Page 40 of Phantom Mine

I shrug, affecting indifference. “Not sure. I picked one at random from the group.”

“So she’s not yours then?”

Everything in me screams to answer that she is mine. That he better not look at her, let alone lay a fucking finger on her.That if he does, I’ll rip him to pieces, plan and consequences be damned. But possessiveness will work against me in this situation. It’ll only fuel him further in his sick, twisted games. So I shake my head disinterestedly.

And it fuckingcostsme.

“Nah, she’s nobody, I told you. Just someone I picked to scratch an itch.”

His sadistic eyes are searching as they land on me. He picks me apart, trying to see the truth behind the lie. Eventually, he says, “I’m not sure I believe you, brother. Since when do you have itches that need scratching? Father and I were starting to think you were a eunuch.”

Ever since Susana, I’ve been purposely discreet, keeping them far from his prying eyes to spare them her fate. The psychotic bastard has always wanted what was mine, but nothing more thanmywoman specifically.

My answering smile is sharp. “Some of us prefer quality over quantity.”

His features drop, his gaze hardening into his usual mask of brutality. “Then perhaps you’ll share said quality with your dear brother, won’t you, Matteo?”

I hide the way my fists clench from him.

“Like I said, I’ll let you know if she’s worth it.”

“Subconsciously, you must want to share. What other reason could you have for fucking your prize in my office?”

My teeth grind together so painfully, I’m surprised I don’t accidentally crush them into thousands of pieces.

The meeting my father called turned out to be entirely pointless, as most of them have been the past few months. When it’d ended, I’d ducked out, avoiding the customary post-meeting drinks and rushing back toFirenze. I was hoping to find something in Rocco’s office that I could use against him inmy continued quest to sow seeds of doubts against him and our father.

Instead, I’d been shocked to find Melody looking through his drawers, seemingly engaged in the very same fact finding mission I’d set out on.

Logic, as well as every law in theFamigliacode of conduct, demanded that I kill her immediately for her betrayal.

The idea flashed through my mind for barely a second before I’d strangled it to death, disgusted by the very thought. I’d stayed away from her for two fucking weeks to cool the obsession that’d taken root inside me, and in a half hour, I’d fucked it all up.

Self-preservation doesn’t seem to exist where she’s concerned. No, the only thing my brain seems to give a shit about is that the bruising around her throat is gone, the perpetrator dealt with.

Our conversation is far from over. Melody is going to tell me who she is, why she’s here atFirenze, and what she was looking for in my brother’s study.

Rocco’s face twists into a nasty smile. “Oedipus has nothing on you when it comes to fucked up family dynamics.”

“Let’s not pretend you’re a stranger to fucking people in places that belong to me.”

Rocco’s eyes widen in surprise. And then he laughs. A raucous, hoarse, vicious laugh.

“Oh, so this is you getting even ten years later?” he asks, a mean twinkle in his eyes. “You’re right, Matteo. I’m no stranger to fucking in places that belong to you. Or fuckingpeoplethat belong to you, for that matter.” His evil grin stretches and my fist itches to wipe it off his face. “It’s a good thing that girl doesn’t belong to you then, isn’t it?”

Refusing to rise to his obvious bait, but also unable to remain in his office with him for a moment longer without putting my face through his fucking jaw, I stalk past him and to the door.

“Matteo.” His voice stops me. He’s standing behind his desk, his arms spread out and his palms flat on the surface as he stares back at me with a look devoid of any emotion. “You know, I could have sworn I locked my office before leaving.”

Unease trickles down my spine, but I don’t show him any reaction except an uninterested shrug.

“You must be misremembering.”

He straightens and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a lighter. He lights a cigarette and I tense. He smirks.

“I must be.”

I walk out and slam the door shut behind me.

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