Page 14 of Beautiful Sinner

“I’ll take you home.” There’s no debate in Matteo’s voice.

He takes me down a hallway into a private office. “This is Dante’s but he’s not here for the night.”

“And he won’t be showing up?”

“No. You’re safe. Don’t worry.”

“I should worry. You’re the enemy. I shouldn’t feel this safe around you. We only spoke the one time.”

He motions to the chair and I sit with a heavy sigh. “Why did you come?” He doesn’t ask in a mean tone. Just pure curiosity.

“I… I’m not sure.” Though I know exactly why I came. To see Matteo. But that is not something I can utter out loud.

“Did you know this was Dante’s club?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“And you still came here?”

I stare down at my lap as I answer him. “I guess I just… wanted to feel a thrill. Excitement. You know?”

“I get that. But coming to Dante’s club is risky. You must have had a good reason.”

“Maybe I…” I should not say this. I should not say this. “Maybe I wanted to see you again.” There. It’s out there and it was stupid of me to say.

Matteo is quiet for a long time that I finally force myself to look up at him. He’s gazing down at me with confusion in his eyes. Confusion and… something else. “You came to see me? Why?”

“I didn’t know you’d be here. I thought that if you weren’t, I’d just go back home.”

“Julia.” I love the way he says my name: so soft and sweet. “Why did you come to see me?”

“I have no idea. I just… I liked our talk and I guess I hoped we could… talk more.” There. It’s all out there and there’s no taking it back now.

“You want to talk with me? Why?”

“We had a nice conversation. You took me by surprise. I was taught that all of Dante’s men are evil and horrible but… you don’t seem that way. It just really stuck with me and I wanted to see you again because of it. Did you… did you want to see me again?”

He blows out a breath. “I… I have to admit that I was taken by surprise from our talk as well. I thought you’d run screaming from me but you didn’t. I’m not mad that you’re here.”

We both stare at each other for a long moment, neither one moving or speaking. What is happening between us? There’s an electricity that I can’t fully explain.

“But you should go,” he says, breaking the spell. “You could have been hurt because of that jackass. If your brother found out you came to one of Dante’s clubs and was hurt, he’d make things even worse for us. He’d think Dante was behind this.”

“You’re right.” I stand up, shaking my head. “I never should have been so foolish. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“No, you weren’t. You have to take your safety seriously, Julia. Connor could have hurt you. I’ve seen him around the clubbefore. He likes to cause mischief but Dante lets it slide since Connor has never hurt anybody. But you could have been hurt.”

“I know and if I’m hurt then Viktor will come for you even more.”

“It’s not about me or Dante.Youcould have been hurt.”

I blink. What exactly is he saying?

“Julia, we can’t really see each other again. You know that, right?”

“Of course. It could put you in danger with my brother.”

“Yes, it could. But I also don’t want any of Dante’s other men to get their hands on you. I don’t want anyone else thinking you’re free game for them to hurt.”