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My heart skips a beat, and I can't help but stare at him incredulously. "I don't have that much money, Mattia."
"You do now," he smirks, his grip on my thigh tightening just enough to make me squirm. "We're married, Aurelia. My money is yours. And I have more than enough of it."
"That's…you…I…" My mind races as I gape at him, my vision blurring slightly. I feel like I might pass out, but instead, I blink back the dizziness and focus on breathing. Yes, breathe. I can do that.
The car rolls to a stop at a red light, and Mattia glances over at me.
"While I'm making your head spin, I have something else to tell you," he says, giving my thigh another gentle squeeze.
I wave my hand weakly, motioning for him to continue. Might as well go for broke, right? Not that I'll be broke anytime soon, apparently.
Several zeroes? Good grief!
"We're going to dinner at Rafe's tomorrow," he informs me, his voice steady and matter-of-fact. "Gabriel and Luca will be there, too."
The news hits me like a ton of bricks. I struggle to process it, my mind reeling. I'm meeting my brothers tomorrow.
The thought both excites and terrifies me. I've wanted to meet them for so long. But I never dreamed it'd be like this—with the threat of Brio hanging over my head like a sword. I haven't had time to figure out a way out of this mess. All I know is that I can't—I won't—follow through on what he wants. One way or another, I have to find a way to save my mom and myself without my brothers ever finding out the truth. If they do, they'll never trust me. No one will.
"A-are you sure that's a good idea?" My voice wavers with uncertainty.
Mattia's gray eyes pierce through me as if he can read every conflicted thought in my head. "Yes," he replies firmly. "But there's a catch."
I roll my head to the side, eyeing him cautiously. Even without the words, I know what he's getting at. The truth is written all over his face, etched into the lines around his mouth and the furrow between his brows.
"You haven't told them who I am," I whisper, a twinge of sadness tugging at my heart. I'll meet them as my brothers, but they'll meet me as a stranger.
It's my own doing, I remind myself. I have only myself to blame.
That truth doesn't make it hurt any less.
"We can call them right now and tell them who you are, topolina," Mattia says, his voice gentle. "If that's what you want, I'll do it."
Yes, I want to cry. That is what I want. But what happens then? Do I lose Mattia? Does my whole world change again? Does the whole damn rope fray and leave me dangling over the edge? Am I one step closer to losing everything?
"Don't," I whisper, glancing away from him. "I don't want them to know."
He sighs softly.
We drive in silence for a few moments before I feel compelled to speak again. "Why would you tell them when you don't even trust me, Mattia?"
"You know why, little mouse."
He's right. I do know. He'd risk it because he cares about me. I think…I think he may even be falling in love with me. But he doesn't know me.
How can he when I'm a liar?
Fifteen minutes later, the front door slams shut behind us, the echo of it bouncing off the walls like a gunshot. Frenzied desperation consumes me as I push Mattia up against it, my lips crashing into his with an intensity that leaves us both breathless.
My mind is a battleground, and I'm desperately losing the war. I need him to silence the chaos and make me forget.
"Topolina," he murmurs, desire and surprise mingling in his voice as he spins us, capturing my hands to pin them to the cool wood. The unrestrained need in his tone sends shivers down my spine. He never hides how much he wants me. I love that. His eyes flicker across my face. "What do you need, cara mia? Tell me, and it's yours."
I can't help but whimper as I press myself against him. "I want you to fuck me until I forget everything but your name, Mattia."
"Are you sure?" His eyes bore into mine, searching for any hint of hesitation. But all I feel is the overwhelming need to be closer to him, to surrender myself completely to this fierce, commanding man.
"Please, Mattia," I beg, digging my fingers into his shoulders. "I need you. Please."
