I swallowed, my throat suddenly thick. Was he following me? Nerves prickled at my skin, and I tried as nonchalantly as possible to pick up my bags and head toward the salon. I would use their phone and call a cab. I walked slowly, peeking in windows, my tension increasing as I realized he was trailing behind me, far enough away I wouldn’t normally have noticed, but close enough I knew what was happening.

Matteo had been right.

I picked up my pace and arrived at the salon, smiling at the receptionist.

“Could you call me a cab, please? I think I’m done.” I tried to sound normal, but my heart was racing. I needed to get home. Back to the safety of the house and Matteo.

“Ah, there you are.”

I spun at the sound of Matteo’s voice. He was sitting in the waiting area, his legs crossed, a cup of coffee on the table in front of him. He stood, smoothing down his jacket, his voice light. “I was wondering how much of my money you were going to spend today.” He approached me, and despite the easy tone in his voice, his gaze was dark and flinty, his shoulders set back in anger. He was livid. Beyond it, even.

I didn’t care. Relief so great swelled in me, and without thinking, I dropped my bags and flung myself into his arms. He was shocked, stiff and unmoving for a moment, then enfolded me into his embrace.

He laughed, knowing we were being watched. “Begging forgiveness already.” He lowered his head, looking as if he was kissing my cheek.

“We’ll talk about this at home. We’re leaving. Now,” he breathed in my ear.

He bent and picked up the bags. “Thank you for the coffee while I waited for my errant wife.” He smiled at the group of women all staring at him. He held out his hand. “Home, Evie.”

I looked behind me. The man I had seen was nowhere to be found. Had I imagined him?

I took Matteo’s hand, his anger evident in his tight grip. I felt a shiver of fear run up my spine.

Suddenly my impromptu shopping trip seemed like the worst idea I had ever had.

In the car, Matteo was silent, his anger rolling off him in waves. I met Marcus’s eyes in the mirror and saw his imperceptible headshake as if warning me to stay quiet.

At the house, Matteo opened the door and waited until I climbed out, not touching me. He took the bags from the trunk and walked upstairs, not waiting for me.

With a sinking heart, I followed him.

In our room, he set down the bags in the closet.

“Matteo,” I began.

“Do not speak, Evie.”

“You’re angry,” I breathed.

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m furious.”

“I’m sorry, I—”

“Sorry for what? Disobeying my direct request you not be out of this house without security? For leaving despite the fact that it was only you and Roza, and then once you were on your own, wandering for hours without contacting Geo as you promised her?”

“How did you know?” I asked quietly.

“I knew Lila had a headache, and because your phone didn’t move, I assumed you had the common sense to stay home. When Roza called to tell Alex about her mother, I discovered otherwise.”

“My phone didn’t move?” I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“All our phones are tracked. Yours never moved from the house. I thought you were here with it. I never imagined you would leave without it on your person.”

I should have known Matteo could trace my phone. No doubt he could trace anything he wanted to.

“I forgot it.”

“You forgot a lot of things today. Including your promise to me.”

I felt my cheeks flush at his words, but I ignored them. “So, you came to the mall.”

“Yes. Marcus convinced me not to go in there and drag you out. I let one of my men stay close, and I waited for you. I assumed you would go back to the salon to get them to call a cab for you.”

“You did?”

“There are no phone booths in the mall, Evie. It was only logical.”

“So, the man I saw—he was one of yours?”

“Yes.”

“I was so scared when I realized I was being followed, Matteo,” I confessed.

If I thought my words would soften him, they did the opposite. His eyes narrowed, and his voice became colder.

“You were lucky this time. I can’t always be there to rescue you, Evie. It is tiresome. One of these times, I won’t be able to help you.” He crossed his arms. “I expected better of you.”

His tone and anger cut me to the quick. I swallowed, unsure how to explain. I stepped forward, reaching for his arm, and he stepped back.

“Do not touch me.”

I reared back as if he had slapped me.

“It was only the mall, Matteo.”

His glare became icy. “Convenience store,” he snapped.

Tags: Melanie Moreland Men of Hidden Justice Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net