Page 133 of Hidden Empire

‘For now’ doesn’t last very long when Matteo demands we use our free day to hang out with Ivan immediately. Thankfully, I’m able to give him a quick warning before Matteo ambushes him.

“I need you to hang out with me and Matteo today,” I whisper to him hurriedly in the line for pancakes at breakfast. My brothers are too busy filling up their own plates at other stations to notice us.

“He knows?”

“Just that we’re friends,” I admit. “He caught me in your clothes.”

“I’m not going to not hit him back if he attacks me,” Ivan warns.

“Jesus,” I groan. “No one is attacking anyone. He has to see that we’re not fooling around to keep it a secret, so we have to hang out today. Any ideas?”

He pauses, considering it. “Bring him to the pool after lunch.”

I frown. “Swimming is not going to help our case.” Matteo will flip if the first activity Ivan suggests has me in a bikini.

“We’re not swimming.”

He doesn’t have time to explain before we have to part.

Matteo is his normal self at breakfast, stealing a good portion of my plate and demolishing his own. I’m grateful that he isn’t drawing suspicion by being moody or strange. Armani would pick up on it immediately and demand to know what’s up.

Speaking of Armani, he dips out of breakfast early, apparently having scheduled some tutoring today. He’s not the only one that disappears, Remo and Nico are apparently hiking in the mountains today. I’m almost glad that all I have to do is pull off a hangout with Ivan and Matteo without letting anything about Dmitri slip up. Hiking and gun training sounds like a terrible way to spend free time.

After lunch comes and goes, Matteo reluctantly follows me to meet Ivan.

“All I’m saying is following this stranger’s orders?—”

“He’s not a stranger,” I remind him for the umpteenth time.

“—is irresponsible, and I don’t like being told what to do,” he finishes.

“Well, maybe Ivan doesn’t like being bossed around by my overprotective guard dog, either. You picked the time—last minute as fuck, if I might add—so he gets to pick the place.”

“Did you just say fuck?” Matteo asks, grinning like a loon. “Okay, potty mouth.”

Rolling my eyes, I smack his shoulder. “I’ve sworn in front of you before, dramatic much?”

“You’re sassy lately,” he declares. “I’d blame it on this new friend, but I like it so he doesn’t get credit for it.”

“Matteo, if anyone taught me to be sassy, it's you.”

Pleased, he dips his head. “Good.”

Ivan’s already waiting for us in the pool room, sitting on a bench in his regular school uniform. When he sees us walk in, he stands.

“Oh, so you do know where your clothes go,” Matteo calls out immediately. “Surprised you aren’t wearing Jade’s since you two are buddy-swapping outfits now.”

“The skirt doesn’t go with my legs,” Ivan snarks right back.

Matteo doesn’t laugh, but I do.

I have to cough to cover it up, and my brother is not pleased to have someone else make me laugh in front of him. Off to a great start.

“Funny,” Matteo drawls, not at all meaning it.

“Are you feeling left out?” Ivan clicks his tongue. “If you want to get in my pants, well…”

My eyes bulge open.

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