Chapter 28 Stella
STELLA
After Matteo’s wounds were cleaned and sutured by a nurse from the clinic he always goes to, we met up with Franco, who was still in recovery in his own room.
Luckily, he made it out alive. I apologized for forcing him to turn around the car and thanked him for saving me, then made Matteo swear to give him a nice bonus for all his work.
The doctors at Matteo’s clinic also checked on me to make sure that I wasn’t injured, and they even tested the vials Lucio used to drug me to see what he put in my bloodstream, but luckily, it was nothing that could cause permanent damage in my body.
I’m just glad that fucker didn’t manage to actually have his way with me like he intended, thanks to Matteo’s and Angelo’s quick actions.
Now that we’ve finally made our way back to Matteo’s house, I breathe a sigh of relief as we step into the hallway.
Despite the fact that I’ve been locked up here for so long, it makes me feel much safer to be here now that I know Matteo has my back.
Especially knowing that Lucio is finally gone from this earth.
He’ll no longer chase me for the money I owed him, and I’m finally free from the burden I carried with me for so long.
Free from the pain Lucio inflicted on me.
And I’m glad that bastard is finally in the hell he deserves to be for the rest of eternity.
Lucio’s house was completely ravaged by the raid the De Silva men did, and all the Agostini bodies that were left behind got cleaned up by a company Matteo apparently always hires to get rid of evidence before the cops show up and ask questions no one wants to answer.
Some of Lucio’s men dispersed and ran for their lives, but Matteo’s men will find them regardless. There’s no hiding from a De Silva, that I know firsthand.
Suddenly, Sarah and Leticia come running down the stairs, only to hug me tightly.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re safe, Mrs. De Silva!” Sarah says.
“I’m so happy he managed to get you back,” Leticia says. “I was so worried.”
I hug them back. “Thanks, guys, I missed you too.”
“I’ll go grab some drinks,” Sarah says.
“No, no, bring the liquor,” Angelo says. “I need a drink.”
Matteo rolls his eyes. “Fine, let’s go with some liquor.”
“Good choice, sir,” Leticia says, and they both walk off into the kitchen.
Angelo looks around the mansion as he walks about. “This old place really needs someone to give it a little … shine,” Angelo muses. “A woman’s hand, perhaps?”
I chuckle and turn toward Angelo. “Hey, can I just say … thank you for what you did.”
“For what? I wasn’t even the gallant knight that came to save you.”
“No, that gallant knight happened to be me,” Matteo muses.
Angelo smirks. “Happy to help you prop up your ego for your little wifey.”
“Wifey?” I croak.
“Yeah …” He points at us. “You two are still married, right?”
Matteo and I both look at each other, a blush spreading on my cheeks. I don’t even know what to say, so I just smile, and so does Matteo.
“Thought so,” Angelo says. “Well, I’m glad I could help you get rid of that son of a bitch who got in the way of your happiness.”
Sarah and Leticia come back in with a tray filled with different bottles of liquor and some salty snacks, and they place them all on the small table in the hallway.
“There you go,” Sarah says.
“Thank you, ladies,” Matteo responds.
He probably doesn’t want them listening in on our conversations and turning it into gossip.
Leticia and Sarah both walk back up the stairs, throwing glances at Angelo like he’s their favorite, and I can see why. The guy is handsome as hell, and most definitely Matteo’s brother because they’re two peas in a pod.
Matteo grabs a bottle of bourbon to fill up three glasses. “Lucio’s death calls for a celebration.”
“True, true. Although I don’t understand how a fucker like that got a house that massive,” Angelo says.
“Stealing,” Matteo responds.
“But what’s going to happen to the house now that he’s gone?” I ask.
“A makeover,” Angelo answers with a lopsided grin. “For its new owner.”
Matteo frowns as he hands us all a glass of liquor. “Who?”
Angelo’s smile broadens. “Me.”
We both look at him like he’s lost his mind.
“Cheers!” He clinks his glass against ours and takes a sip.
My jaw drops. “Wait, but the Agostini family will never acc—”
“Who cares? They can try to fight me over it,” Angelo boasts.
“Dad won’t approve,” Matteo tells him.
Angelo shrugs. “I guess we’re both disappointing sons, then.”
Matteo rolls his eyes. “You know, I’m impressed because I already know you’re going to spin this in a way that Dad will see as a benefit to him and drag him into your devious plan.”
Angelo points at Matteo with his glass. “See, now you get the picture.”
We all laugh, and Angelo chugs his drink and sets it down. “Well, anyway, I should leave you two to whatever it is young married couples do.” He winks.
“Like you don’t know.”
“No, I actually don’t. I’m not married.” He gives us an awkward wave as he heads back out. “See you both later.”
“Thanks for the help,” Matteo says.
“It was nice to meet you,” I say.
“Likewise. You two make a great match,” he responds, before walking out of the house.
When the door closes with a thud, we’re left with just the two of us, and the air has never been thicker with tension than it is now.
I thought it’d be easier after the sex, but I was wrong …
it’s way, way worse because every step he takes toward me feels like thunder in a chest locked inside my heart, and he’s the only one who holds the key.
He places his glass down on the table. “Stella …”
I swallow. “Yes, Matteo?”
He takes my glass from my hand, and his fingers brush mine, sending delicious shocks up and down my spine.
