Page 120 of Red Retaliation
This will kill Red. He and his brothers may clash, but for them to turn on him like this... I can barely believe it.
I don’twantto believe it.
“Nothing to say, dear sister?” Matteo exchanges grins with the driver, and I feel sicker than ever. The only person showing no reaction is the brick-head man, who continues staring through me.
“Perhaps you knew of these ‘traitors’ yourself, but being the selfish, self-obsessed bitch you are, chose to keep the information which could help your family to yourself? After all, it takes one to know one,” Matteo continues, his voice a throaty snarl. “It’s a good jobbest friendsaren’t always all they’re cracked up to be. Your ‘husband’ should know that no one can be trusted in this life.” His face twists into a sinister smile that freezes my blood. “Papà will thank me in the end - not that he has a choice.”
My nausea rises.
Best friend?
Del? Del Carter set Red up? Oh, no, no, no!
So that’s who I heard in the corridor? Del and another man. Could the second man be Cal Bennett or someone else?
By the way Matteo regards me with such amusement, I’ve clearly failed to hide my shock.
“You seem surprised, Arianna,” he says, his lip curling with scorn. “Yes, very helpful, my informant...”
My anger rises, overtaking my shock. “Red will know I’ve been snatched - if not already, then soon. You’re making a big mistake, Matteo, because he’ll come for you!”
And that Idoknow about Red. He’s risked everything, including his life, to protect me several times already.
My brother laughs at this - a loud, hearty chuckle which makes me want to punch him in the mouth. “I overestimated your minimal intelligence, bambolotta. You’re way off!”
I stiffen at Matteo’s use of Papà’s pet name for me. He doesn’t deserve to use it. He deservesnothing. How can I be related to someone who has turned out so warped and evil?
Before I can retaliate with the words I want to scream at this person I’m ashamed to share DNA with, he continues. “The men I have on the inside, one especially, share the most useful information... The main one being that your ‘feared’ Mr Bateman has an Achilles heel.” Leaning over the back seat, Matteo grabs a handful of my hair and twists it in his fingers. “And that Achilles heel isyou!”
Repulsed, I yank my head away, not caring how much it hurts. How can I be Red’s Achilles heel? Because I dragged the Batemans into this mess? Guilt stampedes over me.
“Apparently, being in love is an impossible thing to happen to Redmond Bateman... You’ve achieved the unachievable, so well done!”
Warmth floods me at this unexpected revelation.Red is in love with me?Then my eyes narrow. “What would you know?”
“Why do you think you’re here? As I said, for once in your life you have something to offer. You’re my bargaining chip.” Matteo grins harder. “His best mate never thought it possible, yet you’ve surpassed all expectations. So yes, Red Batemanwillcome looking, and he’ll walk straight into my trap. Let’s face it; who do you think he believes has hold of you? Not me!”
With rising sickness, whether it’s true what Matteo says regarding Red’s feelings, I realize that he’s right on one thing: Redwillassume Papà and Edoardo Bristoni are behind my disappearance, when in reality neither of them are part of it. Bristoni especially, if he’s dead.
Papà might have attempted to broker deals with Red, but the rest of this...
My brother, my flesh and blood, has engineered this entire setup? Forit to be possible that he’s organized and played out all these threats and deaths for mercenary gain is physically painful.
Is it possible he’s made it appear Edoardo Bristoni and our father are responsible for everything? Steve’s murder, the accountant, the hoax with the bomb? Even perhaps the statement leading to that reporter’s demise?
I swallow dryly.
And what about Joe Farrow attacking me? Would my own brother really arrange that to happen?
I raise my eyes to Matteo, his treachery searing my heart. “The threats, the fake information, it was... it was all down to you?”
“Ah! She finally gets it!” Matteo bangs the back of the driver’s seat with his large hand. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He slides down the electric window and casually tosses my phone out. “We don’t want Bateman coming anywhere near where youreallyare because you have additional work to do which must not get interrupted.”
I press against the window in horror, watching my only link with Red bounce on the pavement and rebound into a hedge.
Fuck!Red will go for Papà and Edoardo, thinking they are behind this, as well as walking into whatever trap my brother has planned. Edoardo is already dead, so it will be Papà who will die first, and Matteo will then kill Red directly once the job he’s been angling for all along has been done. I have to get the truth to Red before it’s too late.
But there’s no way of tracking me or getting in contact now, which leaves only one option.
