Page 36 of Masked Hearts

“You’d do anything to protect them, wouldn’t you?” I ask, voicing my rather depressing as it voices thoughts aloud.

“I married you, didn’t I?” he asks with nothing but seriousness in his tone.

I turn, ready to blurt out an array of insults, but when my eyes land on his bright grin, I know the idiot is fucking with me. We both burst out laughing.

“You’re loyal to a fault, and it’ll be your greatest downfall.” I chuckle and shake my head.

“Wouldn’t you do this if someone was threatening your family?” he asks.

“I married you, didn’t I?” I fire back. “But all things considered, I’m only truly loyal to a few people, and it’s only the ones where I know the loyalty is reciprocated.”

“Come on, it can’t be that bad. I know your dad and Kylian are assholes, but what about your mom?”

As soon as the words leave his lips, it feels as if ice water has been thrown over me. Her death, although it was nearly thirteen years ago, feels fresher than hearing about Mattheo.

“She died. About thirteen years ago.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know,” he rushes out, eyes flashing between the road and me.

I shrug. “It’s okay, I guess. My father didn’t exactly give you an instruction manual, and he doesn’t speak about her ever, so you wouldn’t have known.”

“I probably could’ve brought the topic up a bit better.” He runs a hand through his hair.

“It’s okay, really. And to answer your question. I would give my life for her. So I guess I could be loyal to a fault in that case, too.” I smile, but it barely reaches my eyes.

I’d give my life to have her back for even a few hours.

“I think it would be nice to just be someone’s first thought for once,” he admits softly, and I wonder if it’s even meant for me to hear. “To have someone be this loyal to me in return,” he finishes.

My heart genuinely feels like it’s cracking open, because not only can I relate to what he’s feeling, but I find myself wanting that more and more in my own family.

“You’re not an afterthought, you deserve to be someone’s first choice,” I say. “We both do.”

He nods, eyes fixed on the last stretch of road as we finally reach Monte Carlo.

“You’ll never feel like an afterthought around me, even if this is fake,” he says as we arrive outside a large skyscraper. He gets out of the car and hands the key over to the valet.

I’m frozen in my seat; no one has ever wanted to make me feel important since my mom. And no matter how fake this might be, I find myself wanting to do the same for him, or at least hoping I can.

Chapter twelve

Antonio

AsIroundthecar to open the door for Theresa, she’s already got it open and on her way to get out.

I rush to offer her a hand, but she ignores it and chooses to rather stumble out of the low car, visibly still intoxicated and unstable in her heels.

“And here I thought after our deep conversation, you’d stop being stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn,” she fires back as she grabs onto my shoulder, trying to stabilise herself.

A few passersby glance over at us, and I sigh. “It’s our first night. I can't have this already making headlines. Please just let me help you until we’re inside.”

“Why? Can’t ruin that Mr. Perfect persona?”

“No, I can’t.” And in one swift movement, I scoop her up bridal style and, despite her protests, head into the large skyscraper we’ll now be calling home.

She may have sobered up a bit after our car ride and depressing bonding session, but she reeks of tequila and sugar.

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