Page 15 of Blood for Blood

“Can we go to her?” Aurora smiles at me, “Please, Mateo?”

“As soon as you’re free, we can go.”

“Are you going to tell me what happened?” She pats the bed beside her. “What made her run away?”

“I fucked up big time, Peach.” I sit next to her on the bed and put my face in my hands. “I blamed her for you getting drugged.”

“Seriously, Mateo?” She punches my arm before pulling my face up to look at her. “Why?”

“I don’t know why. My mouth started running before my brain could process it.”

“Mateo Tomasso,” she leans her forehead against mine, “You’re going to lose her if you keep throwing it in her face.”

“I’m not trying to throw anything in her face. Every time you two plan something, I just get worried that it’s going to happen again.”

Seven years earlier

“It seems like you only want to go to that club because I don’t want you to go.”

“Yes, Mateo, everything I do is for the sole purpose of pissing you off.” Luna smirks as she leans in to kiss me. “That’s the club that Layla and Ember picked.”

“Please don’t go. I don’t like the idea of you being that far away from us.” I plead with her.

“I love you, Mateo Rossi,” she kisses me again, “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“It’s midnight, Lorenzo!” I scream at him. “Why the fuck isn’t she answering the phone?”

“I don’t know, Mateo!” He shouts back, shoving my chest. “Fighting me isn’t going to solve anything.”

My phone lights up and I look down to see Luna’s name on the screen. Lorenzo pushes the answer button and puts the call on speaker phone. Luna’s screams instantly fill the room and all of the color drains from Enzo’s face.

“Stupid boy.” I recognize Mathias’ voice immediately. “You thought leaving the country would get me to leave you alone?”

“Don’t fucking hurt her, Mathias!” I snarl, praying to a god that I don’t believe in. He can’t fucking hurt her.

“I wouldn’t dream of it, son.” He laughs sinisterly, “She might be my new favorite toy. Of course, I’m going to have to try her out a few more times to be sure. Arrivederci, figlio mio.”

“Mateo!” Rory snaps her fingers in my face, staring into my eyes.

“We need to get to her, now.” I stand and start to pace the floor, dread builds in the pit of my stomach.

“Hey.” She steps in front of me, putting her hands on my face. “Enzo is with her. Mathias doesn’t know where we are. We’re safe here.”

“He could find us any day, Peach. What other reason would there be for someone to drug you?”

“I don’t know, Teo.” She pulls her hands from my face to place them on her hips. “Why have you not grilled me about the guy?”

“It’s a little insulting the way you two always underestimate me.” I smirk at her, kissing her collarbone. “I texted Silas about eight seconds after Luna hung up on me.” I kiss my way up her neck, stopping at her lips. “He couldn’t text me back right away, because Enzo got to him first. We already have a name and Silas is working on his location.”

“I love you, Mateo.”

“I love you more, Aurora.”

The door opens and a nurse walks in, clearing her throat. I quickly turn away to adjust myself.

“You’re free to go,” the nurse hands the papers to Rory, “Right after I get this IV out of your arm.”

“Thank you!” Aurora smiles at the nurse.

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