A knock at the door startles me, and I turn.
“Maybe it's the doorman delivering a package or something?” I say, walking toward the door after setting my wine glass down on the kitchen counter.
I open the door and see a charming man standing in my doorway in a suit, holding a modest bouquet of daisies. He grins at me as he approvingly checks out my tanned legs and cleavage.
I wince, holding the door open. “I’m sorry I think you have the wrong condo.”
“You’re Eden Collins, right?"
I nod. “And you are?"
“I’m Saul Lewis. Jack set us up on a blind date tonight or did I get the wrong day?” He glances behind me to the man standing in my living room.
“Wait, you’re Saul?”
He nods.
“Can you show me your ID?”
He raises an eyebrow, reaching into his back pocket for his ID and handing it to me. I read his name across the top of his driver's license. Saul Lewis.
I storm back to the living room, leaving Saul standing in my doorway.
“Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my home?”
I cross my arms over my chest and give him a glare I only reserve for the worst of the criminals I prosecute.
He chuckles. “I’m surprised you don't recognize me, sweetheart."
I stare at him a second longer, and then I do. “No…"
He cocks his head to the side flashing me a grin I immediately hate. “So you do remember me. That's good; it means you'll help me."
“No, get out of my condo Matteo. Now."
He takes a sprawling seat on my leather couch instead, a couch that seems small with his muscular body dwarfing it.
My eyes fly open at the audacity of him to come here, let alone sit down on my couch, after what he did to my friend. Nina may have forgiven him, but I don't. I’ve barely absolved Arlo, and that's only because she loves him. I can't forgive Matteo. Besides, now he is in charge of the Carini company, so I’m sure he's done far worse things than any of the men I lock up on a daily basis.
“Should I come in or what?" Saul asks from the doorway.
“Yes, come in.”
Saul walks inside. “Do you need help throwing this guy out?"
“No, I can handle him."
I turn my attention back to Matteo. “Unless you came to tell me something's happened to Nina and Arlo, I don't want to hear about it."
“Actually, I’m here to find out where they are. They call you. You know exactly where they are. So tell me, and I’ll be on my way."
I hate
myself for finding him attractive for even a minute. I hate myself for wanting anything to do with this monster.
“Why do you want to know?"
“Because I need my brother’s help."