14. Matteo
Chapter 14
Matteo
T he sun was bright overhead, but I couldn’t feel heat anywhere. Looking around I found that it had become night behind me. Music was playing in the distance, and I walked towards it. Looking down I found myself dressed in what appeared to be a tuxedo.
Closer and closer I found myself walking towards the music.
I could make out notes that gave the music a jazz feel.
It sounds like shit, I thought.
Just when I figured I was alone, I found my Corsican was here in the dream world with me.
Shut up, I snapped.
Sorry about that shit with Carmine…but he needs to understand. You are what you are…
My heart seemed to speed up. I wanted my entity to tell me more, but he stopped talking. He stopped thinking and I found myself at a back window of an establishment peering in. There were so many people, yet my brain couldn’t recognize any of their faces. Pulling at the collar of the shirt I was wearing, I swallowed. The music was so loud, and it felt like it was vibrating inside of my chest and out through my fingertips.
Finally, I opened the door and stepped inside. The music switched the moment I was over the threshold, a slightly cool wind rushing over my body. The beat turned dark and seductive.
Find her , my dark entity urged.
I didn’t need to know who he was urging me to find.
There was only one woman that I fucking wanted, and I knew she was here.
Are we spying, came the thought.
We are, my Corsican whispered back.
We need to stop, my eyes searched and searched until I found her.
Rain was glimmering under the lights. Her smooth brown skin had a sheen to it, and I knew she was smooth all over.
Her hair was pinned up into a smooth ponytail, with soft tendrils around her face. Her eyes were closed, and her arms were raised, moving in the air, as she swayed to the beat. The red dress clung to her body like a second skin.
Instinctively, I wanted to peel the dress from her body.
I circled her, watching and waiting until finally I came up behind her.
“Mmm,” she moaned as I pressed against her.
“Stizzy,” I whispered into her ear.
Rain relaxed into my arms still swaying to the beat. “Why are you always in my dreams?”
“Am I?” I asked.
“Yes,” she murmured. “Always watching me.”
“I’m sorry,” I lied.
She turned and opened her big brown eyes, my own eyes dropping to her pouty glossed lips. Easing down, I captured her lips with my own and she let me. I didn’t want to ever wake up. I wanted to dream about Rain for the rest of my life if I could. It was as if the music started to become more intense the longer we kissed. The beat was so fucking seductive it could have drowned me. As we continued kissing and nipping at each other’s lips, Rain wound her hands through my hair like I’d wanted her to do a million times. Our bodies pressed even tighter against each other.
Finally we broke apart for air.
“I wish,” she whispered. “I wish someone like you could love me.”
Tears glistened in Rain’s eyes, and I pulled her chin up to meet my own.
“Stizzy, don’t cry…”
Screams started up around us and for just a moment I looked away. Fire began to surround me, and I turned back to find Rain becoming fine dust.
A mist, and then she was gone.
Deep dark laughter had me whipping around searching for the source. I couldn’t see him but I knew he was there. I could feel him like a dark shadow on the edge of my mind
“Father…”
I sat up breathing hard as fuck. It’d just been a dream. Rain was more than likely safe and probably asleep in her lover’s bed or some shit.
Padding into the kitchen I opened the refrigerator. There was nothing but a pitcher of water inside. This was the downside of being a bachelor. There was hardly any food in the place but there was no one to cook for anyway so, what did it matter to me.
The water tasted so good, quenching my thirst. I found myself bracing against the counter as my mind raced over my dreams. I’d never had such an intense dream before. I touched at my lips, still feeling the remnants of Rain there. A yearning to taste her again had me about to go insane.
The television had some old I Dream of Jeanie episode playing. Watching for a few moments, I started looking for my phone. I found it when it started to vibrate deep in the back grove of the couch.
Mason.
You have to fucking answer me sometime , the text read.
Taking a breath, I finally sent a reply. I know.
You have us worried, Matty.
Another sigh left my lips, and I shot another text to my brother. I’m worried myself.
You’re not alone. But I wasn’t texting about that.
Oh? I could feel my face scrunching up into a huge frown.
Nora picked up some chatter on the dark web. Dad’s been spotted.
