33. Arianna
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
ARIANNA
M y smile frozen on my face, I watched Matteo make a beeline toward his father.
My chest constricted and I struggled to push air out of my lungs. The pressure built and built, but I kept my composure. I stayed in control.
You and me. Nothing and nobody else matters. Remember that when the time comes.
And it hit me like an avalanche. He warned me about this when I—oh my God, I couldn’t think about that. How could he have done this?
I never—fucking ever—thought Matteo would cause my world to crumble around me like this. The least he could’ve done was warn me. He owed me that much.
Hannah skipped across the ballroom and gave me her biggest smile. She tugged on my hand like I was her own personal jumping rope.
“Oh my gosh, Arianna. It’s happening.”
Her blonde hair bounced while her eyes shone so brightly, I could almost see the sun sparkling in them.
I barely found the strength to say, “Congratulations.”
She turned to Gianna and hugged her, literally jumping with joy, and my baby sister’s gaze found mine. Mom and Dad came over and pulled us into a group hug. My brothers soon joined, and so did the other guests, while I pulled away and stood like a frozen statue. It was like watching it unfold through an hourglass, distorted images and voices.
“Come over here,” Mom demanded in a soft voice. Breathe in . I could do this. Breathe out . Mom wrapped me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my cheek, and somehow that made it worse.
The back of my eyes burned and I blinked furiously, trying to maintain control. Through my blurry vision, I found Matteo smiling while talking to his grinning father and mother. Smiling. He was fucking smiling .
I’d been a fool. He got what he wanted: his lies sweeping me off my feet. He’d already moved on to my twin, so I might as well find someone new too. It was a petty thought to have when the shockwaves were still hitting me, cracking my heart beyond repair, but I wouldn’t let him humiliate me like this.
First though, I had to get myself together.
“I have to use the powder room,” I croaked out and rushed away, scared someone would witness me fall apart.
“Hey, Arianna. Hold up.” Nikola’s big hand came to grip mine. “I have to admit, I didn’t see that coming.” His voice was light, but there was nothing easy about his posture.
“What are you doing?”
He rolled his eyes.
“Comforting you. At least I think I am.” I shot him a dumbfounded look. “Are you comforted?”
I blinked, then blinked again.
“I… guess… so… Not really.” I gave my head a subtle shake, not wanting to upset him. “It’s not that simple.”
The look in his pale blue eyes gutted me.
“If all else fails, I can marry you,” he offered.
“What did you just say?” Matteo’s frigid voice came from behind me, but I refused to turn around and acknowledge him.
“You heard him.” I motioned at Nikola while Matteo stepped around, almost as if he wanted to block him from my view. I shifted, purposely avoiding peeling my eyes away from Nikola. “He offered to marry me.”
Not that I would ever consider it.
Nikola smirked. “Brilliant, huh?”
To my shock, Matteo pulled his arm back and punched the smirk right off his best friend’s face. Here. In front of everyone.
Nikola wiped at the blood on his lip, grinning like a fool, his pale blue eyes glinting with… amusement?
“Over my dead body will he or anyone else marry you, Ari.” Matteo turned to face me as he chuckled, the sound dry and humorless. My spine stiffened. “Do you remember what I told you when we were kids?”
“You talked a lot of shit when we were kids, Matteo, and you still talk too much.” I was impressed by my level tone. “It seems to be a trait, an annoying one at that, amongst you men.”
He ignored my jab as he continued, his voice low and threatening, “I told you to be prepared to see any man you touch die. That includes my friends too.”
I twisted my lips into a taunting smile.
“You lost that right.” I started to move past him, but he stopped me by grabbing my wrist. I lowered my gaze to where he touched me, and even as a tremor shot down my spine, his touch rattling me down to my bones, I refused to show weakness. “Let go of me or you’ll regret it,” I snapped.
He seemed taken aback, but he refused to release me.
Without giving it another thought, I curled my hand into a fist and punched him in the face with all my fury. Crunch .
A wave of gasps rolled through the room, all eyes on us, while all my attention was on the boy who’d just broken my heart.
“Next time, I won’t hold back.”
The entire room was like a graveyard, everybody holding their breaths.
Until Nikola broke it with his booming voice. “Uncle Sasha was right. Morrelli and Vitale parties are like soaps, only better.”