Chapter 19
Daniella
“You ever going to text your brother back?”
Engrossed in a new Mafia romance that just came out, I jump at Matteo’s masculine voice and nearly drop my tablet.
I know, I know—I’m kind of living the real thing. But when I saw the ad on social media and the hero reminded me of Matteo, I couldn’t help myself.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mutter, going back to reading my book.
It’s been almost two weeks since I moved in with Matteo, and I’m pretty sure I’ve hit some kind of reading record because, while Matteo is gone, there’s nothing else to do in this damn place but exercise, bake, and read.
I wanted to help with Russo Property Group, but I can’t do anything until I can go to the office.
And even then, without Lorenzo being there to train me, I’m useless.
Once Matteo gets home, we do some self-defense, and then he cooks, and we eat whatever dessert I made. Afterward, we watch The Vampire Diaries until I pass out and Matteo carries me up to bed.
My tablet disappears, and I yell, “Hey!” as Matteo slips it into his back pocket before I can grab it back.
“Why are you avoiding your brother?”
I swallow thickly and avert my gaze, looking over Matteo’s shoulder, not wanting to have this conversation. I can feel his eyes on me, and a moment later, he slides onto the couch next to me and tips my face to look at him.
“Talk to me, Little Russo.”
I huff and jut my chin out of his hold. “I feel guilty. Okay? I texted him to see how he was doing, and he said that you’d helped him get into isolation and he was hanging in there.
And I didn’t know what to say. I had done that to him.
” I sniffle back my tears, and when he opens his mouth to argue, I reach out and cover his mouth.
“I know. Enrique would’ve done what he was going to do regardless, but had he not been able to manipulate me so effortlessly, he would’ve had to find another way to avenge his parents’ deaths.
But because I let him in so easily, you and my brother ended up in jail.
You’re still awaiting trial, even if you are out on bail, and my brother is in isolation so he doesn’t get beat up, thanks to Enrique, the man I married! ”
By the time I stop to take a breath, tears are streaming down my face, and my entire body is shaking.
“I did this, and when he texts, asking how I’m doing, I don’t know what to say. Because I’m here, safe with you, while he’s in there, hoping nobody beats him to death before he gets out.”
“Nobody is going to beat him to death,” Matteo says, reaching out and tucking a wayward strand of hair that fell out of my ponytail behind my ear.
He swipes the fallen tears from under my eyes and smiles softly, and butterflies erupt in my belly. Matteo doesn’t smile often, but when he does, his features—normally edgy—turn almost boyish, and I get a glimpse of the softer side of him.
“I won’t say this all isn’t your fault—again—because you already know how I feel about that, but even if you want to blame yourself, you and I are Lorenzo’s only links to the outside world.
He’s not going to resent you for telling him about your day.
He’s going to live vicariously through you, and it’s going to remind him that his sister is out here, waiting for him to get out. ”
“I couldn’t wait to move home and finally get to know him on a deeper level,” I choke out. “And now, everything is so messed up.”
“It will all get sorted,” he says. “But don’t push him away.”
His phone rings, and he pulls it out and stands. “I need to take this, but while I do, text your brother back. He’s worried about you.”
I nod in agreement and then grab my phone from the coffee table.
Me: Hey, I’m sorry I’ve been MIA. I feel guilty that you’re in there while I’m safely in Matteo’s place.
Lorenzo: Never feel guilty. I’m glad you’re safe. Is he being nice to you? I know he can be a grouch, but he’s a good guy.
I think about the last two weeks of self-defense lessons, working out, our nightly dinners, and watching The Vampire Diaries, and smile to myself.
Me: He’s not too bad.
“Got some good news,” Matteo says, stalking out of his office. “Charges against me have been dropped.”
“What? Really?” I jump up and throw my arms around him. “That’s amazing!”
“Thanks. I know your brother is still in there, but—”
“But nothing. At this point, we take any good news we can get. You’re free!”
I hug him again, and he wraps his arms around me.
“This calls for a celebration.”
“Oh, yeah?” Matteo smirks. “What kind of celebration are we talking here? My favorite cookies and TVD?”
I bark out a laugh. “I love that you just referred to it as TVD. But I was thinking—”
“That’s never a good thing,” Matteo deadpans.
“Oh hush!” I playfully smack his arm. “We should go out to dinner.”
Before I even finish my thought, he’s shaking his head. “You’re not supposed to leave.”
“C’mon,” I whine. “Between being kidnapped and hiding here, I’ve been cooped up for weeks. Besides, I’ll be with you, so I’ll be safe. Maybe it will lure Enrique out, and you can kill him.”
Matteo shakes his head again.
“Please.”
I bat my lashes, and he groans.
“Fine,” he relents. “Get dressed.”
“Yay!” I run past him, then stop and turn around, give his cheek a quick kiss, and then run up to my room to get dressed before he changes his mind.
I have no idea where we’re going, but since I’ve been living in my loungewear, I decide on a short-sleeved pink floral minidress that dips low in the front and makes my boobs look fabulous. When I put it on, I realize that it fits a bit looser. I smile to myself.
I guess the workout sessions with Matteo have been doing me good. He’s so knowledgeable that it’s like having a personal trainer. And when I’m done and he keeps going since he’s training for his upcoming fight, it’s like I get my own private show.
Once I’m dressed, I throw on a cute pair of brown boots to finish the look and fluff my hair. I’m swiping some gloss on my lips when Matteo appears in the doorway.
“You ready?”
“Yes.”
I turn around, my dress spinning with me, and when my eyes meet Matteo’s, his jaw is clenched.