He sets it down on the table right next to his glass and grabs my hand.
“I want to apologize to you again. For locking you up in my house, for making you marry me when you didn’t want to, for using you as a revenge tool.
” He swallows. “I was too self-absorbed, too consumed by anger that I couldn’t see what I was doing to you, until it was too late. ”
My lip tips up into a gentle smile. “Thank you.”
“I’m not done yet,” he adds. “I need to make this right. I stole everything from you, and I’m no better than Lucio.”
“Don’t compare yourself to that lowlife,” I say, but he puts a finger on my lips to silence me.
“I’ve been a terrible husband, and you deserve better. You deserve the world.”
He grabs both my hands, pushes something between them, and squeezes them together softly before whispering into my ear, “You deserve … freedom.”
My breathing stops abruptly.
What did he just say?
My hand slowly opens up as he takes a step back. Inside lies a metallic key, glistening in the light. “Is this …?”
He caresses my cheeks. “A key to my house, so you can leave whenever you’re ready. You can take whatever you need from your room. It’s yours to keep.”
I try to swallow away the lump in my throat, but it’s too hard because the tears are welling up again.
“I won’t keep you a captive any longer.”
“But you married me,” I say.
He nods. “I will collect the papers tomorrow and send them over. For now, you’re free to go back home to your apartment and live your life however you choose.”
I’ve wanted to be free for such a long time that I nearly forgot what it was like to hold an actual key. It’s powerful. Like I’m holding the world in the palm of my hand, yet … I don’t want to leave.
“You don’t have to be my wife anymore if you don’t want to, and I won’t hold it against you if you don’t,” he says, clearing his throat. “I just want to make things right for once. After all, that’s what both our mothers would want.”
That vow meant everything to him, I know it did.
But he’s still willing to push it all aside and let it all go for me.
I swallow and focus on him, placing the key down next to the glasses. “I want to stay.”
Matteo
My pupils dilate as shock ripples through me. “What?”
Did I hear that correctly?
She wants to stay? Here, in my house?
“You helped me when no one else even dared to look in my direction. You stood up for me, and you always treated me like I was important. You understand me. That … means everything to me.” She rubs her lips together. “I want to be free, but I don’t want to lose you.”
The sweetness of her words gives me a high I’ve never experienced before. It’s like I’m floating on cloud nine. I never imagined she would ever want me the way I’ve wanted her since I first met her in that club, all sassy as fuck as she threw a big middle finger to the man who tried to control her.
But the truth is, no man should try to control a fiery goddess like her, because it’ll burn them in their ass, just like it did with me.
I smile and pull her closer to me. “You won’t ever lose me.”
She smiles back, and I want to bask in her radiance. “Promise?”
“Swear on my mother’s grave,” I say.
Her jaw drops, and she playfully slaps me on the chest. “You did not just say that.”
I grab her hand and keep it in place. “I mean it. I promise to never, ever leave your side.” I hold up my hand and show her my finger along with the ring. “After all, I made a vow for life. Whether you stay with me or not, you will always be here with me, wherever I go.”
A blush spreads on her cheeks as fast as the wildfire roars in my heart.
“Ti amo,” I say.
“You said that before … in Lucio’s house.”
Smiling, I nod. “Caught in the act.”
She smiles and brings her hands up to my face, clutching me gently. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you too, Matteo.”
Fuck.
She knows what it means.
“How did you—”
“I know how to use a phone.” She chuckles. “Google Translate.”
Smirking, I lean in until our foreheads collide. “Say it again,” I murmur.
The way she looks at me is so seductive it could make any man drop to his knees. “You first.”
“Ti amo, Stella.”
“I love you, Matteo,” she whispers, and it makes goose bumps scatter on my skin.
“Fuck,” I groan, and I grab her face with both hands and smash my lips onto hers, kissing her with everything I have to give.
I’m overwhelmed by the desire to make her mine, as my lips part hers and my tongue licks the roof of her mouth, desperate to get closer.
“Oh shit, I interrupted something, my apologies.”
Sarah’s voice makes Stella tear away, but I’m not having any of this.
“Sarah, come here.”
She swiftly hobbles over to me, and I hand her my black card.
“Take all the staff out to dinner, any restaurant is fine. Order whatever you want, it’s on me. Lock the doors behind you. I don’t want anyone left behind.”
“Um … okay. Are you sure?”
“Positive,” I reply.
Sarah giggles as she tucks the credit card into her pocket. “Yes, sir. Thank you.” She winks at Stella. “Have fun.”
Sarah runs around the house and calls everyone—my driver, my butlers, the rest of the maids, and even the gardener—then takes them all out of the house and locks the doors behind her, finally leaving us in peace.
Just the two of us in a house that’s felt so empty for too goddamn long … until she burst into my life and stole my heart right from underneath my nose.
“What’s going on?” Stella asks.
I grab her ass to drag her close to me. “I don’t want anyone to see the unholy things I’m about to do to your body. You’re all mine and mine alone.”
And I slam my mouth onto hers to let her know I mean the fuck out of the promise I just made her.
“I’m going to fuck you against every damn wall, every table and every chair, and the fucking floor of every goddamn room in my goddamn house, and mark them with your wetness as a trophy so you know exactly where you belong. ”