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PROLOGUE

MATTEO

Present Day

Arianna’s eyes were wide as she stared at my gun. “Matteo, are you insane?”

I lifted my shoulder and said simply, “When you’re not around, yes.” And how true that was. My lips curved into a sardonic smile, the rage that had been consuming me for weeks finally dulling. “It’s a good thing I found you right on time for my birthday.”

But I guess that didn’t matter to her. I didn’t matter to her, because she refused to choose me.

“I already told you,” she said softly. “I’m done with you, Matteo. After that stunt you pulled…”

My vision filled with red while I stared at her and that ridiculous brown wig she was wearing. Unlike her usual designer attire, she’d opted for sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. Did she really think I wouldn’t recognize her? I could be blindfolded and I’d still spot her anywhere.

And after scouring the earth for the past two weeks, descending into darkness as I worried myself sick about her, I was well beyond pissed off.

She took a step away from me, but I grabbed her wrist and pulled her into my chest.

Her Nutella scent seeped into my lungs, spreading through my body like heroin, and for the first time since she ran off, I could think clearly.

“We won’t be done until I’ve taken my final breath.”

She glared at me, her eyes glittering with tears she refused to shed.

“Willing to start a war, are you?” Her words were laced with stubbornness, but I knew her too well to play this game, and her shaking voice tipped me off to the undercurrent of panic she was trying to hide from me. “To ruin our parents’ friendship? You already turned Hannah against me.”

“I’d wage a thousand wars for you, Ari,” I gritted, my insides coiling with so much fury I feared I was going to explode. “Yet you run from me at the first sign of trouble.” I was destroying the only person who had a firm hold on my heart. “You’ll be punished for it.”

A tear reluctantly slid down her cheek as she yanked her wrist and cradled it, rubbing the smooth skin as her eyes bored into mine. “I’m begging you, Matteo, don’t do this. Killing me won’t accomplish anything. Marry Hannah and—”

“Fuck Hannah.” She flinched and perhaps that set me off most. “You think I’d hurt you?” I all but roared. “After everything we’ve been through, you think so low of me?”

More tears streamed down her face and she shook her head.

“Please, Matteo. Don’t make this worse than it already is. Don’t make me hate you.” Her gaze never broke from mine as she trembled. And all the while, my chest burned so hot I wouldn’t be surprised if we both burst into flames. “You know how much Hannah means to me. She’s my twin sister, Matteo. I couldn’t choose…”

Her words trailed off and I smiled harshly.

“Me,” I finished, staring at her. “You couldn’t choose me. Just say it, Ari.”

“Let’s talk about this.” Her whole body trembled, her shimmering blue eyes gutting me more than any bullet could. “Please, let’s just talk and find a way for all of us to move on.”

She was crying now, her voice nothing more than a broken whisper.

“There’s no moving on for me, so there’s nothing to talk about.” I turned my back to her as if I was about to leave. I slipped

a hand into my pocket, removed the safety shield as conspicuously as I could manage, then faced her again and pushed the needle into her neck.

Her eyes widened in shock for a fraction of a beat, and then she began to collapse. I caught her before she could hit the ground, watching the betrayal sharpen in her blue eyes before they turned unseeing.

“Did you really think I’d give you up so easily, Nutella girl?” I murmured, scooping her into my arms. It was… done. She was forever mine now.