Page 72 of The Deadly Candies

She pointed at the poster as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Her! That’s who you want. That’s not me! That will never be me!”

“I came in this room night after night, to escape my father and my family. I lay in that bed and stared at that poster. Pretended that she was my girl and we were on that beach, living life. No problems, Debbie. No obligations. Just free.”

Debbie looked away.

“Then Carmelo got hurt, and the world turned to greater shit, and I lay here, and I looked at that poster and realized she wasn’t my girl, that was not my beach, and that would never be my life. Life is shit. And Rita is a bitch!” Matteo spat.

“I don’t understand? Why are you angry? Are you mad at me? Or a poster?” Debbie asked.

Matteo went to the poster and ripped it from the wall. “I don’t fucking want her, Debs. I don’t fucking want beaches and fake shit! I want you! You! My baby!” he shouted and ripped up the poster in front of her. Confused and scared, Debbie said nothing. She just wiped away her tears.

“I want you too,” she said. “I do, Matteo. I only ran away because I knew I couldn’t have you or our baby.”

“You’re having the baby,” he said.

“Okay,” she sighed with the roll of her eyes.

He didn’t hear or wouldn’t hear her. She looked away.

“And you’re marrying José.”

“What?” her head swiveled back to look at him.

“He’ll say it’s his,” Matteo said. “You’ll tell your families tomorrow. You’re of age—they can’t stop you.”

Debbie shot up. “No! What aboutus?”

Matteo’s glare softened. “It’s temporary. I’ve got plans, but I needtime.” He reached for her, and she knocked his hand away. “He agreed.”

“You forced him too. He would never?—”

“José’s got a life—aboyfriend, you know that?”

She recoiled.José, in love?Guilt prickled her heart. How had she missed it? His life was changing, and all she did was go to him with her problems. As a kid, he had dreams that he never believed would come true. His family would never accept the fact that he loved men. How could it all be happening for him, too, without her being the keeper of his secrets? She didn’t know.

“He’ll marry you for show,” Matteo said. “Then, when I replace my father, we go public. You’ll be my wife.Our child will be legitimate.”

“Matteo, this is a crazy plan,” she reasoned. “It’s not fair to José.”

“He wants the deal. He can please his father, have his life with his boyfriend, and protect you.”

“And you want me to marry another man?” she frowned.

Matteo’s eyes darkened. “He isn’t a man. Not a real one.”

The slap rang out like a gunshot. Matteo’s head snapped to the side, his cheek hot and burning. He touched the sting slowly, disbelief hardening into ice in his veins.

Debbie stood her ground, chest heaving. “Heisa man. Maybe not my boyfriend, but myfriend—and youwilltreat him with respect. You won’t be one of those guys, Matteo, who beats him up because he isn’t man enough. Or bully him into doing what you want because you think you’re superior. You hear me?”

Matteo lowered his hand. His glare could’ve cut glass, but he said nothing.

Debbie closed her eyes, exhaling. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, okay. Today has been… too much.” When she opened them again, Matteo hadn’t moved. Rage simmered behind his eyes, caged but barely contained.

She reached for his face. He bristled. Undeterred, she cupped his jaw, forcing his gaze to hers. “I shouldn’t have hit you. I know you don’t like disrespect. You never hit me; I should never hit you. I’m sorry. But I need you toseeus, Matteo. Not the version in your head.Us.”

Her arms wound around his neck, and after a heartbeat, his locked around her waist, crushing, possessive. She smiled against his shoulder.

“I’ll do whatever you say,” she whispered.

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