Chapter Twenty-Four
Erin
Dave and I are laughing so hard we can barely breathe as we wait for the song to start. I invited him to our karaoke night, and unsurprisingly, his easy charm and goofiness have made him an instant buddy in our group. He is funny and outgoing, the perfect companion for karaoke and giggles.
Then the first notes of I Will Survive kick in, and we are scream-singing Gloria Gaynor in tandem in front of a cheering and hooting crowd.
But suddenly, at about mid-song, awareness creeps up my spine and makes my skin crawl.
I frown and scan the room, trying to locate the source of my unease.
My voice falters and I nearly drop the microphone when I see him sitting there, perched on a stool at the back of the room, tall, brooding and dark.
Mr. Underworld himself.
What the hell is he doing here?
I glare at him from across the room even if I can’t see his expression from this far.
I throw the last line of I Will Survive in his direction and turn away.
I don’t spare him a glance and return to our table where Lily, Chiara, and Lucas are waiting for us.
They seem oblivious to Matteo’s presence, but I feel his stare boring into me all evening.
As the night goes on, we go back on stage for more songs and I almost forget that Matteo is staring daggers at me from across the room. Let him . I’m here to have fun, not to be an emotional punching bag for an arrogant Mafia enforcer. I refuse to let him ruin my evening.
More songs and laughter later, my throat runs dry and I skip to the bar for another margarita.
The bartender flashes me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, sweetie. We’re out of alcohol.”
I blink at him. “What? You’re literally standing in front of a wall of booze.” I lean to the side to look behind him. Yep, the shelves are lined with liquor bottles, not a single one is empty. I beam up at the man. “Just give me anything you have.”
The barman gives me another too-bright smile. “Yeah, about that…we’re out of everything. But I can give you this.” He pushes a chilled water bottle toward me with a sheepish smile.
I look at him, bewildered. What is going on ?
He leans toward me and says in a conspiratorial tone, “The gentleman over there made sure that you’ll always uh…stay well hydrated throughout the evening.”
I don’t have to follow his nod to know which gentleman he means.
I whip around anyway and sure enough, Matteo is still sitting there, eyes gleaming with evil satisfaction. He holds up his tumbler in a mock salute and smirks.
That overbearing, infuriating, arrogant jerk !
I whip around toward the bar. “Look, I don’t know how much he paid you, but I’ll double it if you forget his deal. So, how much was it?” I start to rummage in my purse to look for change.
“Well, a hundred,” the barman replies with a confused frown, no doubt wondering what is happening.
My eyes snap up. “A hundred bucks!” I grouse in annoyance and start to rummage harder for the two hundred dollars. Shit, do I even have that much cash ?
“Um…” The barman’s embarrassed voice makes me pause and look up. “Actually, it’s a hundred thousand dollars.” He gives me an apologetic smile.
“What?” I’m sure my shocked shriek can be heard in Vancouver.
“He…uh, sort of paid for every patron’s drink for the whole night,” he goes on.
I gape at him. What on earth … My spine snaps straighter as red-hot fury makes my heart slam in my chest and my blood pound in my ears.
For a beat I stand frozen in front of the bar.
Then I snatch the water bottle from the counter with a frustrated cry and whirl around so fast the room spins, to stomp back to our table.
I won’t murder him in a crowded bar, I repeat like a mantra.
Eventually, the night ends and our group spills out of the bar, still laughing. I am flushed, buzzing with adrenaline, and thanks to Matteo’s interfering, stone-cold sober.
Dave is walking close beside me, still grinning from our performance. “We should do this again. You’re like karaoke royalty.”
I laugh, brushing my hair out of my face. “I’m more like karaoke disaster. But I’ll take it. You’re not bad yourself,” I tease, still laughing. He chuckles, and for a second, I almost forget the shadow who has been trailing me for days.
Until I see him again.
Matteo is leaning against a black SUV parked in front of the bar.
His jacket is open and he has his hands in his pant pockets.
He seems almost relaxed, if it weren’t for the dark look on his face.
The streetlight hits him in an angle that accentuates the harsh lines of his face and the darkness of his gaze.
His eyes lock on me, and just like that, my steps falter.
Dave slows when he finally sees him too, tension creeping into his smile. He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel him stiffen beside me.
We’re barely a few steps away when Matteo pushes off the car, his posture casual but his movements predatory. “Erin.” His voice is low and lethal. “You’re done for the night. Get in the car.”
I freeze. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” He takes a step forward, then his gaze snaps to Dave. “I told you to stay away from her.”
“Matteo.” My tone is sharp with anger. “Don’t do this.”
