Valentina.
“Another day to pretend I wasn’t tired.”
I dreamt of Matteo for an entire week.
I could never remember what happened in the dream, but I always woke up with the phantom touch of his hands between my eyes and a tight ball of need in my stomach.
Didn’t help that I felt Isabella’s disapproval alongside.
Cold showers, as much as I hated them, helped once in a while. Matteo’s absence in the estate was a blessing in disguise, though I hoped he wouldn’t come home with a bruised face again
A blessing in disguise because I wouldn’t have to deal with his smug face whenever we had breakfast with memories of sex dreams running through my mind.
His grip on my neck. His fingers filling me as I shamelessly rode his hand to orgasm. The desire in his eyes as he watched me break apart in his arms.
It was so potent that the words he said before he walked away from me didn’t even hold any real effect.
“Isabella would watch as I break you.”
It was all a game to him. Something to amuse him until the woman he was in love with returned from her trip – since everyone thought so.
A shiver that had nothing to do with the weather rolled over me.
The day had begun with light drizzling. I liked the rain when I was at home, tucked and snug in my bed with no responsibilities and no Caterina in sight.
I relished the chill today. It kept my mind from exploring other options of entertainment.
I glanced out the window of the car as the city rolled by, my fingers tapping against my knees. After staying at Nevarro’s estate for the past month, I had a debate about whether I should leave the estate at all.
The restaurant was one of the best in the city, according to the reviews I had seen on the site.
Up until now, I had tried my best to stay out of the eyes of the public, scared of what would really happen if I was found outside the estate.
Alone.
Rain and lunch outside. Two things to keep my mind off Matteo.
The restaurant was modern, with sleek lines and minimalist decor that exuded elegance without being too showy. It was the type of place Isabella would have enjoyed.
My chest tightened anytime I thought about her.
“Isabella would watch as I break you.”
“Good afternoon, ma’am.” A waitress greeted me the moment my shoes touched the ground. She led me to a corner table by a large window, giving me a clear view of the street and the life outside.
The tightness in my chest gradually dissipated.
I felt like I was a world away from the cold, oppressive walls of the estate. I wanted to stay outside forever.
“Can I get you something to drink?” the waitress asked, appearing beside my table with a kind smile.
She was beautiful.
I glanced at the menu, scanning the list of wines. “Just water for now, thank you.”
The waitress nodded and disappeared, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.
I had so many options to choose from, yet all I could do was stare out the window absentmindedly. I wondered how life would have turned out if Isabella had not gotten kidnapped.
“Continue the search for your sister, and you’ll end up with nothing because she left no trace.”
Surely, an ultimatum should have been sent by now if she had been kidnapped. Why haven’t I received word?
The sound of a chair scraping the floor across from me startled me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see a man sitting down at my table without so much as asking for my permission.
He was tall. Dark, tousled hair and sharp features that gave him a brooding, almost dangerous air.
Familiar.
Dark green eyes.
“I hope you don’t mind me joining you,” he said, his voice smooth but with a hint of arrogance. “It’s not every day I see someone like you sitting alone in a place like this.”
Panic clawed up my throat, my guard instantly rising.
I had no idea who this man was, but there was something unsettling about the way he looked at me.
Like he knew more than I did.
“I’m sorry,” I replied, keeping all warmth out of my voice. “But I don’t believe we’ve met.”
His lips spread out into a slow, almost predatory smile. “No, we haven’t. I couldn’t attend the party a week ago,” amusement sparked in his eyes at my confusion. “I thought my brother would mention me. My name is Luca. Luca Nevarro.”
My cheeks flushed as he said that. A memory of Caterina placing a picture of Matteo’s half-brother in front of me so I could memorise his face flashed in my mind.
I had never considered that I would meet him without Matteo by my side.
“What do you want?” I asked sharply, keeping my composure.
His sudden appearance could only mean one thing.
Luca leaned back in his chair, casually crossing his arms over his chest. “Relax. I’m not here to cause any trouble. In fact, I think I can help you.”
“Help me?” I echoed, suspicious about this sudden help he wanted to render. “I don’t need help.”
“Oh, but I think you do,” Luca said, his eyes gleaming with something dark and unreadable. “Especially when it comes to your sister, Isabella.”
I felt a shiver run down my body. The mention of my sister’s name sent a jolt of fear and hope through me, and I immediately straightened in my seat.
I had gotten no lead on where she was.
“What do you know about Isabella?”
And why would you help me?
Luca’s smirk deepened. “More than you think. Let’s just say that Matteo isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets from you.”
Valentina’s breath caught in her throat. “What are you talking about?”
Luca leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Isabella would never have disappeared just because she was scared of marrying Matteo. She loved him. But she found out something, something about our family that could ruin everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Luca continued, his gaze locked onto mine. “Matteo would never just casually leave Isabella alone. He was obsessed with her. He would have found a way to keep her tied to him, no matter what. Yet, they all claimed she had just left.”
My heart pounded in my chest.
What is he saying? What does he mean? Was he saying the truth?
Did Matteo send him?
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why should I believe you?” I asked. “You’re his brother. You’re part of the same family.”
Luca chuckled, the sound dark and humourless. “I may be his brother, but I am Isabella’s friend. I have my own reasons for wanting to see him brought down. And I need to find her.”
I stared at him, torn between hope and doubt.
Luca’s words were tempting, but could I really trust him?
There was something about his smug confidence that unsettled me, as though he enjoyed dangling this information over my head.
“What do you want from me?” I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me.
Lica leaned back again, his smile never faltering. “I don’t want anything from you, Valentina. Not yet, anyway. But let’s just say that if you ever want to know the truth about your sister, you’ll come to me. I have what you need.”
He rose from his chair, leaving me alone as I watched the waitress approach with my water. He gave me one last knowing look before walking away, disappearing into the crowd of the restaurant.
Oh, Isabella. What had you gotten yourself into?