think—”
“He didn’t ask me.”
“Say what?” Tristan’s brows furrowed as he glanced between me and Scott. “But you just said—”
“Semantics.” Scott shrugged. “After the accident things moved a little quicker than we expected. But it’ll be official come next weekend.”
“What’s next weekend?”
“Our engagement party. Isn’t that right, babe?”
I glowered at Scott, praying he’d drop the façade for just a second. I was here to see Tristan, nothing more.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything?” Tristan’s eyes bore into mine until I averted my gaze. I didn’t want to do this, not here. Not with Scott right beside me.
Shrugging out of Scott’s grip, I took Tristan’s hand and squeezed gently. “The