Page 17 of Masked Hearts

He stops and looks over his shoulder. “So is your secret reading spot.”

And with that, he’s gone, along with any desire I have to finish this cowboy romance because the only man consuming my thoughts is Antonio Vitale.

Chapter six

Antonio

Thesun’swarmthonmy skin as I lean against the pillar on the front steps of the manor is the first remotely good feeling I’ve felt in the last week—aside from that brief conversation with Theresa on my first night. There was something about the way her hot gaze travelled over my body that felt…a bit too inviting.

As much as I’ve been trying to remind myself to remain focused on the end goal of getting out of here, that moment has been playing in my head on repeat. Especially the way she felt pressed against me while she was jumping about, trying to get her book back, the way she had zero fear in holding my eye contact. Something not many people can do.

The creak of the large metal gates opening echoes through the air. Although almost everything about this house has been upgraded, it still has the look of an old French manor, especially with its cream exterior that’s covered with overgrown vines or the extremely high fencing right around the property that has guards patrolling it every second of every day.

As much as I’ve been lying low and just taking all the wedding planning that comes my way, I’ve been quite observant. Gabriel has a more relaxed exterior than I’ve seen most men in power have–Ambrose included. He does have all his staff on a tight rein. It’s clear just how loyal they are to him.

Except his eldest son. Pierre and I haven’t had many interactions beyond discussions about where I’ll be taking his sister once we’re married, but I see the way he looks at his father. Maybe it’s the fact that his younger brother, Kylian, has been declared underboss, completely undercutting him. Something even I know is unusual in the cartel.

Secrets and lies follow this family around like a depressing, grey cloud, and the little yellow sunbeam in the centre seems to have the darkest cloud after her. I can’t help but wonder when the mask she wears around her father will finally crack.

“There’s my favourite soon-to-be-married man!” Mattia exclaims as he explodes out of the black sedan they arrived in—no doubt driven by one of our men, since I know Ambrose would rather die than accept anything from Gabriel.

“Aww, don’t say that. You’ll hurt Ambrose’s feelings,” Adriano comments loud enough for everyone to hear.

Mattia jogs up the stairs to me and immediately wraps his arms around me. “I’m so tired of your brothers; they’re making me miss mine. At least he doesn’t speak to me.”

“Good to see you too,fra.” I chuckle as I pat his back.

It’s no surprise that Mattia would eventually grow tired of my brother’s constant bickering. He and Enzo barely speak, so it’s not something he’s all that used to. It’s why we gravitate towards each other. Even though I love riling my brothers up, especially Ambrose, I also get tired of it and often retreat into silence.

“Well, you’re going to be stuck with them a lot more now that Enzo is up in the air and you’re taking over Vitale Insurance.” I smirk, and he shoots me an exhausted expression.

“Good to see you again, brother.”

“Tevici is all gloomy without you.”

The twins both greet me before taking in the surroundings.

Ambrose is the last to approach, and I can feel the awkward tension rolling off him in waves. I hate it. We’ve never been the closest, but we’ve also never been this distant before.

“Glad you’re not dead, Nino.” He pats my shoulder.

Glad you’re not dead.

That’s all he has to say. After everything. After it was his idea to send me to the exact island Gabriel happens to be from, or the fact that he was a good few hours delayed to realise I was even missing thanks to the engagement party I wasn’t invited to.

“Yeah, that makes one of us,” I grumble and walk past him, catching up with Mattia.

“So, how was the engagement party?” I ask in a hushed tone as I lean in towards him.

“Don’t worry, you didn’t miss much; food was decent, though. Kind of awkward since everyone noticed you were missing.”

That strokes my ego more than it should. I’m happy to know his day wasn’t the joyous occasion he hoped for, and it’s purely out of spite. As much as I want to be happy for both of them because of the obvious, you know,she was my best friendandhe’s my older brotherside of things, I just can’t.

“Mamá was also pissed about him leaving you out of it,” Gus says as he wraps his arm around my shoulder. Clearly, our hushed tones weren’t hushed enough.

I grin at him. He’s just slightly below my eyeline, but still the closest brother to my height.

“This place is huge,” Adriano quips.

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