Page 107 of The Devil's Den

He exhales hard and fast, like an invisible weight lifting off his shoulders, then he turns and walks out of the room.

“Told you he’d love you,” Matteo says, his eyes radiating through me. “You look happy, Aida.”

I slide my hand over, my fingertips flirting with his, and with a deep look into his eyes, I confess something I never thought I would. “I think I am, Matteo. I think I’m finally happy.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

MATTEO

“I don’t knowwhat the hell I’m doing,” I tell my brothers two days later, the car jerking as I try to drive the SUV they surprised me with yesterday. It’s exactly like theirs. Enzo said it officially made me part of the family. I know he was only kidding, but I like having the same one. It makes me feel closer to them.

The parking lot at one of their nightclubs is huge and abandoned at this time of day, making it the perfect spot for learning how to properly drive.

Enzo chuckles from the back seat, clasping me on the shoulder. “Bro, how the hell did you manage to drive the van and shit?”

Putting the car in park, I twist over to him. “I don’t fucking know. Adrenaline?”

“Don’t worry,” Dom says from the passenger side. “You’ll get it. You had to see how bad Enzo drove when he first started.”

Enzo scoffs, flipping Dom off.

“You sucked,” Dante tells him, chuckling, seated beside him. “You almost crashed into a tree once. Or did you forget?”

“Damn, you two are trying to ruin my very fine reputation here.” He fixes the collar of his blue button-down shirt.

“So how bad were you, really?” My brow pops, my mouth curling at the corner.

“Fine.” He throws a hand in the air. “I was terrible. I don’t know how they ever gave me a license.”

That has me shaking with a laugh.

“Truth?” he continues. “You’re way better than I was.”

“I have to be.” I let out a harsh sigh. “There’s so much I promised Aida we’d do if we ever got out and I want to do it all with her, without some driver taking us places.” My chest tightens, recalling the days in the basement, dreaming of a better life, one we could share. Now I can actually give her that.

I wonder if she’s having a good time out with her cousins and Jade. They took her on a girls’ day, whatever that means. She needed that. Family is important.

Reuniting with my brothers has been a gift. I was lost, abandoned, at least I thought I was, until I saw them again and learned the truth. They never forgot me, and I’m ashamed I ever believed they did.

“You will,” Dante says. “You two will have everything you have ever wanted and more. We’ll make sure of it.” His brows bend with reverence. “We can’t undo what’s been done, but we can give you guys new memories. A fresh start.”

“Yeah.” My mouth falls into a thin smile. “I’d like that. Now, if you guys could get me license ready in five days so I can surprise her with that date, I’d be grateful.”

“Shit.” Enzo leans back into his seat with a wide grin. “Never said we could work miracles.”

* * *

After an hour of teaching me how to drive, we arrive at some store that sells suits. “What are we doing here?” I ask them as we strut inside.

“Every man needs a suit, especially when he plans to take out the woman he loves.” Dom’s voice is low, as a guy in a black suit comes out from behind the counter to greet us.

“Hello, nice to see you all again,” he tells my brothers with a curt nod. “What can I do for you guys today?”

“This is my other brother, Matteo.” Dom gestures to me with a tilt of his head. “He needs everything.”

That gets the man’s brown eyes lighting up.

“All right, sir.” He looks at me this time. “Come with me. I’ll take your measurements and we’ll set you up with everything you need.”

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