But Dave tries to appease him. “Look, man…we’re just having fun. It’s only karaoke night. It’s not—”
Matteo is on him in two strides, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him back against the brick wall. “You think I’m blind or dumb?” His voice is a low snarl, dangerous enough to draw the attention of every patron coming out of the bar.
“Matteo!” I grab his arm and yank hard, but it is like trying to move a brick wall.
Then Lucas is suddenly there, pulling Matteo back with surprising force.
“Enough,” he barks. “This is not the time or place, Teo. Let. Him. Go.”
Chiara and Lily, who have been chatting, rush over with wide eyes and shock written all over their faces.
Matteo’s jaw is tight, his fists still clenched, but Lucas has him restrained with a hand on his chest, keeping him from lunging again.
“Matteo, stop,” Lily says gently, stepping in between us. “I’ll take Erin home. Okay? You need to calm down.”
His gaze snaps to me, dark and burning, and I swallow. For a moment, I think he’s going to refuse and drag me to his car whether I want it or not. But then something shifts in his expression and he slowly steps back, jaw clenched and hands balled into fists.
The tension in the air is suffocating. Everyone is staring at him like they’re seeing him for the first time.
I cross my arms. My fury has finally replaced the shock and is now boiling over. “What the hell is wrong with you? You think you can just show up, threaten people and order me around like I’m one of your minions? Newsflash, Matteo, I don’t belong to you.”
He narrows his eyes, and for a second, I see the madness there, laced with possessiveness and frustration. But Lily’s hand on my arm is enough to break the tension. She tugs me toward her waiting car, murmuring urgently, “Let’s go before this gets worse.”
I let her lead me, but not before shooting Matteo one last glare over my shoulder.
The door clicks shut behind me as Lily’s driver pulls the car away from the curb. The leather seat is soft under me, but I can’t relax, my chest is still tight with fury. I am positively vibrating with it.
Lily sits beside me, brow raised. “So…” she starts, her tone light but probing. “What was that about?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Which part? The part where he stalked me to karaoke night? Or the part where he almost crushed Dave’s windpipe?”
She tilts her head, watching me curiously. “Matteo doesn’t usually lose his temper like that. He is always levelheaded and composed.”
“Levelheaded?” I whip my head around to face her, incensed. “Lily, he’s insane ! He’s been hovering over me like…like some prison guard. At work, at lunch, now at karaoke! I can’t move without him showing up and breathing down my neck. It’s like I’m his—” I stop myself before the word slips out.
“His what?” she presses on softly.
I throw up my hands in frustration. “His asset! That’s all I am to him, a tool to get to the network he has me investigating.
He drained my accounts, Lily! Every cent I had, he took it to force me to work for him.
And now he is acting like he owns me. I can’t even go out for a drink without him being there and watching. He’s clearly insane.”
Lily doesn’t say anything for a moment, but her eyes narrow slightly. “I’ve known Matteo for some time now,” she says finally. “This clearly isn’t about work.”
I scoff. “Oh, come on. What else would it be about?”
Her lips curve into a knowing smile, though there is something sad in it. “Erin, people like Matteo…they don’t get possessive over assets . He doesn’t stalk employees to karaoke nights.”
I gape at her. “Are you suggesting he…what… wants me?” I can’t even say it without a wave of heat crawling up my cheeks.
“I’m suggesting,” Lily says carefully, “that there might be more going on in that head of his than you realize. And maybe that’s what’s making him unravel a little. Work can’t be the sole reason.”
I lean back against the seat, crossing my arms, as if that could shield me from her words. “If what you say is true, then why did he reject me? Why did he make it so clear that I’m not good enough?”
Her gaze softens. “I know you felt humiliated. But, Erin, Matteo…he’s probably just not good at saying what he feels.”
I shake my head, my frustration boiling over. “No. Believe me, he absolutely doesn’t want me. Besides, he has a girlfriend, a beautiful and sweet woman. He only wants my skills. And I’m done letting him rule my life.”
“Do you want me to talk to Dark? He could ask him to back off.”
I shake my head, fury rising anew. “I can…I will handle him. Who does he think he is? He’s trying to control my life, but if he thinks I will let him, he has another think coming.”
Lily studies me for a long beat, then sighs. “Fine, if you say so. But, Erin…” She leans in slightly and grabs my hand to squeeze. “Be careful. There’s something about Matteo when it comes to you. I’ve never seen him lose control like this before.”
Her words settle into me like lead. I stare out of the window as the city lights blur past, but my mind is spinning with the memory of Matteo’s dark gaze burning into me, with the heat of his anger he only ever seems to direct toward me.