Instantly, I went on alert remembering that fucking dreaming again. Augustus Matteo Zacharra Sr. had popped up in my dream. It’d been a while since we’d seen him or heard from him.
Where?
I looked away from the phone in my hands, my eyes landing on the screen. My mind couldn’t even seem to comprehend what was going on. Did the blonde genie in her cute little outfit have an evil twin? Shaking my mind, the phone vibrated in my hand.
Looks like Paris, came Mason’s reply.
Air entered into my lungs and finally I found the remote and turned the television off. Relief seemed to flood my body.
Far away from us , I replied.
Are you okay? Mason tried to move the conversation back to me, but I was tapped.
I’m fine. Work stress. I will check in with everyone soon. I’ll get up with Carmine and apologize too.
Mason seemed satisfied with my answer and didn’t reply. He knew when to leave well enough alone. For a long while, I sat in the dark until the birds started chirping. My thoughts drifted to Rain.
I was always thinking about that woman.
Of course, it would have been lovely if I could have shaken her out of my system, but I was drawn to her. If she was a lit and open flame, I was the dumb ass moth constantly flittering to close about to be burned to death.
Morning light began to seep into my apartment and the chirping of birds filled the silence.
Maybe I’d apologize for being so fucking aggressive with her at the bar. I had finger fucked her against her will as if I was the type to go around doing that. You know, just grabbing women off the street or some shit and pushing inside of their panties.
I got dressed in some grey sweats and a white T-shirt, found my keys and left the house. There was a little café on the corner of Elm Street, a block from Rain’s apartment complex.
The waitress took my order, and I guessed at what Rain might like. Personally, I preferred a flavored Red Bull but settled on getting her something fancy sounding a with a few pumps of syrup and topped with whipped cream.
I paid and arrived at her door, taking a deep breath before I knocked. The Corsican that was living and breathing inside of my brain didn’t stir. I only exhaled the moment she cautiously parted the door.
Surprise registered on her face. “Agent Zacharra? It’s early, is something wrong?”
“I..whaannnn….” I’d began to stutter out of nowhere. “Fuck…”
The door opened wider, and she offered me a tiny smile as her eyes flickered over the coffee in my hands. “Is this for me?”
“Yes.”
Rain still had on pajamas, silky brown pants and a silky brown top that nearly matched her skin tone.
I was grateful as she allowed me over the threshold as I handed the coffee over to her. She had some music playing, and I knew without a doubt, it was a boyband.
“Baaackstreet Boooyys?” I stammered again, frustration rising in my body.
She had me fucking stuttering and I knew I needed to calm down. That it was just nerves…
As she sipped the coffee a dab of whipped cream landed on her nose, leaving her oblivious. Her brow quirked itself but didn’t comment on my stuttering. “They help put me in a good mood. Anything else you need to know?”
Yeah, tell me how you like your pussy licked…
Blushing, I turned away and surveyed her living room some more. On the coffee table, some incense was burning and there was a rolled up blunt resting comfortably. Tarot cards were also decorating the table, in a pattern I didn’t quite understand.
“Is this why you’re being semi-nice?” I drank my own coffee and pointed to the marijuana.
Rain rolled her eyes before prancing past me with her lips wrapped around the straw and whipped cream still decorating her nose.
“Gonna arrest me?”
I sighed, wanting to try again. This woman wouldn’t give me an inch. “No. Of course not. And it’s legal for private use…”
She grinned up at me and finally I couldn’t take it anymore. Sitting my own coffee down on the stand, I dashed into her kitchen. Tearing loose a piece of paper towel, I returned.
Leaning over her, our eyes locked, and the tension returned. It was as if a mini hurricane had started somewhere, and it wanted to consume me.
Her.
Us.
Her tone had turned breathy. “What are you doing?”
Slowly, I dabbed the whipped cream away. “Just cleaning up a little mess on a pretty canvas.”
She shook her head. “You’re like, so cheesy.”
Stepping away, I tossed the paper towel in the trash bin and finally took a seat. By then she’d gathered up her tarot cards. She began to shuffle them all while making eye contact with me.
“Agent Zacharra?”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her hands, as if I were mesmerized. Slowly, they shuffled the thin cards. One by one, it was as if time had slowed down and I could feel that buzzing at the base of my neck.
