Page 169 of Phantom Mine

“Yes,” I say simply.

Golden eyes pierce through me. “How long?”

“About four months.”

He drops his forehead against his fingertips. “Joder,” he swears. “You can’t marry him.”

“He hasn’t asked.” My throat dries. “He won’t—”

“He will.”

My stomach flips. “Thiago—”

“It’s a no,Vale.”

Thiago put it correctly—Matteo was ready to die to put an end to my engagement. But it’s time that I fight my own battles with my brother.

“Stop interrupting me,” I snap angrily. Joaquín winces behind him. He knows heads have flown for less. “I don’t want to marry Carlos Cordoba, Thiago. I should have put my foot down harder when you told me, but I’m doing it now. I don’t want him.” I tip my chin up at him. “I want Matteo.”

“Did you forget the Leones are responsible for Adriana’s murder,Vale?” Thiago roars back, raising his voice.

“It wasn’t him!”

“And how do you know that?” he asks silkily, his voice a warning.

“I just do. Do you really think I would have gone anywhere near him if I wasn’t sure he had nothing to do with it?” I explode. “If you only knew the things he’s done for me, the number of times he’s saved my life, Thiago…”

“Clearly there’s a lot you’ve been hiding from me,hermana. We’ll talk about that very soon, I promise you,” he replies testily. “But until I can confirm for myself that he really isn’t involved, I won’t risk you.”

I tip my chin stubbornly. “I won’t marry Cordoba.”

“No, you won’t.”

“You—” I blink. “Wait, what?”

Thiago sighs and runs a hand over his face. “Clearly, Matteo is protective of you. I won’t provoke him into an unnecessary war when his terms for peace are as attractive as what he’s offered and I won’t gamble with losing you when you seem ready to choose him over your family, so we’ll compromise on breaking your engagement. Until he can prove to me that he’s worthy of you, that’s the best I can do.”

“Thank you.” I round his desk and nearly throw myself at him in a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Elation doesn’t even start to cover the emotion whipping through me. Relief. Hope. Joy. There’s a million more, all fluttering in my belly and in my heart.

“Thank you,” I say again, planting a kiss on his cheek.

“Don’t thank me,” he mutters gruffly. “You’re the one who changed my mind.”

“What? How?”

Thiago’s eyes turn gentle for a moment. It’s a rare show of fragility from my brother. I can count on one hand the number of times he’s shown this side to me. A knot forms in my throat at the tender look in his gaze.

“He calls you Leni,” he whispers. My throat is suddenly tight, my breaths shallow. I nod. “And you let him,” he adds, as if that’s the truly shocking part.

I smile, tilting my head ever so slightly to the side. “I do,” I murmur. The words come out warm and airy. Floaty. Made up only of curves and soft edges.

“As much as I dislike the prick, he must have done something right to earn this side of you,” Thiago mutters. “God knows I hadn’t seen it in almost two years before tonight.”

Chapter Forty-Six

Matteo

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