“What do you want Armas?” Matteo growls.
Armas grins at Matteo’s foul mood. “You know what I want. The same thing I’ve wanted for the past couple of years.”
“Gia will never go out with you.”
“Why not? She should. I’m handsome, charming, have almost as much money as this family. I’m your best friend, so we already have your blessing to date.”
“You don’t have my permission to date my sister. Not that it matters, because she will never date you.”
“Not without some help. Come on Matteo, put in a good word for me.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because we are friends and I have saved your butt plenty of times.”
Matteo narrows his eyes. “When? Because all I ever remember you doing was running when I needed
your help.”
Armas laughs. “They were shooting at us. What was I supposed to do?”
“Stay and fight like a real man.”
“And get killed? No, thank you. Where is your brother anyway? He’s the one who usually saves your ass.”
“None of your business.”
Armas cracks his neck side to side. “Why won’t Gia go out with me? She is going to my family’s ball anyway. You all are. So why won’t she go with me?”
Matteo shakes his head. “You are clueless. She won’t go out with you because she’s in love with another man.”
Armas laughs like it’s the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. “You can’t be serious. She doesn’t fall in love. She’s a Carini. Carinis are ruthless, uncaring, and controlling. They don’t deal with things as simple as love.”
My eyes burn into Matteo. It’s not true. Arlo is definitely in love. He gave up his whole family, his entire life to live a life on the run with Nina.
Matteo doesn’t mention Arlo. Apparently, no one in town knows Arlo is gone or the reason.
“Well, call it lust then, but Gia is still hung up on the last guy that took her out on a date, so forgive her if she isn’t interested in letting you take her out.”
Armas sighs and leans back in his chair until his feet go up on the table. As he does, he notices I’m in the room for the first time. A creepy smile slinks up on his face as he gawks at me.
“And what’s your name, beautiful?”
I shovel in the last bite. “Eden.” I stare at him cautiously, letting him know not to mess with me.
Armas looks to Matteo. “Seriously? You have a slave? I thought the stories were only rumors.”
Matteo shrugs. “When will you learn all of the rumors are true?”
Armas cocks his head to the side. “Well, well, it’s my lucky day then.”
“I don’t know why? You have no luck,” Matteo says.
Armas turns his head toward me. “You can give me some luck by letting me borrow your slave tonight. It will help me get over your sister.”
Matteo crosses his arms across his chest. “And why would I do that? She’s mine.”
I swallow hard, not sure about this exchange at all or what I want to happen. For one, I want both men to stop referring to me as a slave. And two, I don’t know whose side Armas is on. If he takes me, maybe I can convince him to help me escape. But if not, then I want Matteo to win. Matteo, I understand. Matteo, I know what to expect from him. Armas would be like starting all over. And he might have no problem hurting me unlike, Matteo.