Page 135 of Masked Hearts

It’s a trend throughout the house, small little hints at our time in Monaco that he incorporated into this home.

“I thought you said we were going to dinner?” Noelle asks.

“We are, we’re just walking over,” Antonio says as he opens a gate that leads right onto the beachfront.

“Oh my God, private beach access. This is the best thing ever,” Noelle says as she kicks off her shoes and runs down the shore.

“Are you trying to bribe my sister?” I ask, looking up at Antonio, who is also removing his shoes before bending down to unclasp my heels.

“I’m trying to make sure she never has to argue with you about going home again,” he says.

“Kaia told you?” I ask, and he nods slowly.

“I’m sorry she gave you such a hard time. You were doing the best you could.” He stands again, both our shoes in hand.

“It’s okay, I don’t blame her.” I shrug, following him down the few stairs. When my toes hit the warm sand, I almost melt. “Is everything in this place amazing?”

“Considering I was born here? Yes,” he says, and I’m glad to see he’s returning to his usual cocky self.

It’s a stroll that barely lasts fifteen minutes before we arrive at an enormous house. Suddenly, all my nerves skyrocket again. Noelle jogs up to the gate first without a fear in the world, as if she’s lived here her entire life. I’m glad she feels as at home as she does, because it’ll make my life a lot easier than it was in Cape Town.

Antonio is next, and he holds open the gate for me before stopping and bending down to help me back into my heels, carefully dusting off any remaining sand.

These little gestures flood straight into my heart, threatening to make the entire organ explode out of sheer joy and adoration for this man.

“C’mon, I can hear the chatter,” he says, walking ahead. He leads us up some more stairs into the backyard of his childhood home.

“Nino’s here,” a voice calls, and soon enough, everyone’s head is popping over the banister above us.

“Hey, everyone, I come bearing gifts.”

There are a lot more people than I expected for a family dinner, and I quickly realise that the termfamilyis very different around here than it was back home. Whether blood-related or not, anyone the Vitales feel a particular loyalty towards is here, and they’re considered family.

“Everyone, this is Theá. My wife,” he says with the broadest smile in the fucking world, and all I want to do is melt on the spot. “For real this time,” he adds, and everyone chuckles and cheers while I wave awkwardly. “And this is her sister, Noelle.

Noelle is welcomed just as quickly, immediately being stolen by Mattia, who takes her around the room to introduce her to everyone.

Adriano and Gus are the first to come and greet Antonio, and as I’m watching the sweet exchange, I’m ripped away and swallowed into a hug.

“Oh, I’m so happy to see you’re alive.” Valerie’s smaller frame embraces me and chuckles leave my lips as I return the hug.

“Ahh, I’m happy to see you, too, Val.”

“We were so worried this wasn’t going to work out,” she says, and I furrow my brows.

“We?”

“Nat, Sel, and I when we heard about the boys’ idiotic plan. We were so scared that it wasn’t going to work out in the end, but we’re so glad it did. I’m also sorry we didn’t say something sooner. I can only imagine what all of this looked like to you, especially since you trusted us.”

“It’s okay, I understand why you couldn’t say anything.” I spot Nat a few feet away, and she immediately walks over and hugs me as well. “Where’s Selena?”

“Modelling gig in the States, but she said we have to video call her later to catch up,” Natalia says, and I nod, immediately agreeing.

“C’mon, let me introduce to you some of the people you haven’t met yet.” Val drags me away.

My heart swells even more than I thought it could at just how easily these girls welcomed me into their friendship, even before all of this was real.

We slip past Ambrose, and I’m offered his usual head nod, but I’m surprised to find a bigger smile accompanying it, as well.

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