Page 20 of Masked Hearts

“This is Kylian, my underboss. He’ll be taking over when I’m no longer fit to handle business, but until then,” he shoots Kylian a warning look for overstepping, “I’m Gabriel; it’s nice to finally meet you all in person, especially you, Ambrose. Congratulations on the recent engagement.”

Ambrose stiffens, his shoulders pulling tight.

“Leave my family business out of this.”

“Oh, but your family is my family now, remember? Hell, we’re family.” Gabriel smirks, extending his arms out. “I mean, you are engaged to my ex-sister-in-law, and your brother is marrying my daughter. We’re all just one big, interconnected family.”

The mention of Valerie leaves a sour taste in my mouth. It’s one thing for him to take a jab at Ambrose, but to throw Valerie and Mattheo’s relationship in his face is too far. And as much as I hate the motherfucker right now, he’s still my brother.

“Yeah, Ambrose. I mean, Theá and I are about to getrealclose, we should get to know each other better.” Gabriel’s eyes fly up to mine as I stare back at him with a smirk.

He opens his mouth, probably to bark out a threat, but Kylian beats him to it. “What did you just say?” Suddenly, it’s clear as day that the younger man in front of me is just a little brother who loves his older sister.

“What? You didn’t think I wouldn’t touch her, did you?” I raise a brow. I know I’m poking a bear right now, but I need them to understand that they don’t have the complete upper hand. “We have to consummate the marriage. Otherwise, it’s not real. And that’s what you want, right? It to be real?” Mattia lets out a snicker, and I can see the blood boil behind both Gabriel and Kylian’s eyes. “You want the bloody sheets, too? Well, that’s assuming she’s still a virgin.”

Gabriel’s eyes flash wide, and that’s when I know I have him just where I want him.

“She is.” I raise my brows. “That makes this whole thing a lot sweeter. I got to kill your brother, and now I get to be the first man to fuck yourinnocentlittle girl.”

Within a second, I’m slammed into the wall with a gun pressed between my eyes. Kylian’s wild eyes scan mine. “Speak about my sister like that again, and the only blood you see will be yours when I blow your brains out.”

“Enough,” Ambrose and Gabriel say together.

Adriano steps up next to us and glares at Kylian. “You heard your papá. Drop it.”

Kylian reluctantly drops the gun and backs away slowly.

“Consider that my warning. You may have manipulated me into doing this, but your daughter will be in my presence every day after this weekend. Do not bring Valerie up again.”

Gabriel’s eyes shift between Ambrose and me. “Interesting. You love her, but she’s marrying him. I knew something was up when I heard it was you,” he points at me, “who shot my brother instead of Ambrose.”

“Guess we both know each other’s weaknesses now,” I say.

I wouldn’t touch Theresa beyond what is necessary to keep this little fluke alive, but I’d make him believe I would if it meant keeping Valerie safe.

Ambrose clears his throat. “If you two are done. We’re here to discuss logistics.”

“Right,” Gabriel says. “I just need the total of how many people will be coming from your side.”

“Two hundred and fifty,” Ambrose says, and apparently, I’m the only person in the room who’s shocked.

“Who did you guys invite?” I whisper to Mattia.

“It’s probably easier to ask who we didn’t,” he responds, eyes staying trained on Ambrose and Gabriel as they discuss finer details.

“Who didn’t you?”

This causes his eyes to rise to mine. “My papá and Enzo.”

Both my brows shoot up in surprise. It was expected after what happened with Vitale Insurance last year, but to exclude only Mattia’s side of the family makes my heart ache for him.

“Don’t look at me like that, I’m fine. You’re getting married, even though it’s under shit circumstances. I’m just happy to be here for you. They dug their own grave.”

I bump my shoulder into his. I know this is how he deflects, especially since this isn’t the first time his side of the family is purposely unincluded from things.

“So what are you looking to gain out of this?” Ambrose asks, and the question has my ears perking up.

Gabriel stays silent for a bit, I assume to ponder his answer. “A son-in-law.”

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