Page 109 of Ruined By Protection
"She was with Elliott before me. She disappeared right before our wedding." The words feel strange in my mouth, like I'm telling someone else's story. "She was pregnant."
Evelyn's eyes stretch. "Hazel..."
"Now Matteo thinks Elliott killed her." I say it plainly, needing to hear the words out loud. "And I'm starting to think he could be right."
"Jesus," Evelyn whispers. She shifts closer, her hand gripping mine. "How did you find out?"
I tell her everything—about Daniel's investigation, about Melissa's mother approaching me in the grocery store, about therevelation in the shower with Matteo. The words pour out of me, a dam finally breaking.
"I married him, Evelyn. I slept next to him for two years." My voice cracks. "How could I not have known?"
"Because he didn't want you to know," she says firmly. "Men like Elliott are experts at hiding who they really are."
I shake my head. "But a pregnant woman? His own child?"
"If she threatened his immaculate image...or…" Evelyn doesn't finish the sentence. She doesn't have to.
"What's going to happen now?" Evelyn asks after a moment of silence.
I meet her eyes. "Matteo is going to eliminate him."
I expect shock, horror, maybe even a lecture about going to the police. Instead, Evelyn just nods slowly.
"And how do you feel about that?" she asks carefully.
"I don't know," I admit. "Part of me thinks it's wrong—that no one should have that power over another person's life. But then I think about what he did to Melissa, what he did to me, what he might do to someone else..." I trail off, the weight of it all pressing down on me.
"And the other part?" Evelyn prompts.
"The other part of me thinks it's justice," I whisper.
Evelyn squeezes my hand. "Whatever happens, I'm here. You know that, right?"
I nod, grateful beyond words for her presence. "I know."
"And Matteo?" she asks. "What's happening there with the two of you?"
The question catches me off guard. With everything else swirling in my mind I haven't had time to figure out what's developing between Matteo and me.
"I don't know that either," I say honestly. "It's complicated."
"Love usually is," Evelyn replies with a small smile.
Love. The word hangs in the air between us. Is that what this is? This fierce, protective feeling that seems to grow every time I'm with him.
"He sees me," I say finally. "The real me. Not just what he wants to see."
Evelyn nods like she understands completely. "That's rare. Hold onto it."
CHAPTER 34
Matteo
Ireach the double doors of Damiano's office and knock twice, hard and fast.
"Enter," Damiano's voice calls from inside.
I push open the door to find Damiano behind his desk with Enzo lounging in one of the leather chairs opposite him. Maps and blueprints cover the desk surface, along with what looks like financial projections.
