Chapter 27 Matteo
MATTEO
Twelve years later…
I see the sliver of sunlight peeking in behind the curtain. My wife sleeps soundly beside me.
I always wake up extra early on her birthday. In recent years I know she humors me—pretends to sleep just to keep our little tradition alive.
I lean down and kiss the top of her head softly. She stirs just a little, but stays asleep.
I slip out of our room and find Daniele waiting in the hallway across from the door. He looks tired, but there’s a smile tugging at his lips. The boy is nearly as tall as me now, and he’s grown to look just like his mother—but his eyes… those eyes haunt me. His eyes.
“Come, Danny boy,” I say, patting his shoulder, and we head to the kitchen.
We fumble our way through the recipe he picked. Some gluten-free nonsense I didn’t think would taste any good—but to my shock, it actually does.
“I told you, Papa,” he says smugly. “You should listen to me more often.”
He gives me a knowing look.
I shake my head and start walking with the breakfast tray. “Nice try, but you’re not getting out of training. I told you this, boy.”
He groans behind me, picking up the plate of muffins we just made. “Papa, please. Andrew said he’d have me back stateside a week before training starts.”
I shake my head. “Danny boy, we had a deal. You got your year off, but now it’s time to assimilate into the business. You had the option of going to college, and you said no.”
“There’s nothing college would teach me that I won’t learn on the job,” he huffs as we reach the top of the stairs.
“I want to be the next capo. I want to follow in your steps. I just want to… do what kids my age do for a little while. I have all the time in the world for business and work. But I want a moment to be my age.”
I glance over my shoulder at my son. “I know, my boy. I understand you. But you carry the Davacalli name. It is your duty as my sole heir—just as it was mine for my father.”
He gives a solemn nod.
“But,” I add, “that being said… I think some time away from all of this will do you some good.”
I watch the tension slip from his shoulders. His face breaks into a smile, and his eyes light up in a way that takes me straight back to when he was small.
“Are you serious?”
I nod. “I forget at times how young you still are, my boy. I’ve been trying to plunge you into this sea of sharks far too quickly. Like you said—there will be time for business later. Be a boy for now, before I force you into manhood. Come, your mother is probably pretending to be asleep.”
We tiptoe into the bedroom, doing our best not to wake Beatrice. But the truth is, she’s likely already awake.
“Careful,” I whisper.
He rolls his eyes and stands beside me. “I am careful.”
We stop at the side of the bed. I take a moment to admire her—because no matter how many years go by, she will always mesmerize me.
“Okay, amore. You can wake up now.” I raise my voice on purpose, and she stirs. She pretends to blink away sleep, but I catch the gleam of mischief in her eyes.
Daniele clears his throat, already off-key. “Haaaappy birthday to you…”
I join in, and together we sing like idiots—loud, cracked, joyful. She sits up, brushing her hair back, eyes shining with happiness.
“Haaappy birthday to you…” we finish, absolutely butchering the last note.
“You boys,” she says, voice thick with love. She presses a hand to her heart, eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “A little off key, but definitely better than last year.”
“I think it was my harmony that saved it,” Danny argues proudly. “Dad was a little sharp on certain parts.”
I place the tray on her lap and kiss her lips. When I pull away, Daniele is already making gagging sounds—as usual.
“That will never not be gross for me,” he teases, then softens as he hands her the plate. “Here you go, Mama. I baked it and Dad mixed it. It’s gluten free—just like your new diet.”
He sets down the baked goods and presses a kiss to her cheek.
“That’s so thoughtful, love bug.” She smells the treats, then turns her attention to me. “And thank you, amore mio.”
She takes a bite and hums in approval. Danny shoots me an I told you so look, and I wave him off. There is absolutely no reason gluten-free food should taste good—but it does. It works.
“I’ll leave before you two start making out again.” Danny scrunches his nose in mock disgust, but I see the brightness in his eyes. “I’m going out for a run. Text if you need me. Happy birthday again, Mama.”
“Thank you, my boy,” she says, blowing him a kiss as he leaves the room.
