Page 27 of Hidden Empire
I definitely didn’t come this way… did I?
Oh no, I pout, frowning. Lost before we even dock? Armani and Matteo are going to lose their minds.
Spinning around to look back the way I came, my face collides directly into muscle. I panic, yanking myself back and gasping.
“Oh my god! I’m so, so sorry! Are you okay?”
The thick wall of a man doesn’t speak but to my utter relief, nods that he’s fine. He’s not just fine because I didn’t hurt him, though. This man is fine in every sense of the word. He’s huge. At least a solid six to eight inches taller than me. And he’s broad, with shoulders so wide I could definitely use those suckers to climb up his?—
Oh lord, those eyes!
Big, consuming pools of the loveliest brown, highlighted by his thick, dark eyelashes, with full lips, a strong jaw, and sharp cheekbones to top it off? He’s gorgeous.
I blink a few times, wondering if he’ll disappear because he’s simply too good to be true. “I’m sorry, I should have been looking where I was going,” I reiterate, just to be sure. “I’m kind of lost, but I slammed into you pretty hard. Did I hurt you?”
His hard features soften slightly as his lips quirk up on the sides.
“Right, you’re huge, I definitely didn’t hurt you,” I ramble with a flush. “Um, any chance you can tell me how to get back to my brothers?”
Chapter 9
Jade
I’m supposed to mention I have brothers if I’m ever lost. It’s one of Dad’s protocols for me going away. No one will recognize me, but they’ll recognize our name and think twice about any less-than-appropriate thoughts they might have. I’m not sure I want this guy to think twice, though.
He doesn’t respond verbally but lifts his eyebrows, glancing around.
“Who are they?” I guess, hoping that’s what he’s getting at.
His lips twitch ever so slightly, and he nods. A rush of warmth rolls over me at the simplest motion. I’m not sure if he can’t speak or if he doesn’t want to, but he understands.
“The Morettis,” I answer, offering a smile. “Armani, Remo, Nico, and Matteo? Any one of them will do, I just know they’re probably freaking out. We aren’t even there yet, and I’m already getting lost.”
He tilts his head, and something tells me he means for me to keep going. Likely because he knows my brothers and knows they aren’t supposed to have a sister.
Though, if this were high school, the whole boat would already be buzzing with the rumor. At least it would be a true one. But I imagine the kids of mafia empires aren’t that interested in some random girl. I bet they have other, more pressing things to discuss.
“Do you know them, um, my family?”
This nod is a stiffer one.
I try not to frown. “Not in their fan club, then?”
His head does a sort of tilted shake that I interpret as a mild it’s complicated.
Well, at least he doesn’t hate them.
“Oh.” I twist my fingers together, nervously fidgeting. “Well, I’m sort of a new addition to the group and don’t want to make anyone upset by disappearing for too long. Do you think you could help me?”
Like he can’t decide what he wants to do, he takes a moment before dipping his head. A big-ass hot guy should definitely not be seen returning me to my brothers. And I cannot let any of my siblings know that I find him hot. Fingers crossed he can point me in the right direction.
Although, the longer I look at him, the longer I think my brothers can wait just a little bit more. Look, they don’t make guys like this in public high school, I don’t even think they make them like this at college. Can you blame a girl for admiring the view?
Before he can speak or point or gesture for me, I change the subject. I have no idea how many new faces I’m going to meet on this island, but I want to know how to find this one again. I can’t let this be the only time I see him!
“How old are you?”
Amused, he lifts two fingers.