49. Matteo
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
MATTEO
“ S o what do you need, Agent Lloyd?” I inquired once Arianna disappeared from view.
The man’s eyes fell to my arm and he raised a brow.
“Maybe I should be asking you that.” The drawl of the agent rubbed me the wrong way. “Looks like a gunshot wound, Mr. Vitale.”
The perception of this man is unmatched , I thought sarcastically.
“It’s just a graze, and no gun involved,” I lied.
“Perhaps, but somehow I don’t believe you.” He rubbed his jaw. “No matter though. There have been reports of suspicious activities on campus.”
Nikola and I shared a glance. If there were suspicious activities on campus, nobody would call the authorities. It would be handled by the mafia families running this place.
“Maybe elaborate, Agent Lloyd,” I drawled.
“You want me to explain to you what suspicious activity is?” Agent Lloyd deadpanned. “Maybe I should get you a dictionary.”
Nikola laughed. “Matteo was having a romantic night with his girl and I was chasing another one. What’s suspicious about that?”
“I’d like to know who reported it,” I inquired. “And how did you get here so fast?”
He let out a sardonic breath. “Maybe you should ask your family.”
Alert shot through me, but I kept my facade firmly on.
“Elaborate,” I demanded.
“I’m the one asking the questions here,” he said, amused.
My eyes narrowed. “Then ask away, Agent .”
“Have you seen anyone strange—outside you two and the girls you were chasing —on campus?”
“No.”
“No strangers roaming around that you noticed?”
Tension rolled through me. “Outside of you, no.”
“It’s my understanding that surveillance was installed around the planetarium building,” he said, and I tensed. There was no way he’d know that unless he had insider information. “I’ll need access to it.”
“You’re mistaken. The building was just built recently and we haven’t gotten around to getting the surveillance set up yet,” I lied.
The agent watched me, then nodded, seemingly satisfied.
Then he proceeded with many other questions, getting nowhere. Soon, the school authorities showed up. Just as we wrapped it up with Agent Lloyd and he started walking away from me, my phone rang.
“Yes, Francesca?” I answered, watching the agent’s back stiffen for a flicker of a second before he resumed walking.
The taut silence should have been my warning. “I think… The girls are gone.”
“What girls?” I snarled, but I fucking knew.
“Hannah and Arianna.”
“What?” I roared, but I was already running in the direction of their dorm which was clear across the campus. “Why didn’t you stop them?”
“I just got back.”
My brows furrowed. “From where? It’s the middle of the goddamn night.”
She scoffed. “Hypocritical much, brother?”
I’d have to deal with Francesca and her outings some other time.
I took a calming breath before saying, “I’ll be right there,” and hung up.
“What’s wrong?” Nikola asked, and it was only then I realized he was at my side. “Did Hannah do something else?”
“They’re gone. This is all Hannah’s fault. If she hurts her… I don’t give a fuck whose daughter or sister she is. I’m going to…”
We were already at their building, where we found Francesca waiting for us. I wanted to go inside, barge into that goddamned suite, and tear into it, looking for clues. But my sister blocked my path.
“Move,” I warned.
Her small frame didn’t budge. “No. She’s gone and her stuff’s missing. Also, the others are sleeping. Don’t cause more of a scene. Shit’s already bad enough.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I roared.
“You don’t think there’ve been whispers since your shitshow of an engagement party?” she hissed, her hands on her waist. “Arianna is gone. You won’t find any clues in the room.”
“Dude, she’s right,” Nikola muttered. “And with the fire… It’s best we don’t add anything to the situation.”
“Fuck gossip. Let them talk.”
“You’re only going to make it worse, brother. Trust me.” She stared at me pleadingly. “Matteo, the girls are close. You’ve known that since day one.”
Ignoring her, I went to sidestep her but Nikola pulled me back. “Listen to her, man. Yes, Hannah is crazy and I guess she’s dealing with some shit, but those two are still tight.”
Francesca nodded, shooting Nikola a grateful glance, before she added, “Don’t deepen their rift. Go after Arianna, and then… Fuck, I don’t know.”
They both had a point. Arianna wouldn’t allow herself to be found—she was too smart to be underestimated. She definitely wouldn’t have left clues behind. And the sooner I went after her, the easier it would be to track her down.
“Follow through with your plan,” Nikola urged.
I turned to leave when Francesca grasped my arm.
“What plan, Matteo?” I yanked my arm from her grip, but she grabbed me again. Her eyes flashed, and she added another question. “And what happened to your arm?”
“Just a graze. I’ll take care of it.”
“And the plan?” she inquired stubbornly.
“It’s none of your business. I’ll deal with this my way.”
She shook her head. “ No . Do it the right way, Matteo. Don’t?—”
I cut her off. “I tried doing it the right way. I talked to her father, trying to make him see reason. I fucking told Hannah I didn’t want her and never would. For fuck’s sake, I begged Arianna on my knees to choose me.”
My sister inhaled a shuddering breath before releasing it. “She loves you. She just needs time.”
“She loves me,” I gritted. “And she’ll get all the time in the world once she’s my wife.”