“That’s what you’re wearing?”
“Yes,” I say again, eyeing what he’s wearing.
He’s replaced his T-shirt and jeans with a pair of gray slacks and a black collared shirt. And instead of his usual sneakers, he’s wearing a pair of black leather dress shoes. Casual Matteo is sexy, but dressed-up Matteo is on a whole other level.
I could understand his face if he wasn’t dressed up, but he is, so I don’t know what the look is for—until it hits me.
“Does my outfit look bad?”
My hands go to my stomach, and he steps forward, pushing them away.
“No. You look fine. Let’s go.”
“What? Wait.” I grab his arm to stop him. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“It’s nothing,” he says.
“Don’t lie to me. I’ve been lied to too many times, and I can’t have you lying to me as well.”
“Fine.” He sighs. “You look … gorgeous.”
“Okay, thanks … I think?”
“And the thought of every other guy seeing you like this, in this tiny fucking dress with your tits spilling out, pissed me off.”
It takes me a moment to wrap my head around what he just said, but once I do, I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face because …
“Matteo Antonov, are you jealous?”
He grunts and walks around me. “Let’s go, or I’m changing my mind, and I’m cooking us chicken and broccoli.”
I shiver at the thought. “Okay, no need to make threats. Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” I ask after a few minutes.
I technically grew up in Harbor Point, but because of going to boarding school, I don’t really know the area too well. Something I hope to change once Enrique is dead and I’m free to go anywhere I want.
“You’ll see.”
I click Play on the screen since his phone is linked to Bluetooth, and the craziest song starts to play.
“What is this?” I yell, clicking Next, only for another insane song to start up.
Matteo chuckles and clicks a few buttons, and then a normal song begins to play.
“That was my training playlist. It gets me pumped.”
“You listen to that the entire time you’re training?” I scoff. “It’s no wonder you’re so angry. A few minutes of listening to that, and I’d want to murder someone too.”
Matteo throws his head back with a laugh, and my eyes go to his throat, where his Adam’s apple bobs.
“You see that there?” He pulls onto the side of the road, next to what looks like a construction site.
“That’s the waterfront expansion our brothers have been working on.
It’s going to be badass. I’m talking hotels, restaurants, condominium developments, shopping.
It’s going to be a game changer for everyone involved. ”
My brother told me about it, and I’ve been excited to start working alongside him so I can learn, but seeing it in person, even though it’s nowhere near done, is surreal.
My heart swells with pride that my brother is part of something like this.
All the years of Dad training him, and he not only slid into Dad’s shoes, but he surpassed him.
“I hope whatever Enrique is doing doesn’t mess with it.”
“Nah, he can’t touch this. Besides”—he turns to look at me—“you remember the papers I had you sign the other day?”
I nod.
Last week, Matteo came home with a stack of papers that he said needed to be signed so his attorney could start the process of getting my marriage annulled since he had proof that Enrique had stolen someone’s identity, as well as getting the POA reverted to me.
“I was going to tell you at dinner, but while you were getting ready, Kevin texted me. He pulled some strings and was able to get your annulment expedited and get your power of attorney reverted. Enrique can’t touch shit.”
“Wow,” I breathe, feeling like the biggest weight has been lifted off my shoulders. “Thank you.”
“Margie, the director of operations at Russo Property Group, has already started damage control, but from what she said, he didn’t have enough time to do much.”
“God, Enrique’s going to be so pissed,” I say, glancing out the window.
“Yeah, which is why it’s imperative you don’t go anywhere without me. And when we do go out, you always stay with me.”
“I know.” I reach across the center console and squeeze his hand. “Thank you for everything. My brother is lucky to have a best friend like you.”
A few minutes later, we arrive at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Pasquale’s. The outside has a cute red-white-and-green awning, and the brick walls remind me of pictures of the small towns in Italy I’ve seen.
When we step onto the sidewalk, a few men who are milling about nod respectfully to Matteo, telling me he frequents this place often.
Matteo opens the door for me, and when I walk inside, Italian music is playing, and the restaurant looks like we just stepped into Italy.
“This place is adorable,” I tell him.
“Really?”
“Can you not see it? I’ve never been to Italy—which is probably a crime in and of itself since my family is Italian—but this is how all the pictures that my mom and dad used to show me looked.”
Matteo nods once, but for some reason, the carefree demeanor I felt from him just a moment ago is gone.
I don’t know what I said, but before I can ask, an older woman comes barreling over to give Matteo a hug.
She speaks to him in Italian, and he responds.
I understand enough Italian from hearing my parents speak it, but since he’s Russian and speaks the language, I’m surprised he also knows Italian.
“Daniella,” the woman says, embracing me in a hug. “It’s been so many years. Your brother talks about you so much. And your parents …” She sniffles. “Te sei bellisima, just like your mama.”
“You knew my mom?” I whisper.
“Oh, yes. You were so little when you came here, and then they kept you away.” She tsks. “But I’m so happy you’re here now.”
“Thank you.”
She and Matteo talk for another minute—her asking about Lorenzo and Matteo promising her that he’s okay. And then she guides us to our table.
“It smells so good in here,” I tell him, breathing in the garlic and wine scent.
“You wouldn’t rather be somewhere else? Like the country club? This place is kind of old …”
I scrunch my nose up in confusion. “Is that where you wanted to go? I mean, we can go if you want, but the food smells incredible, and it looks cute, not old. I wish I could remember who that woman was, but she’s so sweet.”
Matteo nods slowly. “No. We can stay here.”
“Good.” I grin, opening the menu. “Because I’ve been to the country club too many damn times and it does nothing for me.”