Page 162 of When We Fall: Part One
“Did you do that to Bianca and Dominic?” The words slipped quickly from my mouth.
He cocked his head and smirked at me, a disarming look that made my pulse pound.
“A scare tactic, really. I have no desire to bed Dominic’s wife. Or ex-wife. Never wife. Whatever she is these days. Dominic and I do not get along. He isn’t as strong as Alessandro. Or Tomasso, for that matter. Have you met Tomasso?”
“Trent? I’ve met Trent. He helped save me from a guy in the Underground once when Anson took me to see him fight.”
“Alessandro,” Matteo corrected gently. “Say it.”
“Alessandro,” I repeated, his name strange on my tongue.
He smiled at that. “Alessandro and Tomasso are good boys. They visit me often. Alessandro is more willing to work than Tomasso, but Tomasso has trauma we’re working on.”
“His mother and sister’s deaths,” I said softly.
Matteo nodded tightly. “Tomasso witnessed it. I do not wish to push him right now. I’ve only just gotten him back. Plus, he was subjected to working with the Ivanovs.”
I said nothing because I wasn’t sure what to say to the man.
“So. Alessandro. You love my son. My heir. What an interesting situation you’re in, sweet girl, for you also love my enemy and my nephew.”
“You promised you wouldn’t hurt me,” I said nervously.
He chuckled. “And I will not harm a hair on your pretty little head,bel fiore.I need to know that what you feel is real and that you will not hurt my son.”
“I can’t be with him,” I said, knowing I needed to be honest. “Enzo and the guys won’t allow it. Fox and Ethan may, but Enzo and Cole would never.”
“And if they said yes, would you?”
“I don’t like these questions,” I said hoarsely. “They make me feel like I’m-I’m cheating. Please don’t make me answer.”
He studied me thoughtfully before nodding.
“And Fox. Do you love him and intend to remain with him?”
“Yes. I will never leave him.”
“If forced to choose between Fox and Lorenzo, who would you choose?”
I fidgeted, wishing Anson would come back. Matteo’s questions were too much. Answering them wasn’t something I could do.
“Pick. You must choose.”
“I can’t,” I said, my voice low.
“You can. Fox or Lorenzo. Tell me. Our secret.”
“Fox,” I choked out. “He’s my best friend. If I had to choose, I’d choose Fox, but I’d break because I love Enzo and would miss him with everything I am.”
“Do you choose Fox because you do not love the life Lorenzo has given you?”
I nodded miserably. I hated it here. Leaving couldn’t happen soon enough.
“So you are madly in love with Lorenzo De Luca but hate this life. How ever did you fall for him?”
“I didn’t think it would be like this.”
“And now that it is?” He watched me closely.
