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“And how the hell do you think you’re going to be able to help me at a strip club?” I ask.
“I don’t know. What if there are other people there that know about my mom. Maybe I can get them to talk?—”
“It’s a strip club, Luxtyn,” I interject, my voice getting louder. “What the hell do you think you’re going to be able to do to get these guys to talk?”
She opens her mouth to answer me, but I hold up my hand, silencing her on the spot. “Don’tanswer that. You’re not going to the strip club, and that’s the end of that.”
“Excuse you,” she snaps. “You’re not the boss of me, Matteo.”
“You’re my wife, which means I’m responsible for your safety.” We’re basically in a yelling match now, and Enzo and Isabella glance back and forth at each other like they don’t know if they should leave the room or not. It doesn’t fucking matter, though, because I’m about to end this conversation.
“There are men in that club that kill people for a damn living. They’re dangerous. You’re not going, and that’s the end of the fucking story.” I storm past her, but of course she has to get the last word in.
“You mean men like you?” Her voice is low, but her tone is unyielding.
I stop, but instead of turning around to acknowledge her remark, I ignore her and walk out of the kitchen toward my office.
I can’t argue with what she said. I am a killer. I’m no better than the men who’ll be in that strip club tonight, but I don’t give a fuck. Lux isn’t going, and I refuse to explain it any further to her.
28
LUXTYN
After our argument, I storm back into my room and fall backward onto my bed.
The fact he thinks he can still order me around like he owns me makes me livid. How dare he treat me like that, especially in front of his siblings. It’s so damn disrespectful. I should be allowed to go and help, but he treats me like I’m some child who’ll get in the way, and that infuriates me.
A knock comes through my door, and I would be inclined to think it’s Matteo, but the soft taps tell me it’s most likely Izzy.
“Come in,” I call out as I bring myself to a seated position on the edge of my bed. If it was Matteo, I’d be telling him to fuck off.
Izzy pushes the door open, letting herself in before closing it behind her. “Are you okay?” she asks softly, the expression on her face displaying remorse.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Your brother’s just an asshole. . . no offense.”
Shelets out a small laugh before climbing onto the bed next to me. “No offense taken. He can definitely be a dick.” I let out a humorous scoff because if that isn’t the statement of the century, then I don’t know what is. “But I’m sorry,” she continues. “This is all my fault.”
I whip my head in her direction, surprised at her apology. Notunderstandingher apology. She must read the confusion on my face because she continues.
“The only reason that fight happened is because of me. I shouldn’t have told you that he was going to speak to Enzo about your mom. I should’ve let him come to you instead of causing this fight.” She fidgets with her fingers in her lap.She truly believes she’s responsible for this.
I place my hand over hers and give it a light squeeze, attempting to stop her unease. “This is not your fault, Izzy. I appreciate you having my back and telling me when you did. You heard your brother. He wasn’t planning on telling me. He was just going to lie to me.” And here I thought he was the only one I could trust. The one whowouldn’tever lie to me.
“Matteo’s a lot of things, but he’s not a liar,” Izzy says softly. “He might’ve not come out and told you the way he did, but he would’ve told you eventually. And had you called him out on it, he wouldn’t have lied to your face. He would’ve been honest with you.”
“Great, so you’re sticking up for him now?” I snap, and immediately wince at my tone. She rounds her shoulders slightly, lowering her gaze. “I’m sorry, Izzy. You didn’t deserve that. I’m just. . . a little tense.”
“It’s okay. I really am sorry, though. I should’ve stayed out of it.”
Shaking my head, I say, “No more apologizing. I appreciate you for telling me. I truly do. Your brother just knows how toget under my skin, which is even more annoying because he hasn’t even known me that long.”
I flop myself down onto my back again, letting my legs dangle over the edge of the bed, and let out a long sigh. “I just wish he understood where I was coming from. It’s my mom we’re talking about, and he thinks it’s okay to keep me in the dark. Leave me here to twiddle my damn fingers all day and night while he does whatever it is he’s doing.”
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I know if I was in your position, I’d want to do everything in my power to help, too.”
“It’s a terrible feeling. My mom’s my best friend. Whenever I’ve needed her, she’s always there for me, whether that be teaching me how to ride a bike when I was five or teaching me how to do my makeup when I went into high school. And now I’m stuck here feeling helpless, not able to be there for her like she’s always been there for me.” I let out a long sigh. “I just want to help, Izzy.”
A few silent moments pass between us before she gasps. “Wait a second. I might have an idea on how we can help find your mom.”
