Page 93 of The Devil's Secret

“Are you looking for Aida?” I ask the guy, and that gets his attention.

“How the hell do you know her? Have you seen her?”

“No, man, I’m sorry, but if you need help, my brothers and I, we can help you find her.”

His jaw grinds. “I work alone.” Then his gaze is back on the scumbag.

“This is so beautiful. Reunited at last and they have no idea,” Agnelo taunts. “I only wish my brothers were still alive to witness this miracle.”

My throat goes dry. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Why don’t you tell them who you are?” Agnelo looks to each one of my brothers.

Dom circles the kid, staring at him for a long, quiet moment, as though for the first time.

“No…” Dom’s inhale is harsh as he shakes his head. “It can’t be.” His hand runs past his face. “I watched you di—”

A heavy, sinking feeling blasts into my stomach.

“Who is that, Dom?” Dante asks, his tone sliced with the same trepidation.

“Don’t you recognize your own brother?” Agnelo chuckles.

“Br-brother?” I whisper. But when I look at him again, really look, those large brown eyes… “Fuck.” I grip my hair.

Dante faces him now, Elliot pointing the gun at Agnelo in case he decides to run.

“Matteo?” Dom’s shell-shocked voice causes us all to freeze.

“Surprise!” Agnelo snickers.

My world spins, my chest erupting with needle-like stabbing as my mind tries to wrap around something I never thought was possible.

“How could you be here? Where have you been?” Dom asks, the words falling unevenly, unable to pull his eyes away from our baby brother.

“He’s been with me this whole time,” Agnelo interrupts. “Isn’t that right, kid?”

“Tell me where she is!” he roars in return.

“You’re like a sad, little puppy.” Agnelo’s expression is filled with annoyance as he tries to sit up, but Elliot pushes him back down. “She’s long gone by now. Probably in a different country.”

Matteo growls, pressing the muzzle of his weapon to his own forehead.

“Good luck finding her by yourself,” Agnelo throws out. “But if you want a shot at saving her, well, you’re going to have to take me out of here before your brothers end your chance of ever getting to her in time.”

“Matteo, please,” Dom practically begs. “Let us help you. Don’t fucking listen to him. All he ever does is lie.”

“Goddamn, Matteo. We’re your brothers.” Dante clasps him on the shoulder, but Matteo shoves his hand away. “We’ll help you find her.”

“I have no brothers.” He looks at us, one by one. His eyes used to hold the warmth of our mother in them, but now, they’re empty, as though stolen, like he was. “The best thing you can do is forget you ever saw me. I’m still dead where it matters.”

His weapon is aimed at Elliot now. “Tell your friend to move,” he says to Dom. “Agnelo is coming with me.”

Dom jerks his head sideways and Elliot moves back, allowing Agnelo to climb to his feet. Matteo wraps his arm around the bastard’s neck, his weapon drawn at us as he starts tugging the old man toward the door.

“Wait!” I shout. “Don’t go. We love you, man. We never would’ve given up finding you if we knew you were alive.”

He stops, his shoulders swaying with heavy breaths, his gaze puncturing me with a wound so painful, I almost drop to my knees. If he was with them all these years, who knows what they did to him.

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