Page 329 of Hate Mates

“No.” Allegra steps into me, wrapping me in a hug. “Let me know how your date goes,” she whispers.

“I will. Now go and rest,” I say, pulling back, and giving her a knowing look.

My best friend hasn’t told me the news yet, but I see the glow covering her face. The slight roundness of her belly. Allegra is pregnant.

She chews her lip, her cheeks turning pink as she averts her gaze. It was not my intention to make her feel guilty about keeping it to herself, but I know Allegra better than I know myself. We tell each other everything. This will be eating her up inside, keeping it from me. But she must have her reasons.

Meeting my gaze, she confirms my thoughts, with a remorseful look on her face, but ignores my comment altogether. “Call me later?”

Grinning, I move around her, making my way to the door and pushing it open. “It will be late. You know how grouchy Dante gets when I disturb his time with you. I will call you tomorrow.”

“Be safe,” Allegra calls out to me as I step outside.

“Always,” I shout back, smiling like an idiot only for it to fall when my gaze lands on Matteo’s dark one.

A red light flashes in my mind’s eye, as a voice inside my head whispers one word repeatedly.Danger. Danger. Danger. Instead of heeding the warning, a thrill shoots through my body, settling between my thighs. My stomach tightens, lips part. Just like that, the feeling I have come to crave hits me.

And like the silly girl I am, I fall into the adrenaline rush.

Chasing it.

Needing it.

Somewhere buried deep in my brain, I know I should listen to my gut instinct.

But right now, with Matteo’s eyes on me…

I just can’t bring myself to care.

Chapter Five

MATTEO

Tension fills the SUV, making me feel like I can’t breathe.

Shifting in the driver’s seat and with one hand on the wheel, I pull at my tie, loosening it before opening my top button. My jaw tightens, anger slithering through my body that I am allowing Athena fucking Johnson to affect me this much. It’s fucking stupid. She is a nobody. Just some overprivileged little brat, desperate for a ride on the dangerous side.

I will not be the one to give her that, but I am sure one of Nico’s many other soldiers would jump at the chance. She should take a shot at one of them, instead of showering her attention on me. My hands tighten around the steering wheel on their own volition. Why does the thought of someone else’s hands on her make me see red?

My feelings for her are pure hatred. And yet… Nico’s words, about fucking our issues out, intrigue me more than I would like to admit.

Reaching up with one hand I scrub a palm across my mouth, my mind going haywire. I can’t deny Athena makes me feelunsettled. The whisper of unease, flowing under my skin, is evidence of that. But why?

Women have never made me feel this way. Usually, they are just a warm hole to find release, no feelings or emotions involved. Just a quick fuck and that’s it. So why, despite my feelings of hate toward Athena, have I allowed her to claw her way beneath the surface?

“I have a date tonight.” The source of my inner turmoil breaks into my thoughts.

Irritation works its way through my body, my head whipping around and throwing her a glower.

“Stop talking. I don’t want to hear your voice,” I hiss.

Hurt flashes in her eyes before she quickly shuts it down. I look back to the road, not wanting to witness the pain I caused. If I know Athena like I think I do, she will not want to show any vulnerability. I’m proven right in the next second, when she spits pure venom at me. “You don’t have to be such an asshole all the time. I was only telling you that I am over you and I have a hot date tonight.”

Pausing, I let her words sink in. She is going on a date. Since when?

Not wanting to show any emotion toward her, I shrug.

“Good for you. Someone else you can sink your teeth into.” My voice is nonchalant, though the blood is boiling in my veins.

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