Page 168 of Phantom Mine

I find out in that moment what the two worst words in the English language sound like when strung together. Alarm slams into me as violently as being hit by a bus. My heart races, time slows, and I just react. Panic makes me move without thinking. It’s a primal, animalistic instinct inside me that forces me to protect.

I can’t lose him. Iwon’t.

I lunge. I’m across the room in two steps and throwing myself in front of Matteo, flinging my arms out to each side to shield him. Arturo and Joaquín and three other guards I know have their guns raised at me. I squeeze my eyes shut and turn my face away, waiting for the gunfire.

“Stop!” I hear a petrified voice call.

In the same second, arms close around me from behind and twist. I’m ripped violently off the ground and twirled away, bent in half beneath a large body that wraps around mine and shelters me from the guns.

“What thefuck, Leni,” Matteo yells harshly into my ear, his heart thrashing against my back. It beats angrily, the tempo announcing his terror with every thump.

“Baja tus armas,” Thiago orders sharply.

Matteo ignores him. He twists me back around, grabs me by the arms and shakes me.

“What the actual fuck? How many times do I have to fucking tell you to stop putting yourself in harm’s way?” Matteo reprimands me angrily, fear bleeding overtly into his words, his eyes wild and frantic.

“Are you injured?” I feel at his abdomen, his chest, his arms. His face. Every part of him I can get my hands on. “Are you hurt?” I ask, slightly hysterical.

“No,” he hisses. Then he cups my face, yanks me to him, and crushes his mouth urgently to mine. “Don’t ever do anything that stupid again. Fucking hell, my heart is going to give out before forty with you around.”

I cling to him, finding his lips again and returning the kiss with equal fervor. My pulse is still pounding in my ears after hearing my brother issue a kill order for him.

With a gasp, I remember where we are and pull away from Matteo. I blush when I see Joaquín gaping at me, then turn a deep tomato red when my gaze clashes with Thiago’s. I’ve never kissed anyone in front of him before.

In my defense, he’s also never tried to kill the man I love in front of me before either.

Matteo’s gaze lifts above my head to Joaquín and Arturo. “Point your guns at her again and I’ll feed you the other's organs before I slit each of your throats.” His gaze moves to Thiago next. “I told you she’d choose me,” he declares, curling me smugly into his side. “You didn’t even need to ask for her to prove it.”

Thiago’s expression shifts dangerously.

“Leave,” he orders.

“Fuck off,” Matteo answers.

Fresh tension erupts to life between the two men. The air feels volatile, like the situation is about to devolve into a deadly fight. I whirl on Matteo, pressing my hands into his chest.

“Let me talk to him,” I entreat.

He shakes his head, his jaw setting. “I’m not leaving.”

“Please, Matteo,” I urge softly, eyes roving between his. “We won’t get anywhere with you here, trust me.”

His hand closes around my wrist and squeezes, using it to pull me into him. “You’re not marrying anyone else, Leni,” he vows adamantly, voice shaking with emotion.

“I won’t, Phantom,” I say soothingly. “I won’t.”

His jaw ticks as indecision tears through him. Finally, he grunts and kisses me again. “I’m texting you an address. Meet me there in two hours.” He looks back at Thiago. “I don’t think I need to spell out what happens if she doesn’t show.”

“Go, Matteo,” I say, pushing him towards the door. “I’ll be there, I promise.”

He looks at me the entire time he walks out, his mind resisting every step that takes him closer to the exit. Finally, with one last heated glance and a frustrated grunt, he leaves.

I take a large, heaving breath, both already missing him and relieved that he’s away from Thiago.

“So he’s the reason you changed your mind about the engagement."

I turn. My brother is sitting behind his desk like a king on his throne, his fingers steepled as he stares at me.

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