Bound by Hatred (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #3)(50)

“Yeah. You were right. It hurt like hell. He was so damn smug about it. I really wish he hadn’t figured it out. I feel like he’s got more power over me now that he knows.”

Aria shook her head. “You need to stop thinking like that. You and Matteo need to find a way to get along now that you’re married. It’s a good thing that he knows the truth.”

“Matteo doesn’t exactly make it easy for me either. He’s always so arrogant. And he’s the one who started with the games. And do you know what else he did?” I lifted my leg with the stupid ankle bracelet. I still couldn’t believe Matteo had actually put that thing on my body, like I was a dog who needed a collar. Of course from his standpoint it was probably the normal thing to do. He was a controlling, possessive, power-hungry killer after all, but that didn’t mean I liked it.

Aria grimaced. “I know. Luca mentioned it to me this morning. It was his idea.” She paused with an apologetic expression. “I tried to talk him out of it, but he said he won’t risk any more conflicts with the Outfit by letting you roam free.”

“As if Father or anyone else in the Outfit would care if I ran off again. I’m not their problem anymore, remember?” I wiggled my fingers, showing off my wedding ring.

“Luca and Matteo would look weak if you managed to get away again, and that would weaken their position. Things between New York and Chicago haven’t exactly been going smoothly in the last few months.”

“Because of me?”

“Not just because of you,” Aria said. “Luca and Dante don’t get along very well. They are both alphas who aren’t used to working with equals.”

“I don’t suppose you know of a way how to get rid of this thing?” I tipped my finger against my black shackle.

“No. Is it very uncomfortable?”

I shrugged. “Not really, but I hate it. And I can kiss short skirts and dresses good-bye unless I want everyone to think I’m a criminal.”

Aria touched my arm lightly. “I’m sure Matteo will take it off soon.”

“I doubt that.” If I were him, I wouldn’t trust me anytime soon. Probably never.

Aria’s eyes darted to my hair again. She’d been doing it since she’d first seen me with the new color.

I smoothed a hand over my hair. “You hate it, right?”

“I’m not used to it. Maybe it’ll grow on me. But I miss your red hair.”

“Me too,” I said. “Matteo hates my brown hair as well.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to stay a brunette because you want to annoy him?” Aria asked with a knowing look.

I wasn’t that childish. Maybe six months ago that would have been my reaction but being on the run had helped me grow up. I wouldn’t keep my hair in a color I didn’t like to annoy Matteo. There were other ways I could make his life harder and I hoped to explore as many of them as possible. “I’ll change it back to my natural hair color as soon as I get the chance. Do you think Matteo will freak out if we leave the apartment in search for a hairdresser?”

“Probably. You’ve been married for less than a day. Maybe you should try to stay on your best behavior for today at least.”

“I’ll do my best,” I said sarcastically.

Aria got up. “It’s almost lunch time. Let’s grab something to eat and I’ll give my hairdresser a call and ask her to come over to do your hair, okay?”

I pushed to my feet. “Perfect. I’m starving.” I followed Aria toward the kitchen area. Romero put his phone down on the counter, eyes and posture alert as we approached. Sandro had probably warned him of us. That reminded me of something I’d wanted to ask Aria ever since I’d run off. I waited until she’d finished her call with her hair dresser and fixed us a salad before I bridged the topic.

“Did you get into a lot of trouble with Luca for helping me?” I asked quietly. I didn’t want Romero to overhear us. He seemed busy enough talking on his phone, probably to Matteo or Luca who were checking up on us.

Aria’s face tightened. “He was angry at first, but he’s forgiven me. I think he realized that I would never leave him.”

She and Luca seemed happy enough but sometimes outward appearances were deceiving, and I wasn’t entirely sure if Aria was telling the truth. She wouldn’t say something that might make me feel guilty.

“You sure?”

“Isn’t that my line?” she asked teasingly.

I grinned. “You taught me a thing or two.”

“Good to know.”

“There’s something else I’ve been wondering about,” I said quietly. “How did Matteo find me?”

“Luca didn’t really talk to me about the search. He knew I’d warn you. Do you think it could have been the blog? I think Luca checked my laptop. I tried to warn you.”

“I tried not to mention locations in my blog posts. But maybe they could track my location through my blog. Who knows?”

The bell rang. Romero walked toward the elevator before either Aria or I could move. “Will he ever leave us alone?” I asked when he was out of earshot.

“Not anytime soon,” Aria said with a shrug. She rose from her chair to greet the woman in her mid-forties who entered the penthouse with two huge bags. Aria introduced me to her hairdresser and five minutes later we’d set up a chair in the bathroom and my hair was being smothered in cream that was supposed to turn my hair to its original color, not immediately but after several treatments.