Page 117 of Ruined By Protection
"Don’t bother with denials," Zoe cuts me off, waving her hand dismissively.
Damiano watches our exchange with interest, his arm still draped possessively around his wife.
"So," Zoe continues, relentless as always. "What's it like? Being in love?"
I stare at her, searching for a deflection. "I guess it's like when you wanted Damiano but didn't know what you needed was actually him."
Zoe's eyes narrow. "Nice try. Always find a way to turn questions around, don't you?"
"It's a gift," I shrug, hoping she'll drop it.
She exchanges a look with a smirking Damiano, then jokingly threatens; "You know I'll make you pay for that, right?"
"For what?" I ask innocently.
"For dodging the question." She slides off the arm of Damiano's chair and approaches me. "I could tell Hazel about the time you got so drunk at Noah's birthday that you tried to serenade a potted palm."
I feel heat creeping up my neck. "You wouldn't."
"Or maybe about the Christmas party when you wore that ridiculous?—"
"Fine," I interrupt, holding up my hands in surrender. "What do you want to know?"
Zoe's smile is triumphant. "What's it like? For real this time."
I take a deep breath, running a hand through my hair. How do I explain something I barely understand myself?
"It's... terrifying," I admit finally. "Like someone ripped out something vital and now walks around with it in their pocket. And you just have to trust they won't crush it, or sit on it, or decide to toss it out."
The room falls silent. Even Damiano looks surprised at my honesty.
"But it's also..." I struggle to find the right words. "It's like finding something you didn't know was missing. And now you've found it you can't imagine going back to before you had it."
Zoe's expression softens. "That's actually... sweet."
I clear my throat, uncomfortable with the label. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it."
"Too late," she says with a grin. "I'm definitely telling Hazel about this conversation."
"Zoe—"
"And the palm tree incident."
Damiano chuckles, the traitor. "I have pictures of that somewhere."
I glare at both of them. "Can we get back to the plan for neutralizing Montgomery?"
"Of course," Zoe submits, although her eyes tell me this isn't over. "But just so you know, Matteo, it looks good on you."
Her smile turns genuine. "Being in someone’s pocket."
I watch Damiano and Zoe leave the study, heading to the nursery to check on Sofia. Zoe throws one last knowing smile over her shoulder and I can't help but shake my head. I've never been the type to wear my heart on my sleeve but apparently I'm doing a shit job of hiding my feelings for Hazel.
The door's barely closed behind them when it opens up again and Noah and Daniel enter, both wearing expressions that tell me they've been busy. Noah's suit jacket is unusually rumpled and Daniel has the focused look he gets when he's been staring at surveillance footage for too long.
"Tell me we have good news," I say, moving to the large table we use for planning manoeuvres.
Noah pulls out his phone and swipes through what looks like a flight manifest. "Jet's scheduled for 7 p.m. departure today."
