Page 53 of Hidden Ties

“Oh, well, okay. No reason,” Sal said, not wanting his words to step himself into a pile of shit that would have him nevergetting laid again. “Then how come you haven’t cared to look me up or stop me?”

Considering Valerie did know how he had done it, technically, she could do those things. But what Sal lacked to understand was how she could wield the power and yet had decided against using it for any personal gain.

And there was only one good explanation for that.

“Because I just want to create video games.”

It was a simple and humbling answer that Sal respected her for.

“Well, that’s good … But …” He went back to looking slightly confused. “But why does it look like you want to ask me something?”

“’Cause I do.” She was glad to finally be able to express her true feelings. “Do you wanna fuck?”

NINETEEN

WHO IS THAT?

The knock on the door didn’t even have their lips coming off the other as they kissed like they hadn’t already slept with each other three times in less than twenty-four hours. It wasn’t until another incessant knock that Sal gave up and went for the door, certain that whoever was on the other side wasn’t going to stop until he did.

Thinking it was probably Kat, since she had left her PlayStation behind, he opened the door, just to quickly try and shove it right back in place, but the person on the other side wasn’t letting it go.

“Sorry, you can’t come in.”

The struggle at the door even had Valerie going for her bat.

“Bro, what the fuck!” could suddenly be heard through the crack until a tatted palm finally appeared, leveraging the door enough to open it.

Matthias stood there in all his glory. The playboy had officially arrived late to the party, and it was time to pay up.

“I’m going to let that slide …” Matthias said cooly, but then he noticed the lack of people. “Bro, did I miss the party?”

“Yep, goodbye.” He hated to continue being so rude to his half-brother. He was not as close to that side of the family as he would have liked yet, but they were getting there with time.

“Wait,” Matthais stopped him again, his gaze sliding behind Sal. He nodded his head seductively to the other person in the room. “Whose Harlequin?”

He’s not that much of my brother.So, he decided to slam the door right in his face before the devil could get in. “None of your fucking business.”

“Wait!Do you want to be in a video gam—” Valerie yelled out, but it was too late, as the door became bolted. At first, she thought Angel had come back, but since she wanted to use him as a muse, she had saved some of his tattoos to memory, planning to add them to her game. That was what made her realize that it couldn’t be him when the tattoos had switched sides. This one was a mirroring twin.

And while Maria had divulged a lot of information to her tonight, she didn’t recall her mentioning her twin brothers.

“Wasn’t that your brother?” she asked, concerned for Matthias’ face, afraid his nose might have been broken in the action.

Unconcerned, his voice came out in a displeased snarl, “Why are you asking him to model for your game?”

Valerie had to hide her smile; she didn’t want him to find out she liked the jealous streak in him. There wasn’t a thing Sal had to worry about after finding out everything she had learned about him tonight. She had no plans of letting a diamond slip through her fingers. A natural diamond could only be createdunder immense pressure, and they were about as rare as a blue moon.

She tried to lure him upstairs. Truthfully, her mind had been made up upon seeing his computer setup, anyway, but finding out that he was The Great Salvatore was definitely the icing on the cake.

Now, it was time to eat it.

“Every video game developer uses models. It’s not as big of a deal as you think it is. Besides”—she gave him an appreciative look—“I think I want to make you one of the lead characters in my next one.”

He brought her face closer to his for a kiss, all jealousy suddenly wiped away and replaced with need. “That so?”

“Mmhmm,” Valerie cooed, staring into his blackish-blue orbs. They held so much depth, more depth than she had ever thought possible. They not only matched her hair, but his soul, and in that moment, she knew they were meant as a pair.

As if he sensed the difference in her thoughts, Sal went to pull back. “Did Maria tell you anything?”