Fuck her on this couch, my dark entity whispered.
No, I shook my head trying to make him go away.
You’re no fucking fun, I could feel him grinning.
This fucking thing inside of me would have me drinking whiskey and smoking cigarettes like Mason’s did. I was in shape and I ate clean.
Fucking Boy Scout, it taunted again.
“Agent Zacharra?”
I snapped out of it; the buzzing ceased. My dark entity retreated for the time being.
Fucker, I thought.
“Yes? Sorry…” I grinned sheepishly.
“Have you ever had someone tell you your fortune?”
I paused. “Didn’t we have this conversation last night?”
Rain’s head whipped towards me, emotions flickered over her face. “Honestly, I’m trying to forget last night, babe…”
Slowly, I shook my head. “I want you to call me Matteo… and no. I’ve never had anyone read my palms or cards or anything weird…”
She rolled her eyes. “Well get ready, because you have got some weird energy coming off you…”
Does she know? He was back and I could feel how intrigued he was.
It’s impossible unless…
He sighed. Mason’s woman probably fucking said something.
I shook my head trying to clear away the thoughts. Nora wouldn’t betray us. She loved my brother and knew what exposing Corsicans could do.
Maybe, she’s psychic? I thought.
My Corsican gave a laugh. Let’s hope so…I’d hate to kill Mason’s woman.
I bit at my lip as the Corsican’s thoughts turned dark, flashes of torture sessions hitting me immediately. Hey, we’re not going to hurt Nora.
Then you better pray she’s got sixth sense.
Slowly, my eyes fixated on the motions of Rains hands as she began to shuffle the deck of cards. Her movements almost put me under some sort of trance, a spell that only she could weave. For a moment she stopped, and I watched her sip her coffee before shuffling once again.
“Say when,” she looked over offering me a grin.
We locked eyes and her hands continued to shuffle, and I watched as her tongue danced out to lick over her lips.
I was ever so grateful to be sitting beside her because I was brick hard and wanted to slide inside of her warm and waiting pussy immediately.
“When,” I murmured.
She stopped and began to make what almost appeared to be a triangle.
Rain flipped the first card over, her eyes wide and raking it over. It appeared to be The Lovers card. “This card represents you. Apparently, love is in the air. But I’m also sensing not just love but also duality. Two sides to every story…like two wolves inside of you…” She glanced over at me again as I hung onto her every word. “Be careful which one you feed.
“Interesting, lovers card, huh?
She nodded. “Anyone special in your life lately.”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
“What about the girl from the party?”
Confusion took over because I had no idea what she was talking about. “What girl?”
Rain giggled before she sat the cards down and picked up her blunt that had long burned out. “The one from Carmine’s party,” she said motioning to her chest. “She had some real tig ol’ biddies.”
“Oh her,” I grinned feeling my cheeks burn as the smoke climbed into the air when Rain exhaled. “No…she wasn’t my type anyway.”
“Oh, and what is your type, Agent Zacharra?” she picked the cards back up and flipped over three more.
I picked up my coffee that had grown warm and took a deep sip. “You already know my type.”
However, I don’t even think Rain heard me, she was staring at the cards again.
The Emperor.
The Empress.
And finally, The Tower.
Rain’s face became distorted, and she looked the cards over even further. “Matteo…”
Shock rolled over my skin, and the Corsican stirred. We liked hearing our name roll off her tongue.
We liked it a fucking lot.
“Yes?”
“These male and female figures…the tower. There’s so much danger around you.”
Her eyes almost seemed to water. “Hey Stizzy, I’m an FBI agent. There’s always some risk.”
“But…this is…the Emperor and the Empress usually together they represent parental figures. And the tower denotes danger.”
I let out a loud laugh, slapping my knee sure that her cards were probably picking up danger for the next-door neighbor or something. I finished off the rest of the coffee, savoring the last bitter drops. “Well, I know somethings off, Stizzy cause my mother’s been dead for years. She killed herself on Mason’s birthday and I found her. My father though…he’s a son of bitch, so it’s probably his new wife.”
Rain dabbed at her eye. “Maybe…yeah maybe that’s what they’re picking up. I’m sorry…about your mom.”
