Page 127 of Innocent Intentions

“Maybe this is a conversation for later,” he says through a tight smile. But his eyes say it’s already over.

He’s insane if he thinks that I’m just going to live off him.

But it would be nice. No more spreadsheets. Just audiobooks.

Not the point.

I glance at his parents, bracing myself for judgement, expecting them to think I’m some gold digger.

But they’re smiling. What the hell?

“How did you two meet?” Evelyn asks, kindly changing the subject.

I freeze.

No. No. No.

“I was ordering coffee,” Matty says smoothly, “but had to step out after paying. Margot, being such a good Samaritan, chased me down with my forgotten credit card. I knew then I had to lock her up and keep her. It took some effort to win her over, but she’s finally mine now. She only tried to escape once, but she won’t be able to get away from me again.”

My heart stops.

Did he just admit to kidnapping me?

Then he winks and all three burst into laughter.

I force a laugh too as relief crashes through me.

“Oh, son. The good ones always make you work for it,” Damien says fondly. “It took months for your mother to agree to go on a date with me. But once she did, she fell for that Montclair charm.”

“I find the best approach is to not give her a choice,” Matty says with a grin.

I dig my nails into his thigh.Shut. The. Fuck. Up.

He flexes under my grip.

The smug bastard.

***

After a few hours of small talk, the front door opens. “Mom, Dad, I’m here.”

The voice is unfamiliar, but then a younger, dorky version of Matty walks in. His wireframed glasses make him look studious. He’s lean, maybe around my age. A little shorter than his brothers, but not by much. He’s definitely the youngest.

He kisses his mom on the cheek, then freezes when he sees me. His face pales, and his eyes widen, like he’s looking at a ghost.

“Sebastian!” Evelyn hisses. “Introduce yourself to Matthias’s girlfriend.”

“I’m so sorry, Margot. I’m Sebastian, Matthias’s youngest brother. You can call me Bash. I wasn’t expecting him to bring you.”

Matty’s grip on me tightens.

Why are they acting so weird?

“It’s nice to meet you.” I say awkwardly.

A few minutes later, another man steps into the room. He has to be the oldest, not because he looks old, but because of how he carries himself.

He’s not like Roman, who radiated anger and violence.

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