Soulless Devil (Sons of Valentino #3)(14)

“Matteo was bang on. Pay up,” I tell them. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Matteo was right. People might fear Theo the most out of all of us. But Matteo is by far the most ruthless, merciless made man I’ve ever met. I’m just glad the asshole’s my brother and not my foe.

“So this was all over a girl?” Theo asks, without any readable expression on his face.

“No, this was about getting rid of one more sick fuck in the world,” I tell him.

“Right. Well, I’ve got shit to do. Make sure you two clean this shit up.” Theo walks out.

“Nice chat, bro!” I yell out to his retreating form. To which, he simply sticks a hand up in the air and flips me the bird.





I’ve just showered and flopped myself on my bed with my laptop. I might not need tutoring or to study at all really, but I do still have essays due. Unlike Luca, I don’t have grand plans of being a professional NFL player. I actually don’t even know what my plans are after college. I’m guessing I’ll just help out with the family businesses. Logging into my emails, I see one from Livvy. The subject line reads: I’m sorry this is late. I click it open.



Dear Romeo,



I hope you accept my deepest apologies for the events of last night and this morning. If you want me to recommend other tutors for you, I completely understand. However, in the meantime, I’ve put together some study notes for you to review.



Again, thank you for everything you did to help me.



Kindest Regards,

Livvy



There’s an attachment to the email. It’s three pages of study notes on the works of Jane Austen. Hitting reply, I try to calm the rising irritation before I type. She shouldn’t even be thinking about studying today. The doctor told her to rest and here she is, compiling study notes for other people. And I feel like fucking shit, because I don’t even need the damn notes.



Subject: You’re supposed to be resting.



Dear Livvy,



I have no intention of ever requiring another tutor. Why would I swap when I already have the best? I appreciate the study notes, but you’re on doctor’s orders to rest. Why aren’t you resting?



Yours,

Romeo



Her reply comes immediately.



Subject: I’m well rested…



Dear Romeo,



Thank you for your concern. But I am well rested. Studying helps me relax. Weird, I know, but it is what it is.



Livvy



I can’t stop the grin on my face.



Subject: Not weird.



Dear Livvy,



If the world were filled with more people like you, humankind would be better off. If studying helps you relax, I’m free to be your study buddy any day.



Yours,

Romeo



I wait ten minutes, my eyes glued to the screen. She doesn’t reply. Fuck, did I come on too strong? I’m way out of my element with this girl. I also don’t know if I want to, or am ready, to follow up on this unbreakable pull I have towards her. Matteo’s been best friends with a girl his whole life—granted, he’s also been in love with her his whole life. But their weird relationship works for them.

Maybe Livvy is my first actual friend other than Luca?





Chapter Eight





I’m nervous. Again.

I should have told him I can’t tutor him. The problem is that I actually like talking to him. I like being around him, which is weird because I don’t usually like being around a lot of people. Hopefully, I can get past this crush I have and tutor him. I just have to remind myself that, that’s the reason he’s here. For me to help him pass English Lit, not anything else.

Which is ridiculous. Why would he be here for any other reason? I pull my hair out of the straight ponytail I spent half an hour perfecting this morning and pile it up in my usual messy bun on top of my head. I need to bring myself back down to earth. Besides, even if he were here because I woke up in an alternate universe where girls like me got the attention of boys like Romeo, I shouldn’t be trying to be someone I’m not. I’ve never bothered to try to please men before, and I’m not going to start now. Except, when I see him approaching the table, see that wicked smile directed right at me, those damn butterflies start dancing in my stomach. And I find myself sitting up straighter.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” Romeo asks, sitting in the chair right next to me, his eyes travelling around my face and searching for God only knows what.

“Better, thank you.” My hands busy themselves straightening my notebook and pens in front of me that were already straight.

“This is for you.” Romeo hands me a paper coffee cup from the café that’s outside the library.

“Thank you.” I take the offered cup, noticing he doesn’t have one. “Did you not get yourself one?” I ask him, confused. Why would he stop and get me a coffee if he wasn’t getting himself one too?

“I don’t drink coffee,” he says.

“Oh.” Yep, that’s about the level of my intelligence right now. I’m reduced to one-word answers.