Page 71 of Corrupted Memories
My brother nods. “Yeah, I kept it all for insurance.”
“Why? Why continue to work with him at all, Matt? Especially if you had the money to buy him out of the investment,” I ask.
His jaw works back and forth.
“He threatened your sister, didn’t he?” Sebastian offers.
Matt’s eyes close briefly, giving us a small nod.
“Same with the FBI?” I ask because I’m not sure how it all fits in.
My brother’s head snaps to him, then his betrayed gaze returns to me. “N-no, they offered me protection from the Italians… that extended to you.”
“That’s where you got the access to remove her face from databases,” Sebastian says absentmindedly.
I stare at my brother, not wavering from his pleading expression. My nose stings with the need to cry. “Everything you preached… It was a lie, and you knew how I felt about him. Why? You could have… just explained your concerns so I could have made a choice. And you took that from me.”
He swallows. “You would have chosen him. Every time. I just wanted to protect you.”
My eyes shutter and I relax into Sebastian. “I’m so sick of everyone thinking they know what’s best for me.” Shaking my head, I press into his chest. “I want to leave. I got all I need for now.”
Chapter 24
Sebastian
Nico guidesher to the SUV and I stand on the porch, keeping a hand on Matt’s chest to prevent him from following.
“Give her space.”
Anger pours off of him, and he pushes my hand away. “Don’t tell me what to fucking do. She’s my sister. I’ve always taken care of her!”
I back up a step, shrugging dismissively. “I’m not saying you haven’t, but everything she thought she knew was a lie. Let her wrap her mind around it.”
Matt glances away, the red around his eyes the only indication how much this is affecting him. “And the FBI?” His hoarse voice is barely above a whisper.
“That’s out of my hands. I know Gianna didn’thand you anything on me, but I can’t tell you what the Italians will do when they find out.”
He nods, accepting his fate. “Just… take care of her. Please.”
I swallow the growing ache in my throat. “I always will.”
Matt walks back into his house, closing his door with a soft click. The sound is a resigned note that twists my stomach with forewarning.
When I climb into the back of the SUV, she speaks before I’ve closed the door.
“I don’t want to go back to Chicago.” Her voice is strained, holding back sobs.
My eyes connect with Nico’s. “We’ll stay in a hotel for the night. How does that sound?”
She doesn’t reply, looking out the window she rests her face against.
“I packed us a bag just in case you wanted to take some time before returning,” I tell her gently.
Her nose scrunches and creates a small dip in her brows, but she still remains silent. I reach toward her. She shifts her shoulders inward to make herself smaller and I drop my hand.
My fist curls and I blow out a breath before settling my emotions. She’s not upset with me, I know that,but I’m going to be the one who gets the brunt of her anger. Her brother will be iced out until she’s ready to talk.
“Let’s get to the hotel,” I tell Nico. I’m half tempted to reach out to Luca, now knowing exactly where the little rat lives, but I hold back for Gianna’s sake.
