Page 112 of Ruined By Protection
Damiano leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "This changes things. He's escalating."
"He's desperate," I correct.
"Or he's trying to draw Hazel out," Enzo suggests. "Hurt her family, make her come running."
The thought makes my stomach turn. "She won't. She knows better now."
Hazel
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. I sit up, tugging the sheet around me.
"Come in," I call, expecting Evelyn.
Matteo enters, balancing a tray loaded with food. The rich aroma of fresh coffee fills the room, along with something sweet and buttery.
"Breakfast," he announces, kicking the door shut behind him. "Ettore baked croissants this morning."
My stomach twists at the thought of food. "I'm not really hungry."
"You need to eat." Matteo sets the tray on the bed beside me. His voice is gentle but leaves no room for argument. "Even if it's just a little."
The tray holds a feast—golden croissants, fresh berries, scrambled eggs and crisp bacon. A small silver pot of coffee sits beside a delicate china cup. It's beautiful, thoughtful, and completely overwhelming.
"This is too much," I whisper.
"Start with coffee." Matteo pours the dark liquid into the cup, adding a splash of cream the way I like it—he must have noticed me adding some during breakfast and took note. I’m flattered.
I take a sip, letting the warmth spread through me. Matteo settles into the armchair beside the bed, watching me with dark, serious eyes.
"The croissants are still warm," he says after a moment.
I tear a small piece off and put it in my mouth. The layers melt on my tongue. I hadn't realized how hungry I actually was until this moment. I take another bite, larger this time.
Matteo doesn't touch the food. He just watches me eat, his gaze steady but distracted. There's a tension in his shoulders that wasn't there last night.
"You're not eating," I say, breaking the silence.
"I already ate."
I nod, reaching for a strawberry. "How was the meeting?"
"Productive." His answer is clipped, professional.
I study his face as I sip my coffee. The slight furrow between his brows. The tightness around his mouth. The way his fingers tap silently against his thigh.
"Something happened," I say. It's not a question.
Matteo's eyes meet mine. For a moment I think he might deny it but then he sighs.
"Montgomery sent men to your parents' house in Austin."
The strawberry I'm holding falls from my fingers, staining the white sheet. "What? Are they?—"
"They're fine," Matteo says quickly, leaning forward. "Javier's team intercepted the men before they got inside. Your family is safe."
Relief floods through me, followed immediately by cold fear. "What were they going to do?"
Matteo hesitates and I know he's deciding how much to tell me.
