“If anyone’s going to die, it’ll be Niccolo.”
“Exactly,” Adriel replies. “You can only sit across from the man who murdered your family so many times before you put a bullet in his head. And the hell that will follow, if that isn’t planned, and planned well, is not the bitch you want in your bed, believe me.”
“He won’t kill him now,” I say. “He’s too capable of seeing the big picture, which includes making Niccolo suffer.”
“Niccolo suffering sounds like the promise of sweet dreams,” he says, “and a good thought to say good night on.” He eyes Matteo. “Go home and get some rest. We’ll sneak Sasha out in the morning.”
Matteo scrubs a hand through his hair. “I’m not going to argue that, but I’ll be in touch if there’s an update on Gallo.” He starts walking and calls over his shoulder, “Someone needs to watch the gate when I leave, and make sure no one sneaks in.”
“Call me before you pull out.” Adriel’s gaze then lands on me. “Kayden’s going to be a while. I’d feel better if you were secure in your tower.”
Secure. That word hits a nerve that refuses to be ignored. “Speaking of feeling secure,” I say, immediately reminded of the watch and the torn pages in my journal. “If Matteo was out-hacked with the watch situation, couldn’t he have been out-hacked here at the castle?”
His eyes narrow and then he shouts, “Matteo!”
Matteo groans and then backs up, rejoining us. “What went wrong in thirty seconds?”
“Talking through recent events,” Adriel says, “Ella and I have concerns that the castle security might have been breached.”
“It wasn’t breached,” he says, giving me an irritated look that says he knows this is from me. “That didn’t happen.”
“Is it impossible?” he asks. “Or improbable?”
“Your form of dry smart-ass doesn’t work for you or anyone,” Matteo says. “Some fucker with a watch who knows how to create a fake identity does not an expert hacker make. But I’ll hack for hacks, if that’s what we think is the best use of my time.”
“Hey, man,” Adriel says, holding his hands up. “We’re just trying to keep everyone safe. We’re dealing with Alessandro and two mob bosses, one of whom killed Kayden’s family, while the other one is obsessed with Ella.”
Matteo’s expression tightens, right along with his voice. “You’re right. You’re right.” He looks at me. “I get a little defensive about hacking. It’s my thing.” He points to his shirt. “Italian Stallion and all, you know?”
“I know you are,” I say. “I’m just worried about someone getting hurt because of me. I couldn’t live with that.”
“No one is going to get hurt, Ella,” Adriel says firmly. “We won’t let that happen.”
“We can’t let that happen.” The numerous ways Garner Neuville might strike are too many to fathom.
“I’ll double- and triple-check every possible breach when I get home,” Matteo promises. “I’ll text you both.”
“Thank you, Matteo,” I say. “I really do appreciate it.”
“He was just being an asshole with an ego,” Sasha calls out, which Matteo replies to in Italian that is distinctly snarky, and then he’s turned and disappeared into the hallway.
“You think there was a breach in the castle?” Sasha asks, concerned. “How and when?”
“I’ll fill you in on her concerns myself, Sasha,” Adriel says, his brown eyes falling on her.
“She’s standing right here,” she says. “Why can’t she tell me?”
“Because you and I have a lot to talk about, on many topics. Conversations better had in private, in my tower.”
Translation: in his bed.
For just a moment they stare at each other, the sizzle between them making me feel like I’m invading their privacy. I delicately clear my throat. “I should go to my tower.”
“Are you sure?” Sasha asks, immediately turning her attention to me. “If you don’t want to be alone, I can join you.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m actually eager to get back to Kayden’s and my private space and focus on the data we printed out. I’m going to grab it and get out of here.”
“What data?” Adriel asks.