I settle beside her and brush a stray strand of hair from her face while she finishes her first muffin. She turns her head, and I seize the moment to capture her lips with mine. When I pull away, there are tiny crumbs clinging to the corner of her mouth. I chuckle and brush them off.
“Oops,” she laughs. “These are heavenly. And why are you staring at me like that?”
“I was just admiring the view,” I say. “Like wine, you get better year after year, amore.”
She rolls her eyes playfully. “No need to flatter me, Mr. Davacalli. You already have me for all eternity.”
“And it’s not nearly long enough.” It never will be. Forever is a good start.
I place my card on the tray, and her eyes snap up to mine.
“What’s this for?” She holds the black card between her fingers. “You do know you already gave me one, right?”
“Spa day,” I tell her. “After all the hassle with the fashion house and the upcoming collection, I thought it’d be nice for you to have time to yourself. Full treatment. Massage. Facial. Mud bath. A bottle of champagne if you want it. It’s all covered.”
“You spoil me.”
“Not nearly enough.” I rub her back absently as she finishes another muffin. “Take the day to yourself. Then tonight, we’ll go out for dinner as a family.”
She nods, finishes the last of her baked goods, and heads off to change.
While she’s gone, I spend the time digging into intel and doing my own recon.
There have been whispers of a certain snake slithering back into our grassland.
He hasn’t made any major moves yet; thanks to some of my connections, I managed to sever what ties he had left with Vladimir before they could become a problem.
But with Giacomo making odd appearances here and there, I need to be on high alert.
I dial Valerio and stare out at the lake behind the house. The sun scatters diamond flecks across the water—my wife’s favorite thing about the backyard.
“Talk to me,” I say when he picks up.
He clears his throat. “He’s not doing anything, boss. A few meetings with the Mexicans—testing the market, seeing what’s available. Other than that, he’s kept a very low profile.”
And that is what worries me more.
“Just because he’s keeping a low profile doesn’t mean he isn’t working behind the scenes.” I crack my knuckles in my palm. “Find out from Rodriguez exactly what he discussed with the Mexicans. I want a full debrief within the hour.”
“Understood.”
I hang up and groan. Sooner or later this has to end—but knowing Giacomo, bloodshed will always be involved.
If he ever touches my family again… I would scorch the earth.
Hours later, my son and I wait in the foyer for Beatrice to come downstairs. I made sure to have an entire team help her get ready. She wanted to complain, but I refused. Today is her day. She isn’t lifting a single finger.
When she appears, descending the stairs, she looks radiant in a blood-red dress that hugs every curve she owns. The diamond necklace I gave her years ago rests at her throat, catching the light with every step, and reminding me of how long she’s been mine.
“Close your mouth, Papa. You’ll catch flies,” Danny mocks, stepping forward to meet her. “And who is this gorgeous woman right here?”
“Oh, stop it, Danny.” She blushes and smooths the skirt of her dress. The light from the chandelier catches her smile and makes it glow. “And don’t you look dapper in your suit.”
He gives her a small twirl. “I clean up real nice, don’t I? I got it from my mom.”
She laughs and kisses his cheek.
“Sei bellissima, Mama,” he says, then steps aside to let me greet my wife. “I think you may have given your husband a stroke with how good you look.”
She teases, “Are you just going to stand there and ogle, or are you going to greet your wife?”
I close the distance in two easy strides. I take her into my arms and spin her once, earning giggles and smiles. I set her down and lean in to kiss her, but she turns at the last second, making me land on her cheek instead.
“Hey,” I murmur, pulling her closer and giving her ass a light slap.
“Ew, Dad. That’s my mom. Real mature, Dad.”
Bea and I laugh, the sound echoing through the white marble foyer.
“Okay, that’s enough,” she says, rising onto her toes to kiss my cheek. “We have dinner reservations.”
For now, I let myself exist in the present—even though that devil has lived in the back of my mind for weeks. I let us float through this moment as a happy, normal family.
I’ve learned that happiness in my world is fragile. It fades faster than you expect.
And little did I know… time was running out.