I shrugged. “She put up with my father for as long as she possibly could. It was a long time ago.”
Rain nodded her head slowly, her eyes darting to the cards and then back to me. “I’m still sorry.”
“It’s okay. But look, I came by because I wanted to apologize about last night.”
She stood up and held up her hands as if trying to stop my words. “Again, trying to forget it happened.”
A sigh brushed past my lips, and I put a hand on my hip to keep myself from reaching for her. I could still taste her juices on my tongue from last night. It was as if they had imprinted themselves in my memory. I wanted to taste her again so badly, and my Corsican wanted the same. It felt as if he was ready to rip through my muscles and flesh.
“Last night I was wrong.”
Rain stared at me, a pensive look decorating her face. Her face seemed to shimmer under the morning light. She’d never looked more beautiful to me. “What?”
“Yeah, Rain. I never should have invaded your space like that…I was…I wasn’t myself last night.”
Her brown eyes searched my own as if trying to decipher if I had some hidden agenda. "You’re right, you shouldn’t have done that.”
I nodded. “I just really wanted to apologize to you and say sorry. I’m not the type of guy to force a woman…”
Rain took a breath. “Thank you. For the coffee and the apology.”
I nodded, a soft smile pulling at my lips. Before I could say another word, my cell phone started ringing.
Seeing that it was Jason calling, I debated on letting it go to voicemail. “Look, I’ve gotta go. But this was nice.”
Rain rolled her eyes just as the phone stopped ringing. “Agent Zac…”
She took a breath and said my name for a second time. “Matteo, please have a good rest of the day. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
By the time I was getting in my car, my phone started ringing again.
“Hello?”
Jason sounded as if he was in the worst mood. “Do you know how to answer your phone or what?”
Taking a deep breath, I ignored him. “What’s going on?”
“The analytics just came back off Cassie Ito’s phone.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I had a contact at Deluca Tech and reached out. They were able to get together with our forensics. It’s looking like Kenji Ito might have had a reason to kill his sister.”
My stomach dropped at the mention of Kenji Ito’s name. It wasn’t like I could tell anyone what he had inside of him. What I had inside of me.
“Look meet me at the office in twenty minutes,” he huffed. “I’ll fill you in on all the specifics.”
“On the way,” I sighed before ending the call.
As I drove away from Rain’s apartment complex, thoughts of her spun around in my head like a spider’s web. Her tarot cards had offered me up a warning and I wondered as the image of The Tower card flashed in my head, was I heading into danger?
Walking into the office, dressed in my civilian clothes I badged in and headed straight for the briefing room. Jason was waiting with a stack of files a mile long piled on the table.
“This has better be good,” I remarked staring at manilla folders, each one seeming to be dated, and named.
“It is,” he reached over and handed me a file containing print outs of the text between Cassie and Kenji.
Scanning the text, I frowned. “Am I reading this right?”
He nodded. “Yep.”
Sitting down I continued to read.
You raped me, the text read. And I got pregnant.
You wanted it, and we both know it, Kenji had replied.
Cassie had replied with, I aborted it.
My eyes roved over the words in shock, and disgust. You’d better not fucking tell, Cassie. I’ll been in town shortly.
My stomach twisted into a knot because there were more text messages to comb through. That sick fuck, the same one who’d had his nasty fucking hands all over Rain.
Our woman, my Corsican purred.
He was a rapist and more than likely a murderer.
“We’re gonna have to turn this over to the local authorities,” Jason remarked.
“Damn,” I shook my head leaning back in shock.
“And that’s not all…it looks like he’s a huge supplier in the designer coke that’s been hitting the market. He supplied Cassie as a way to keep her quiet about what was going on between the two of them…”
“We’re gonna nail his ass to the wall,” I smiled.
Jason nodded. “I’m gonna start writing up reports now.”
"I’m gonna read through more of these files,” I told him.
The second he was out of the briefing room. My brothers needed to be in the loop on this. Something told me that even if Kenji Ito was arrested and charged for murder, there was no way in hell he was going to just stay put.
Not with a synthetic Corsican in his body.
We may have a big problem on our hands, I shot the text out.
Immediately, my phone began to rattle in my hands as my brothers entered the chat.