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He gives me an impish smile, and even though he’s mentioning what I had to do to survive, I don’t feel as guilty about it as I did when I stumbled out of the warehouse yesterday.
I grin and shrug, lowering myself into the wheelchair despite the aches in my body. He hums to himself as he pushes me out of the room, Salvatore trailing along behind us.
“Well,” Matteo says as he pauses at the elevator bank. “We might not know each other that well yet, but in case you’re wondering, I’m the best Russo brother. The others are all kind of boring.”
I look over at Salvatore and see his jaw tense. He glares at his brother as we wait for the elevator, tension filling the air.
Matteo breaks it by nudging his brother with his elbow. “Salvatore, if you keep scowling like that, you’re going to get more wrinkles. You just need to learn how to relax a little every now and then. It wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Look, I’ll relax a little once the fuckers who did this to her are gone. Sofia sent some of her people in last night to identify the dead bodies. The two people she believes to have orchestrated the entire thing weren’t on that list. Which means they’re out there somewhere.”
“Great, so, we’re back to talking about me like I’m not here,” I say as I look up at Salvatore. “Just like when you and Brennan made the decision that I need a babysitter even though I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
Salvatore pinches the bridge of his nose. “Brielle, I really don’t want to fight with you right now. Can we just save it for another time, please?”
“Nobody said that this was going to be turning into a fight. I was just stating facts that we already knew. I can handle myself. If you want to go on with your life and figure out what else matters to you beyond whatever the hell it is you’re doing here, be my guest.”
Salvatore sighs and glances at Matteo as the elevator opens. “Do you mind giving us a minute?”
“Only as long as you promise that you won’t kill each other. You’re finally bringing a woman around the family. I don’t want you to scare her off.”
That tiny little flame called hope that resides in my chest burns a little bit brighter at Matteo’s words and I curse myself, so I’m quick to smother it.
The last thing I’m going to be is that pathetic girl waiting for a man to tell her that he loves her. That he wants to be with her.
That is a dream that I should have given up on a long time ago. Especially when it comes to this man.
Salvatore takes the wheelchair from Matteo and wheels me into the elevator. The doors shut behind us and the elevator starts moving.
“Alright, let’s get this shit out in the open,” Salvatore says as his hand slams against the stop button, halting the elevator from its descent.
“What shit do we possibly have to get out in the open?” I cross my arms even though it hurts and I glare at him.
“Whatever the fuck crawled up your ass and died. I’m trying here, Brielle, and I don’t know what more you want from me. I don’t know what fucked little idea of our happy little family you’ve concocted in your head, but you should put an end to it right now. I’ve never been the better man you seem to think I’m capable of being.”
I scoff and shake my head. “Whoever asked you to be a better man? Fuck’s sake, Salvatore, where the fuck is this coming from?”
“It’s coming from the way you look at me with those big green eyes as if you expect more out of me.”
“I thought the whole point of starting over for yourself was you wanted to achieve more. Don’t blame me for being theonlyperson who thinks you’re capable of doing it!”
As he glares at me, I reach out and press the button to get the elevator moving again. I don’t want to be trapped with him any longer than I have to be.
All I want is to go home and hopefully take the best nap of my life.
“You run so hot and cold, Salvatore. You told me that you basically want nothing to do with me or this baby, but then here you are, staying with us all night and worrying about it. I don’t need any more complications in my life. If you want to be part of our lives, then you need to figure that fucking shit out and stop toying with me. In the meantime, just leave me the fuck alone.”
The elevator comes to a stop and the doors open. Despite the way my muscles protest, searing pain racing through my arms, I wheel myself onto the main floor of the hospital. I hear him saying my name as I head for the doors but I don’t stop to listen.
I’m tired of listening to him talk in circles.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks, grabbing the wheelchair and pulling me to a stop. “How the hell do you think you’re getting home?”
“Matteo can take me,” I say as he steps off another elevator and looks at us.
“Like hell I’m getting in the middle of this,” Matteo says, gesturing between the two of us. “You both need to go home and figure it out. Spend some time together without worrying that something bad is going to happen. I’ll keep watch.”
“Not interested,” I say as Salvatore pushes me out into the parking lot.
