Page 55 of Vincenzo
“What?” I snap.
“What the hell was that all about?”
Clenching my jaw, I grind out, “Amalia checked out of The Arlington.”
“She’s gone?” he says, and I nod.
“So she’s finally done exactly what we’ve wanted her to do this entire time.”
“Yup,” I say even though it wasn’t a question.
“Then why the hell are you so damn pissed?”
“I’m not.” Even though it’s fucking obvious I am.
Teo is quiet for a few seconds, then says, “Well… I’ll be damned.”
“What?”
He quirks a brow at me. “When did you fall for her?”
“I didn’t fucking fall for anyone.”
“Oh, cut the shit, Enzo. I’m your brother. I can read you better than anyone. You fell for the girl.”
“I said, I didn’t fall for anyone,” I repeat, the irritation of being called out on something I don’t want to be true ringing through.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap.
“You’re forgetting that you and I are a lot more alike than you think. You don’t want to fall for anyone because of what happened with our parents.”
Out of all the things Teo could’ve said in this moment, that’s not what I was expecting.
“I get it. Not letting a woman in, in fear of opening your heart up to something so incredibly fucking vulnerable.I get it.”
I remain silent, just staring at Teo, taking in his words that I’ve thought of so many times before.
I’ve always been adamant about my stance on relationships. Why open myself up to that vulnerability? Losing my parents was fucking earth shattering. The love and pain I felt for them that day isn’t something I want to ever experience again, so I vowed to never open myself up to anyone. To never allow myself to get put into a weakened position like that.
“Talk to me, Enzo,” my brother says, interrupting my thoughts. “Just talk to me.”
Taking a deep breath, I say, “I’ve been perfectly content playing the role I’ve been playing in our family. Adding in a woman—love—that’s not something I need.”
“But is it something you want?”
“No,” I rush out far too quickly, and my brother lets out a humorous sigh.
“I felt the same way. You know this. Getting married for me was always about taking down our enemy. I didn’t care whose name was on that contract because I knew I wasn’t going to give a fuck about her.”
Teo pauses as if he’s trying to figure out the next words he wants to say.
“But I was wrong. Lux did something to me.Quickly.I felt the need to protect her, to be around her. I just wanted…her.”
“I know all of this, so why are you telling me again now?”
“Ever since Amalia came to NYC, have you felt a pull to her that you can’t explain?”
