Page 19 of Masked Hearts

I’m sure Adriano would be the obvious outlier with his now pink buzz cut, but since he and Augustus look practically identical for fraternal twins, I suppose trying to figure it out might’ve proved more challenging.

Mattia may have some of his mother’s attributes, such as her aquiline nose,but for the most part, Vitale’s genes are strong. So even he could pass as a brother. There’s only one undoubted brother, and that is Ambrose. We look so alike that it’s uncanny, with only my height and his as the major differentiating factor. I’ve tried everything from growing my hair out to staying leaner than he is, but without fail, everyone will always say—

“Wow, you and Ambrose look so much alike,” Eleanor voices my exact thoughts. I roll my eyes.

“She is pretty, why did you lie—” I smack Mattia up the side of his head before he can finish his sentence. I refrain from looking over at Theresa, but I can tell from Eleanor’s snickers that they did in fact hear. I’m probably slightly redder in my face than I would have liked.

I glare daggers at Mattia, but he only looks up at me with satisfaction in his eyes. He’s a shit-stirrer at heart, as much as he refuses to admit it.

“Where’s your father?” Ambrose's deep voice has all of our heads spinning in his direction.

“Wow, you’re even scarier in person,” Eleanor says.

“He’s in his study,” Theresa’s voice says. “Antonio knows the way.”

It’s the first time she’s spoken since correcting me about her name, and the sound pulls my eyes back to her as she points Ambrose in the right direction, a whisper of a smirk on her lips.

Mattia, Adriano, and Gus follow behind Ambrose, leaving me alone with my bride-to-be and Eleanor.

“Have you two been researching us?” I raise a brow. I may be speaking to both of them, but my eyes are zeroed in on her.

“Have to know what I’m up against.” She shrugs.

“And what did you find on me?”

“Absolutely nothing,” she grits her teeth. I already knew the answer when I asked the question.

No media outlet has anything on me. I’ve worked on keeping my image pristine, and with Adriano’s help, it’s been possible. Aside from a few business dealings, there’s not much on me out there.

“Because I’m the ever-perfect Vitale.” I shrug, pushing my glasses further up the bridge of my nose.

“Nobody’s perfect,” she counters.

She’s not wrong. I’m far from it. But no one outside of my family needs to know that.

“I am.”

“As much as I hate to interrupt whatever this is,” Eleanor says, “we have to go wedding dress shopping.”

I watch as Theá’s cheeks darkens a few shades and her eyes immediately drop from mine to the floor. She’s shy. Or embarrassed. It’s something that’s making her not want to hold my eye contact, which she usually does effortlessly.

“Have fun," I state plainly.

Eleanor drags her away, and I stand firmly in my spot, watching them leave before rejoining my brothers who have already entered the study with Gabriel and Kylian.

“You’re so fucked,” Mattia whispers as I stand next to him.

“Why? What did they say?” My first thought is to assume Ambrose said something stupid and we're all going to die.

“No, not this. I meant her.”

“What?” I ask.

He simply shakes his head and chuckles. “Just stay focused.”

“Great, you’re here. Let’s get started,” Kylian says.

I don’t miss the raised brows all my brothers send him before looking over at Gabriel.

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