Page 58 of Doll Face

“No, but we are planning to kill. We’re all in this for revenge, no matter how we try to spin it. And you know what? I believe Matteo and I want to marry him.”

“So, you’re walking away?” Seth demanded.

“No,” she answered. “I’m going to recruit him to our side because he’s a victim, too. I know you might not like that, but I say we give him a chance.”

Seth blew out his breath. “Whatever. Anyway, I found the money.”

Excitement lit her up. “Where?”

“I’m funneling it back into a private account.”

“Awesome.” She smiled. “Thanks, Seth. You’re a genius. And now, excuse me. I have a wedding dress to find.”

****

She hurried across the street and entered the small ristorante, noticing right away that Matteo sat with Rocco. Matteo rose to his feet and leaned over to kiss her, his gaze caressing over her face. Rocco had also risen to greet her. When she sat, they followed, and a server came over to take their order. She ordered melanzane alla parmigiana, winking at Matteo.

“Is it true?” Rocco asked as soon as she sat down.

“Is what true?”

He narrowed his eyes as he studied her. “Are you Macy?”

“Still drinking those salted caramel lattes?”

“Holy. Fucking. Shit balls.” Rocco stared at her like she was some sort of bug under a microscope. “Wait. Your eyes are brown.”

She reached up and pulled one contact down to reveal their real aquamarine color.

“I said it once and I’ll say it again. Holy. Fucking. Shit balls.” He looked at Matteo. “What the hell happened?”

Matteo told him the entire story, including how she planned to obtain revenge not only for herself, but for others Pietro had wronged.

“My father has to pay for this,” Matteo said quietly.

The server appeared with their dinner. After replenishing their drinks, she left them alone once more.

“I’ve got some upsetting news,” she said.

“More than discovering you’re back from the dead?” Rocco asked.

She nodded and kept her gaze on Matteo. “My place is bugged and I was able to record a conversation your father had when he walked into my office to answer his phone.”

Pulling up the recording, they listened to Pietro’s conversation. Matteo and Rocco came to the same unbelievable realization.

“That fucking bastard,” Matteo muttered. “Everything is a lie. Everything he ordered me to do. A great big fucking lie.”

“I need to know if you’re with me,” she said.

He took hold of her hand. “I never want you to doubt my devotion to you. Whatever you plan, I’ll follow your lead.”

“We’ll follow,” Rocco stressed. “Count me in, too.”

Relief poured through her. Despite everything, she still wondered if he’d side with his father against her.

“This is the idea I’ve come up with,” she said, and she launched into her game plan.

Chapter Twenty-Two

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